Happy New Year from SwingAway!

Here’s to a Happy New Year from the entire team here at SwingAway!

A Panacea?

I receive numerous calls, e-mails and other contacts inquiring if Head Games is effective in other sports.  The answer is a resounding yes!!  And, not only in sports, but life generally.  Many players, coaches and parents are involved in other sports and need the benefit of sound, proven mental techniques to enhance their particular game(s).  This past season, I worked with a National Hockey League player who had never heard of the benefit of playing out of the right hemisphere of the mind and had never used abdominal breathing.  Although a first round draft pick, he has never realized his potential.

He was so excited that he is now anxious for next season and highly recommended the book to a friend, who is a PGA player.  The golfer immediately ordered a book.  Regardless of the sport, POSITIVE THINKING, the right degree of RELAXATION and FOCUSING on the task at hand is paramount to making an athlete all that he or she can be.  The same is true in all areas of a person’s life.  Head Games will serve you well.

SwingAway Success Guaranteed Workout®

Full implementation of this 30-day hitting program for will clearly make you a better hitter – we guarantee it!  It will take self-discipline, but will also be fun.  First of all become familiar with the unit.  Learn how to move the ball to all pitch locations; inside, middle, outside, up, down.  Also, know that when you hit the ball, using the target to monitor each swing is critical.  If you hit it correctly the ball will hit the center of the target.  This should be your goal with each swing.  You will monitor this with this program.  This program is not simply about practice – it is about perfect practice.  Implement this program and join the legions of others who watch their performance soar!

This program will focus on five general pitch locations.  However, the SwingAway allows for infinite adjustment.  With each swing be sure to orientate your feet parallel to the plate, striding forward directly toward the pitcher.   Your hands need to learn to make proper adjustments to different pitch locations.  Repetitions on the SwingAway and consistently working to put the ball to the center of the target will naturally help you learn this.

Lastly, your goal is a volume of swings taken consistently.  You must be persistent in your practice and build up a volume of swings in the process.  Frequency of your practice is a necessary element of this program.  As you take each swing, visualize the pitcher releasing the ball, track it to the hitting zone and take your swing.  Each swing should be executed every 6-10 seconds – no faster than that.  Take your time and do it correctly.  You need to be honest with yourself with this program.  Write out accurately your results.  This will allow you to not only see progress but get an honest assessment of your work ethic.

The SwingAway Success Guaranteed Workout® is broken into three age-appropriate segments.  Follow the workout for your age range.  The workout is the same for baseball or softball.  Once this workout is finished you may also add other drills you like as well.

Print out the following pages and write down the results of each workout.  This program should be executed at least 5 times a week over a 4 week period. Done correctly, this workout will take between 30 to 45 minutes complete.  Once completed you can continue this workout with a combination of SwingAway’s more advanced practice products, The Sweet-Spot Bat/ Mini-Ball Focus Hitting Package, or the HAMMER Bat which are now available on www.swingaway.com

Locate the workout for your age range and progress down the workout in the order presented.  With younger ages, some drills are not included in the workout but certainly are optional.  Each exercise should be executed in sets of 10 repetitions.  If performing multiple sets, take a short 30-second break before beginning the next set.  This will keep you mentally sharp.  With each set of 10, count how many hit inside the target.  After each set write down your results on the chart provided here.

SwingAway Success Guaranteed Workout®

DRILLS

Drill 1 - Middle pitch, thigh-high location.  This pitch is hit perfectly should hit dead center on the target.  It should be the first one you master, but will take much practice.

Drill 2 – Inside pitch, knee-high location.  This is a pitch that can be driven.  You will not want your arms extended at contact.  Extend through the pitch.  This will keep your hands quick and keep the ball from drawing foul.

Drill 3 – Inside pitch chest-high location.  This is an overemphasis drill.  Set the ball as high as it can go.  Your hands will have to stay well inside the ball and very quick to get to this pitch and still have the ball hit the target.

Drill 4 – Inside pitch, waist-high location.

Drill 5 – Outside pitch chest-high location.  This is a pitch that can typically be driven to the opposite field and is considered by many hitters as a very good pitch to hit.  Mastering this pitch can be exceptionally helpful to your hitting success.  Most defense shade players to pull the ball.

Drill 6 – Outside pitch knee-high location.  For most, this is the most difficult pitch to master.  Be very careful on this drill that your feet stride straight forward.  Let your hands make the adjustment.

Drill 7 – Middle pitch, thigh-high location.  Hit from opposite side.  You are not trying to become a switch hitter.  This develops your non-dominant side, increasing strength and body control.  It also requires increased concentration – a key element for hitting success.

Chart for Players up to 11 Years Old

Chart for Players 11-14 Years Old

Chart for Players Ages 15 Years Old and Up

A TRIP TO PARADISE

A few years ago I worked with the University of Hawaii, Honolulu,  baseball team who was hosting an Easter tournament.  Seven teams participated, all with good or great records.  Hawaii entered with an 8-18 record, but finished SECOND in the tournament, with a 4-2 record.  What had been the problem?  My analysis?  Attempting to pitch, hit and field out of the left side of the brain.  Why the sudden and almost unbelievable success?  Using simple HEAD GAMES techniques to get the players to play out of the right side of the mind, or in the zone.

The pitching immediately became awesome and hitter after hitter came out of slumps.  The team had scored in double digits only once in the season, but scored fourteen runs twice in the tournament.  If a player is to reach maximum potential, he MUST stay relaxed, aggressive and focused on one pitch at a time, whether at the plate, on the mound or in the field.  HEAD GAMES can get you in the zone and keep you there.