Driving with the Top Hand

Question:

My sons have a pulling off the ball problem. We think opposite field all the time but as soon as we swing hard in a game situation we pull off. The only thing that seems to help is to concentrate on starting the bat with the hands and not the upper body but to do that they both seem to push more with the top hand than what your literature calls for. We don’t roll over until after contact but we seem to generate a little more bat speed and barrel direction if we concentrate on the top hand. My guess would be that we were pulling with the lower arm and really getting nothing out of the top hand. We are confused about the role of the top hand. Without it our bats seem lazy and without direction. With it we wonder if we’re doing things incorrectly but we get better results.

Answer:
As long as the top hand is not rolling too soon, it is ok to think, be more aggressive with the top had as long as the top hand is staying in the proper position and getting through the ball. If the kids are staying inside and through the ball you are ok.

What hitters mentally say to themselves is different depending on the hitter, if your sons seem to get their hands going better when they think top hand, then this is probably getting their hands going.

As far as pulling off the ball, make sure their effort level is not too high, hitters with a high effort level tend to pull of of the ball more often. They should feel like they have something let with their body when the complete their swing, also, if they are staying on balance throughout the swing, then their effort level is ok. Their effort level in batting practice and drills should be the same as their game swings, once this starts happening they will become more consistence.

Why Step-by-Step Professional Hitting Advice Is Better Than a Part-Time Coach’s Advice

I’m a father, who has worked with not only my own son, but also many kids in little league. I have the greatest admiration for parents and volunteer coaches, however it frustrates me to see the wrong information they are teaching these kids. It’s a sad reality that most young players never discover the proper techniques for successful hitting. Unfortunately, the coaching your son has had up to this point may have taught them techniques that will prevent them from ever reaching their full potential. While coaches may have the best of intentions, the bad habits and improper swing techniques your player is establishing now will be harder to break the longer they train their mind and body to perform them incorrectly. Over 90% of what these well meaning people are teaching today’s players about hitting is “DEAD WRONG” and is destroying thousands of kids chances to have more fun, get more hits – or more importantly, to get college scholarships.

I get asked all the time – “Dave, my kid’s just 8 years old does he really need this kind of instruction? I just want him to go out there and have fun – I don’t think we’re ready to be thinking about a college scholarship – YET!” Here’s my advice to those parents- ask yourself these questions: When does a kid have the most fun playing Little League? When he strikes or flies out? When he gets on base, and scores a run? What would it be worth – if your kid could have more fun and get more hits every time he played? Would you want your child practicing the WRONG techniques year after year? It takes just as much effort for a kid to practice the WRONG techniques as it does for them to practice the RIGHT ones, so with all the other benefits – why not do it the right way from the start? It’s a lot more fun talking to your kids about how to improve their game when you really know how to do it.

Don’t Have a Loser’s Limp

A mentally weak individual makes excuses for his or her actions instead of owning up to their mistakes.  I once called a player into my office after a game to find out why he had botched a routine pop-up to the infield.  Before I spoke a word, he said, “Did you see the wind take that ball?”  This sounds like a good reason for missing a pop-up, however, the wind didn’t just start blowing right before the ball was hit – the wind fooled him because he hadn’t anticipated before – hand what effect the wind might have on a ball hit in the air.  This was a lack of preparation on his part which he didn’t handle properly.  His appropriate response should have been, “I messed up the play because I wasn’t prepared for what the wind was going to do.”  I would have replied, “Good, you learned something.”  The End.  I wasn’t upset at him for the error, I was disturbed at his loser’s limp.  One of the keys to improving your game is to take responsibility for your actions – learn from them and then move on.

In order to be successful in life as well as in athletics, you must develop mental toughness.  Learning to persevere through the difficult circumstances, to control your emotions despite what occurs around you, and not making excuses for your actions are vital components to achieving your goals.  Anyway you look at it, life is a battle.  Don’t fall short and become a casualty or worse – a fatality.  The players who don’t make it to the next level, yet should, are fatalities.  Don’t add your name to the list.

Learn Where to Stand in the Box

Have you ever watched hitters on TV or at the ball park and wonder why one stands forward in the box and another stands deep in the box? Why one is close and the other far from the plate? There are various places to stand in the box. One of the most important concepts to realize when choosing where you are going to stand in the box, is that you must have good plate coverage. You need to be able to cover the outside corner of the plate, however you do not want to stand too close to the plate. So where is the ideal place for a hitter to stand? Part of the answer to this question has to do with the length of the bat you use and also the length of your arms.

To determine how far to stand from the plate:

• Place the end of the bat on the outside corner of the plate.
• Lay the bat down, placing the knob of the bat on the ground.
• Put your front foot where the knob of the bat starts.
• Put your back foot slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
• Lastly pick up the bat and see if you can touch the outside corner.

Extension

If you make contact at extension there will be a loss of power.  There are many coaches that teach contact is made at extension.  However video has disproven that statement.  Making contact just before extension allows the hitter the ability to hit through the ball.

If you do all the mechanical techniques correctly, you will have the proper extension.  If you are not getting good extension generally it is due to a flaw in the swing.

• Extension should be just after contact and not at or before contact.
• You should see a “V” in your arms at maximum extension out front.
• Don’t drop the barrel of the bat below your hands from the backside, you still need to have a short, compact, swing.

How to Fix Pulling Off the Ball

Question:

My sons have a pulling off the ball problem. We think opposite field all the time but as soon as we swing hard in a game situation we pull off. The only thing that seems to help is to concentrate on starting the bat with the hands and not the upper body but to do that they both seem to push more with the top hand than what your literature calls for. We don’t roll over until after contact but we seem to generate a little more bat speed and barrell direction if we concentrate on the top hand. My guess would be that we were pulling with the lower arm and really getting nothing out of the top hand. We are confused about the role of the top hand. Without it our bats seem lazy and without direction. With it we wonder if we’re doing things incorrectly but we get better results.

Answer:
As long as the top hand is not rolling too soon, it is ok to think, be more aggressive with the top had as long as the top hand is staying in the proper position and getting through the ball. If the kids are staying inside and through the ball you are ok.

What hitters mentally say to themselves is different depending on the hitter, if your sons seem to get their hands going better when they think top hand, then this is probably getting their hands going.

As far as pulling off the ball, make sure their effort level is not too high, hitters with a high effort level tend to pull of of the ball more often. They should feel like they have something let with their body when the complete their swing, also, if they are staying on balance throughout the swing, then their effort level is ok. Their effort level in batting practice and drills should be the same as their game swings, once this starts happening they will become more consistence.

Nutritional Review

1.    To enhance sports performance be sure to follow the nutritional guidelines below.
2.    The resistance trained athlete requires:

• 15-20% Protein
• 50-60% Carbohydrate
• 25-35% Fat

3.    In order to calculate the daily percentages of protein, carbohydrates and fats first calculate your daily caloric requirement:

• RMR X 10
• Exercise level: for a resistance trained athlete it is 450
• Determine your activity level
• Add these three steps to determine your calorie requirement

4.    To determine your protein need:

• Multiply your total calories by (20%)
• Divide by 4 to determine grams of protein

5.    To determine your carbohydrate need:

• Multiply your total calories by (60%)
• Divide by 4 to determine your grams of carbohydrate

6.    To determine your fat need:

• Multiply your total calories by (25-35%)
• Divide by 9 to determine your grams of fat needed

Chicago White Sox Academy – Infield Receiving Drill

Emotions on the Field

Emotions can have either a positive or a negative affect on your performance.  Let’s break down 3 components of emotion and how they not only affect you either in a positive or a negative manner but also how they interact with each other.

• Desire
• Fear
• Anger

Desire is present in every athlete.  It is motivating and relentless, it never gives up.  Desire positively affects athletes through motivation; it is the reason an athlete does not give up, despite any odds against him/her.  However, that same desire becomes a negative when it results in trying to do too much, or giving too much effort.

Fear can have a positive affect by improving your concentration, but it can also have a negative affect if you become too cautious, over-aggressive, or just “freeze-up”.

Anger can overpower all other emotions.  You can be very afraid of something, but if your anger is strong enough, you will forget your fear.  Anger can also motivate you and improve your focus.