In the game of baseball, how you position yourself in the batter's box can significantly impact your hitting success. As Michael Abrashoff, retired naval commander, once noted, "One size programs tend to fit none." This sentiment holds true in hitting as well—there's no universal approach that fits all players. Instead, simplicity and alignment are key. Here’s a straightforward method to help you get the most out of your time at the plate.
Simplify Your Approach: The goal is to make hitting as straightforward as possible. By aligning yourself correctly in the box, you can enhance your ability to make consistent contact with the ball. Simple adjustments lead to better results, making the process easier and more effective.
Cover the Outside Pitch: When you’re properly aligned, you position yourself to handle pitches on the outside part of the plate. Imagine being able...
In the world of baseball hitting, the trigger is an essential component that determines the effectiveness of your swing. It's the pre-swing movement that helps stage your athleticism and power, setting you up to launch the ball with precision. Understanding and refining your trigger can significantly impact your hitting performance, so let's delve into what makes an effective trigger and how you can optimize it.
The trigger is the movement you make just before your swing to prepare your body for the incoming pitch. It’s a critical aspect of your swing because it allows you to generate force and transition smoothly into your swing. There is no one-size-fits-all trigger; it varies from player to player. Some hitters have pronounced, elaborate triggers, while others use minimal, subtle movements.
A well-executed trigger is vital for several reasons:
In baseball, success at the plate often comes down to having a solid approach. A strategic plan for each at-bat can significantly improve your performance and increase your chances of making solid contact. One of the most effective and fundamental hitting approaches is "Look Away, Adjust In." In this blog, we'll delve into what this approach entails, why it works, and how you can implement it to elevate your game.
Going up to the plate without a plan is like driving without a map. You might get somewhere, but it’s unlikely to be your desired destination. At higher levels of play, pitchers and their coaches always have a plan to get you out. Therefore, having a plan, or an approach, is crucial for hitters to counteract the pitcher's strategy.
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." This quote applies perfectly...
In baseball, hitting is not just about making contact with the ball; it’s about making consistent and powerful contact. One of the keys to achieving this is understanding and mastering hitting contact points. This blog will delve into the nuances of hitting contact points, providing insights and techniques to help you build room for error in your swing and improve your overall hitting performance.
When it comes to hitting, the contact point is where the bat meets the ball. Depending on the pitch's location, the contact point can vary:
The curveball is a pitch that many hitters dread. Pitchers love their curveballs and often use them to keep hitters off balance. There are countless videos, books, and tutorials on how to hit a curveball, but in this blog, we will focus on our approach to recognizing and hitting this tricky pitch. We'll discuss why it's essential to work on hitting curveballs, how to recognize them, and provide actionable tips to improve your performance against breaking pitches.
Pitchers frequently rely on their curveballs to disrupt hitters' timing. A steady diet of curveballs can make it difficult to stay consistent at the plate. Learning to recognize and hit curveballs effectively can significantly improve your overall hitting performance.
Curveballs are thrown at lower speeds compared to fastballs, offering an excellent opportunity to make solid...
Hitting with power in baseball is not just about the thrill of crushing the ball; it has practical benefits that can significantly impact your team's success. Power-hitting puts tremendous pressure on the defense, creates extra-base hits, and allows for scoring runs in bunches. This blog explores why hitting with power is essential and provides tips on how to achieve it while maintaining control and balance.
A hard-hit ground ball or line drive is challenging for the defense to handle. These types of hits increase the likelihood of defensive errors, leading to more scoring opportunities for your team.
While base hits are valuable, relying solely on singles makes it difficult to score runs efficiently. Extra base hits, such as doubles and home runs, put runners in scoring positions and increase the chances of driving in multiple runs with subsequent...
Lunging at the plate is a common issue that many hitters face. It can lead to a lack of control, balance, and power in your swing. Rather than focusing on what not to do, we emphasize actionable cues that help hitters maintain their form. This blog will explain how keeping your head still can eliminate lunging and improve your overall performance at the plate.
Lunging occurs when a hitter shifts their weight too far forward during their swing, often leading to poor contact with the ball. This forward movement can cause several problems:
Instead of...
When it comes to hitting in baseball, the idea of creating room for error might sound counterintuitive. After all, who wants errors in their swing? However, considering that pitchers are constantly trying to disrupt your timing with various pitches, aiming for perfection can be impractical. Instead, focusing on creating room for error can enhance your consistency and success at the plate. In this blog, we will explore how hand separation and barrel extension can help you achieve this.
Pitchers aim to throw off your timing using a mix of fastballs, sinkers, changeups, and other pitches. Their goal is to make it difficult for you to make perfect contact. Given the variety of pitches and speeds you face, it’s unrealistic to expect perfect timing on every swing.
Creating room for error means allowing for slight imperfections in your swing while still achieving...
It’s a common misconception that high-level players, those who’ve excelled in college or professional baseball, will naturally make great coaches. However, the skills required for playing at a high level and those needed for coaching are vastly different. This blog will explore why not every player can or should transition into coaching, and what to look for in a good coach.
Playing baseball at a high level requires physical prowess, game knowledge, and the ability to perform under pressure. Coaching, on the other hand, demands a completely different set of skills:
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