Having a Simple Approach at the Plate

I get numerous requests from those who want me to analyze mental performance methodologies with which they are experimenting with or plan to try.  In all cases, thus far, they require thinking during performance, which is diametrically opposed to the HEAD GAMES approach.

I am not familiar with everything that’s out there, but I do know that you need look no further than HEAD GAMES relative to successful MENTAL methods.  The techniques are unprecedented and unparallel and  are proven over and over by a multitude of testimonials.  Simplicity must be a prerequisite if success is to be expected.

If You Can Do One, You Can Do the Other

This season, I worked with a Double Aoutfielder who was hitting just over .200.  He was depressed and wondered if he would ever be able to hit for average, but his defense had always been good.  He bought into HEAD GAMES and the same day he had three hits, including a two run home run.  He called me a few days later after that breakout performance and was elated to tell me that during a two week stretch that he hit over .350.

I have numerous success stories from players who became convinced that it was only logical that the same ability used to  perform one skill could be utilized for another.  This player uses the book and the c.d., but the HEAD GAME that he felt helped him more than anything else was abdominal breathing.  This technique is extremely powerful in effecting maximum performance. Proper breathing and centering on the skill at hand can deliver remarkable results in the field or at the plate.

Learn How to Have a Winning Attitude

Approach attitudes include a player’s plan (what he is going to do) and his approach (how he is going to do it).  Players have approach attitudes about everything that they do in the game.  These attitudes can change from pitch to pitch, just as their job and the situation in the game changes.  Approach attitudes direct the player; they are his guidance system.

The words hope, need, not, and won’t are negative.  Keep them out of your self talk vocabulary.

As a starting point, examine your attitudes concerning the following:

• Seeing the ball
• Where the best point of contact is for pitches inside, middle, outside, etc.
• Hitting pitches to the opposite field, up the middle and to the pull field
• Bunting for a hit, sacrifice and squeeze
• Hit and run
• Hitting mechanics
• Your strike zone

Back Leg Position

Question:

When I transfer my weight back at the beginning of my swing, my back leg seems to bend a lot (almost want to collapse). Is this because too much weight is going back, or my leg is not strong enough, or what?

Answer:

I am assuming the way you found out that your back leg was collapsing was by watching video of your swings. If not, then make sure to have someone record you swinging in batting practice, doing side toss, and in games. The reason you should look at these different stages is because you may be swinging too hard. Perhaps you are too far back on your leg, but usually a hitter’s back leg collapses when they are trying to hit the ball too far and hard. So make sure to see those three different shots, because if you are swinging too hard in the games, you probably are easier in your side toss drills when you are relaxed. This would just tell you whether you have an effort level problem, or a mechanical problem. If it is effort level, then you might just need to relax, and not try to do too much with the ball. And if it is mechanical, then you probably should take a little weight off the back leg when you start your swing. Hope everything goes well.

SwingAway Sports Products – Announces the Signing of Bryce Harper, Major League Baseball’s 2010 No #1 Overall Draft Pick, to an Exclusive Multi-Year Contract

SwingAway Sports Products, Inc. and Professional Baseball’s 18 year old phenom Outfielder Bryce Harper has agreed to an Exclusive 3 Year Contract for Bryce to represent the Baseball Training Aids Company.

Marietta, GA, May 26, 2011 –(PR.com)– “SwingAway is very proud and excited to announce this agreement with Bryce Harper,” boasted John J Flading, President and CEO of SwingAway Sports Products. “What Bryce has accomplished in the beginning stages of his baseball career is not only impressive but unprecedented. Bryce is a very passionate and dedicated young player that constantly challenges himself to become the very best. He has accomplished this by working and training harder than anyone else. Bryce started hitting on the SwingAway and using other SwingAway Training Aids when he was 10 years old. We choose Bryce because Bryce knows what this machine can do because he has used it most of career, what a Dramatic Testimonial.”

“I’m excited to become a part of the SwingAway Family. They have the same strong commitment to helping young and elite baseball players elevate their games by becoming better hitters,” said Bryce Harper. “I am absolutely convinced that every player regardless of their age or ability can benefit training on a SwingAway, because I’ve been hitting on the SwingAway since I was in Little League and still use it today. I am looking forward in working with them to promote the SwingAway machine and assist in the development of additional training aids and training programs to help all players become better hitters.”

SwingAway plans to roll-out an aggressive media campaign featuring Bryce for Point of Purchase, Print, Internet, TV and Radio advertising. All SwingAway Hitting Stations can be found on-line at www.swingaway.com and the Top Sporting Goods and Baseball Websites and is now available in All Sports Authority and limited Modell’s Sporting Goods Stores.

Learning How to See the Ball Properly

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.

SWINGAWAY SPORTS PRODUCTS.. Atlanta, GA, March 02, 2011 — – Announces the launch of the New SWINGAWAY Model…. Introducing the SA- MVP

SWINGAWAY – Is the ULTIMATE Baseball/Softball Hitting Station and an Offensive/ Defensive Power Training System. The Patented SwingAway is The Most Trusted and Effective Batting Training Machine validated by the highest levels of the game of Baseball and Softball.

The New SwingAway MVP –($199.99)- is one of the next generation of Hitting Training Aids by SWINGAWAY. The MVP Model is the New and Improved version of the New SwingAway for Home Training and is engineered to be a stronger and even more durable Machine. The SA – MVP is the New and Improved version of the New SwingAway Home Training Hitting Station which was launched late in 2009 and quickly became one of the most Successful and Top Selling Hitting Training Aid in the Baseball/ Softball Market. ” We at SWINGAWAY are constantly looking to improve all our Products for every Manufacturing and Production run, Today the improvements made to the SWINGAWAY retail and Home Training Machine are so significant that we believe it is now the time to give this Model its own Branded identity” boasts John J Flading, the President and CEO of SWINGAWAY SPORTS PRODUCTS. The New MVP is made with stronger steel, plastics, ropes, bungees and balls and by the fall will feature a Deep Red powder coat versus the plain galvanized steel it comes in today. The SwingAway MVP Model is specifically designed for Home Training, Team Use (up to13u), and for all players regardless of age or ability. The SwingAway MVP allows varsity and youth players to Train on the Most Effective and Popular Professional Hitting Training Station ever made. The SA- MVP will be complete with new packaging and a new Logo.. This Machine is now available on-line at SWINGAWAY.com and will soon be in Sports Authority and Modell’s retail Sporting Goods Stores plus other Authorized SWINGAWAY Dealers.

“SWINGAWAY strives for Absolute Perfection and will always produce Quality and Highly Effective Training Aids plus we will continue to make the necessary modifications and improvements to make our Products even Better. We are extremely Proud of our products and especially our customers’ response and acceptance of these products. We will continue to delivery that quality Training Aid that our customer’s have grown to expect and truly deserve from SWINGAWAY” says Flading, “Stay Tuned because there is much more to come, and we will not Disappoint! “

Contact Information
SwingAway Sports Products, Inc
John J Flading
800-999-1968, 404-825-7063
jflading@swingaway.com
www.swingaway.com

Swing Away Pro for Bat Speed

There’s a new piece of equipment to our Bat Speed Training program – the Swing Away Pro Model Swing Trainer:

We put this hitting system together over the weekend and been taking swings on it to test it out, and the initial response has been great.

Overall, the system is sturdier than what we’ve seen before from this type of device. The bungee system does a nice job of getting the ball back to a stationary position quickly, and it stays in the same spot in the strike zone that was originally set up. The bungee system also eliminates the need to pick up baseballs, which does have a convenience factor when you have a specific training goal and/or are fitting quality batting practice into limited amounts of time.

The ball itself gives good feedback regarding quality of contact. In other words, you can tell if you hit the ball solidly or not. Plus there is enough space that you can get an idea of the direction that you hit the ball. For example, if you are set up to hit the ball up the middle, but you get around the ball with your swing a little, you can tell that you pulled it too much. The hitting mat includes a home plate which helps alignment and set-up, and there is a red string that is used as a target, which is a small detail, but is very useful when you are using the directional feedback.

Something that is key, is that the machine still gives you feedback on quality and direction of contact, but lets you focus on something that is crucial in bat speed development – intent. Especially with younger or less experienced players, it is hard to focus on bat speed or swing quickness when you are also asking them to hit a tossed or pitched ball. That’s kind of like training for power and endurance at the same time – which one is really most important? It depends on the needs of the individual. This system makes it easier to separate goals and focus on specialized areas of swing mechanics development or bat speed training.

We’re looking forward to continued use of the Swing Away a part of our program. If you’re in the Palm Beach – Palm Beach Gardens – Jupiter, FL area, see our instruction options and come check us out. Otherwise, check back for more on how we use our training products for bat speed and hitting development…

Jeff Albert
AA Hitting Coach
St. Louis Cardinals

How to Teach Younger Players

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.

SwingAway Sports Products Inc. Announces the Opening of Two New Distribution Centers

SwingAway Sports Products Inc. opens 2 New Distribution Centers in Atlanta Georgia and Carson California to accommodate the unprecedented demand of the SwingAway Baseball/ Softball Hitting Station.

Atlanta, GA, June 25, 2010 — SwingAway Sports Products Inc. opens 2 New Distribution Centers in Atlanta, Georgia and Carson, California to accommodate the unprecedented growth of the SwingAway Baseball/ Softball Hitting Station. SwingAway Sports Products Inc., Headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, manufactures and distributes the SwingAway Hitting System plus other Professional Baseball and Softball Training Aids.

“It became very important and necessary to open these 2 new Distribution Centers to execute a cost effective and efficient distribution strategy to better serve our customers on both coasts of the United States.” said John J Flading President and CEO of SwingAway Sports Products Inc.” By adding both Atlanta and California, SwingAway will be closer to our customers which will significantly reduce transportation costs and delivery times for all SwingAway Products.”

In 2009 SwingAway Sports Products introduced a retail Batting Station simply named “The SwingAway” with a price point of just $199.99. The new swingAway quickly became one of the Top Selling Hitting Training Aids in the Baseball and Softball market. SwingAway Hitting Systems are the most recognized Batting Stations used and supported by Professional, College, High School and top level Travel Teams throughout the United States.

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