See the Ball!

A baseball bat at its widest is three and three quarters inches in diameter.  A ball comes toward the hitter at the speed of 80-90 plus miles per hour.  A 90 MPH fastball reaches the plate in four-tenths of a second.  The hitter has just about one-tenth of a second to pick up the ball.  However good your mechanics may be, you won’t success if I blindfold you.  First things first, see the ball!

Your eyes tell your brain how to react, if your eyes aren’t seeing the ball well, you are not going to be able to react properly to the ball.  Since you only have four-tenths of second to recognize, react and execute the swing on an average fastball, you need to learn how to track the ball.

Hitting with the Right Bat Angle

Let’s talk about the bat angle.  At what angle should you have the bat?  Should it be up at a 90 degree angle?  Should you tilt it back towards the catcher?  What is most comfortable for you?  The most efficient place to put the bat is at a 45 degree angle behind your back shoulder.  This is the best position to launch the bat from.

It is the most efficient way to get the bat through the zone.  Since this is hard to see you may either use the mirror drill or have a coach help you with this.  The reason why I don’t recommend a 90 degree bat angle is because in order to hi, you must first get the bat into a 45 degree bat angle.  If you start at 90 degrees, you will cause unnecessary movement to get the 45 degree angle that is necessary to swing from.

Positive Self Talk

By using positive self-talk, you can train yourself to effectively recover from unhappiness and emotions self-assessment, thereby enhancing yourself and your performance, rather than diminishing both.

This is a process!  Time and persistence are required.  We don’t unlearn bad habits overnight.  The applications of self-discipline and consistency to this issue can help train you to overcome other difficulties.

Points to remember:

• Negative self-talk is usually a result of early teaching, warnings, or experience.  As an older individual, you are now capable of recognizing and controlling your self talk.  Give yourself positive instruction – as a hitter and as a person.
• Your muscles will do what they are told.  Tell them the right things to do, in the right way – using positive language always.
• Make yourself aware of whatever negative messages you give yourself, so you can change them immediately.
• When you wish to change your though, replace it with one that serves and directs you in a positive way, rather than trying to block the undesirable thought out.  Trying to block out a though keeps your focus on the very thing you’re trying to get rid of.
• Be good to yourself

VIDEO: Getting Ready to Hit

Batting: Getting Ready To Bat In Baseball
What is the ‘batter’s box’ in baseball?
The batter’s box in baseball is designed to keep the batter in a certain space. So he doesn’t gain an advantage. So it’s basically made up of a chalk and it’s for the right handed side of the batter and for the left handed side of the batter. And again it’s just to keep them in a certain space that they are not allowed to go beyond that boundary.

What is the ‘on-deck circle’ in baseball?
The on-deck circle is designed for the next hitter coming to the plate. It’s close to the dugout, for safety reasons, so the on-deck hitter is not vulnerable to getting hit, obviously. And a second reason why the on-deck circle is near the dugout is so that the batter doesn’t get an unfair advantage by getting too close to the plate and actually getting a better look at what the pitcher’s throwing.

What is the ‘batting cage’ in baseball?
The ‘batting cage’ in baseball is set up for the hitters before the game so that more or less the balls stay in one area, so that they’re not chasing the balls around. When a batter hits, it’s nice because the balls will be held by the netting of the cage and the third thing is that the coaches can get very close to the hitter and watch from behind and maybe help them work on technique.

What is ‘pine tar’ and how is it used in baseball?
Pine tar is a sticky substance that is used in baseball really to give a header a great grip on the bat. This is so the bat doesn’t flat your hands, or the bat doesn’t feel loose in your hands, or they don’t feel as good as a grip on the bat.

What is the right way to grip a baseball bat?
The appropriate way to grip a baseball bat is to keep your hands relatively loose, the looser your hands are, the looser your muscles are and the better that they fire, the better that they operate. So I would say generally speaking “loose” there is a technical way to do it so where your knuckles, your first knuckle on each finger line up your right hand with your left hand, but generally speaking the idea is that your hands should be relatively comfortable and it should not be really tight when you grip a baseball bat.

What does it mean to ‘choke up’ on a baseball bat?
Choking up on a bat is really done in situations where you feel you’re overmatched by the pitcher. He’s throwing very hard or you have two strikes on you, so you’re really in a protective mode where you don’t want. You want to keep your swing a little shorter and you want to have a little more control at the bat. So, by choking up you’re actually getting a little more control, and you’re less vulnerable to someone overpowering you.

What is the right way to hold and position a baseball bat when preparing to hit?
The appropriate way to hold a bat when you’re positioning yourself to hit the ball is really, varied. There’s many schools of how you hit. But generally speaking, your hands should be pretty much placed somewhere towards your back shoulder. Your hands should be about the height of your shoulder, and again, they should be in a pretty relaxed position. How you hold the bat forward or backward really depends on your hitting coach.

What is the right way to position my body when preparing to hit a baseball?
The most appropriate way to prepare your stance before hitting a baseball, first of all, is that there’s very different ways. There’s the option of opening your front foot, which is called an open stance, so that you can actually see the ball a little bit better, and your front side, or your front shoulder, is more open or toward third base. There’s a closed stance where your front shoulder is actually pointing more towards first base – this being a right-handed hitter. Some players like to crouch a little bit more because it keeps them more compact. Some players like to get more upright, because it actually keeps your head more still, and you tend to see the ball better.

Where should I stand in the batter’s box when preparing to hit a baseball?
The place you should stand in a batter’s box will vary. If the pitcher is throwing very hard, hitters tend to move towards the back of the box, and towards the catcher, so they have more time to react and see the ball. If the pitcher is not throwing very hard or he is throwing a lot of off speed pitches like curve balls or changeups, hitters tend to move forward, because they want to catch the ball before it dies or before it breaks on them.

What type of pitch should I expect from the pitcher in baseball?
The type of pitch you should be expecting from a pitcher is a fastball. Fastballs are thrown approximately 70% of the time in a game, and probably even more at the lower levels. So you really should expect a fastball. And for the most part, you want to hit a fastball because that’s what hitters are trained to swing at more than any other pitch in batting practice.

What should I focus on as I prepare to hit a baseball?
The key things you should be focusing on when you prepare to hit a baseball are, number one, to see the ball well. If you see the ball well, it’s the single most important ingredient to having success at the plate. Number two is to be relaxed. Take a deep breath before you get in the batter’s box. Number three, again, keep the body loose, and keep the hands loose.

Where should I be trying to hit the ball during a baseball game?
The place you want to hit the baseball during a baseball game really depends on the situation. For the most part, you want to hit the ball where it’s pitched. If it’s pitched away from you, you want to hit it to the right side if you’re right-handed. If it’s pitched in toward you, you want to pull it to the left side if you’re right-handed. However, there are certain situations in a game when you’re supposed to hit the ball to the right side of the field, or you’re supposed to try to drive the ball to the outfield to maybe score a run from third base.

What is the ’sweet spot’ on a baseball bat?
The ’sweet spot’ on a baseball bat is considered that area which is only about maybe four inches long, just above the label of the bat, which is the center of the bat and just below the top of the bat. It’s more towards the top of the bat and is about four inches long, and it’s where the ball tends to have the most power or force behind it from the bat itself.

What is the batter’s ‘wheelhouse’ in baseball lingo?
The batter’s wheelhouse is a term that is really based on the hitter being able to develop the maximum amount of power, usually that means a ball that’s on the inside part of the plate and usually about waist height. For some reason that seems to be the area where a hitter can hit the ball the furthest or pull the ball the furthest to left field if they’re right handed. They call it a wheelhouse because he can get the most amount of power from that area where the ball is pitched at.

What is a ‘designated hitter’ or ‘DH’ in baseball?
A designated hitter in baseball is actually something that was made popular in the 1970s. And what happened is, in baseball, you started getting players who no longer were able to play defence as they got older, but they were still great hitters. So they decided, instead of having the pitcher hit, they would replace the pitcher with what was called the designated hitter. So he’s actually the designated hitter, meaning he’s hitting for the pitcher, and his job is to simply hit when the pitcher’s spot would come up. He doesn’t play defence.

What is a ’switch-hitter’ in baseball?
A switch-hitter in baseball is someone who can hit both left handed and right handed. Most baseball players either hit right handed or left handed, but the switch-hitter can do both.

What is a ‘pinch hitter’ in baseball?
A pinch hitter is a player that comes up at some point in the game and hits for a player that is already in the game. His job is to come off the bench, when he’s not necessarily that warmed up, but he’s got to find a way to pinch hit for the player that’s already in the game.

When Things Go Bad

No one needs to exercise mental toughness when things are going well, however, you do need mental toughness when things are going bad.  As a challenge grows and pressure increases, so does the need for mental toughness.  By nature, people are competitive.  The greater the challenge, the more pressure you feel.  Challenges offer great potential for satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment; but if your performance does not meet expectations, it becomes a source of anguish and frustration.  Those who are mentally tough enjoy the challenges of this game; those who are not, are frustrated.

Winners in life, as well as in sports, are mentally tough.  What separates the winners from everyone else is how they deal with pain, adversity, pressure, challenges, and the unexpected.  No matter how difficult or uncomfortable the situation, the mentally tough do their thing.

How to Teach a Young Player

Question:

Your material is top rate. I am having incredible results with both my kids (boy – 7 and girl – 9). I am managing my son’s team as well as a coach for my daughter’s team. My approach thus far is to cover all aspects of hitting fundamentals with all the kids starting on the set up and working forward. My time with each player is limited to about 10 minutes a week. Are there fundamentals that I should focus on that will get more observable results than others? With these kids getting limited reps, the progress is slow. I have completed the entire swing and am wondering if I start back at the beginning as most kids still struggle with the basics. I would appreciate any thoughts.

Answer:

With young kids, I recommend you start with their legs. Make sure their legs are in the proper position, so that they can complete their swing staying on balance. The practice time you are able to give them is not enough alone.  Give them specific areas to work on, such as working on balance in front of their mirror at home. If they have a tee at home, give them something specific to work on. If you can get more help, I would set up more drill stations so the kids can get more swings. They need to swing the bat everyday to improve their skills.

A Timing Breakdown

Not being able to see the ball well can usually be attributed to a breakdown in your timing.  This is where being late with your stride will affect your ability to see the ball.  If your stride foot gets down late, it will cause you to do the following:

• Jump at the ball
• Pull your head
• Use your body too much
• Overswing.  When you overswing, you are trying to hit the ball too far or too hard.  This causes you to pull your front shoulder, which in turn pulls your head off the ball

Be careful that you are not trying to do more than you ability allows.  If you do this, you are taking yourself out of your game and the pitcher is winning the battle.  Jumping at the ball can be attributed to not only getting into a position of power late, but also by trying to hit the ball too hard or too far.  Jumping at the ball causes your head to move forward and makes the ball appear faster than it really is.  This means the ball will come at your quicker, and this hurts your ability to make good, consistent contact.

Mental Preparation

Sports giants are people willing to pay the price for excellence.  Brooks Robinson took 200 ground balls a day from the time he was 12 year old until the end of his career.

Nolan Ryan is legendary for his dedication to his conditioning and his personal work habits.  In addition to having strong work habits, it is important to note the fact that dedication and effort is channeled toward specific performance goals.  On a day to day basis, the great athletes work on the things that are necessary to achieve their outcome goals.

Some may regard the hard work involved in developing the principles outlined in this book as a huge sacrifice, but a highly committed player doesn’t look at it as a sacrifice, but rather as a choice that involves sacrifice.  As a player, you need to decide what price you are willing to pay to become the best that you are capable of becoming- on and off the field.

When Should a Player Start Switch Hitting?

Question:

When should a player start switch-hitting? What do you consider a good age to begin? How proficient should the hitter be from his strong side before he begins learning to switch-hit? Do you consider learning to switch-hit to be a big advantage for being recruited by college/pros? Just off the top of my head, it seems that many of the top hitters in the Majors are not switch hitters.

Answer:

My son and I started to work on switch hitting when he was about 10 years old, but he didn’t start switch hitting in games until he was 13. I wanted him to get a real feel for balance through his swing and develop more strength before I put him in a game situation. When he started switch hitting in games, he hit only left handed for the entire year (he’s a natural right handed hitter). This was the year he was going to go to the big field and I thought he might struggle somewhat switch hitting, but most kids struggle when moving up to the regulation size field anyway so I didn’t worry about it. He ended up having some success and has improved to the point to where he is a better hitter from the left side.

If you want your son to switch hit, you should have a reason for having him do so. Does he have some speed? If he has some speed, or potential to have speed, then there are some advantages to hitting from the left side. If he is going to be a power hitter with little speed, than I would say let him stay on one side. Most switch hitters are natural right handed hitters, there is a different advantage for left handed hitters. Most pitchers are right handed, hitting from the left side hitters will not have to deal with the offspeed pitch breaking away from them. Another big advantage to switch hitting is that players won’t be platooned if they are proficient from both sides of the plate.

If my son would have been a natural left handed hitter, I don’t believe I would have taught him to switch hit. But don’t hold me to that because I have a 2 year old and he hits off the tee lefty, I think because he watches his brother hit from the left side so much.

Having the Proper Bat Angle

Let’s talk about the bat angle.  At what angle should you have the bat?  Should it be up at a 90 degree angle?  Should you tilt it back towards the catcher?  What is most comfortable for you?  The most efficient place to put the bat is at a 45 degree angle behind your back shoulder.  This is the best position to launch the bat from.

It is the most efficient way to get the bat through the zone.  Since this is hard to see you may either use the mirror drill or have a coach help you with this.  The reason why I don’t recommend a 90 degree bat angle is because in order to hi, you must first get the bat into a 45 degree bat angle.  If you start at 90 degrees, you will cause unnecessary movement to get the 45 degree angle that is necessary to swing from.

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