33 Cues to a Great Hitter

By Miles A Noland

1. Hold the bat so loosely if the wind blows it should move your bat.

2. How you do you jump? You bend your knees, which is how you get athletic. Hitters need to be athletic to hit, so they need to bend their knees.

3. How does a boxer throw a punch? He loads back and punches. He does not punch without loading, because momentum equals force created. Hitters must load to be successful.

4. Get all your energy flowing in a straight line.

5. Take the effort out.

6. Take a slow, long breath before stepping into the box. The muscles need oxygen to function properly.

7. Focus on the task at hand, which is getting your best look at each pitch.

8. Focus on each pitch independently of each other. The best hitters eliminate the past and the future to focus in on the present.

9. You are good enough; don't play for anyone else but yourself, because it is not your job as a hitter to please everyone.

10. See the ball, and be easy.

11. Loose muscles are quick twitch muscles.

12. Drive the back knee to the pitcher.

13. Be aggressive with the lower half, loose with the upper half.

14. Have flex in the back knee when the stride foot lands.

15. The knob must be pointing towards the back foot when the stride foot lands.

16. Develop a plan for seeing the ball (ex.-early: whole body, one windup starts move to bill of hat, late: shift eyes to release point).

17. Tension causes poor decisions and loss of seeing the ball well.

18. Eliminate tension by visualizing what you want to happen.

19. Eliminate tension by taking long, slow deep breaths, which allows your muscles to breathe.
20. Good hitters get jammed, bad hitters are always early.

21. Great players love hit by pitches and walks, because they know they are helping the team, on base percentage is huge.

22. Great hitters make their living off hitting fastballs.

23. Eliminate offspeed pitches unless you have 2 strikes.

24. If a pitcher proves he can throw offspeed for a strike, then live by the motto, "if it's high let it fly, if it's low let it go."

25. Figure out the umpires strike zone in the first 20 pitches of the game and adjust our approach.
26. Look for pitches you can drive early in the count.

27. With 2 strikes shorten your swing and put the ball in play.

28. Stay on balance throughout entire swing, ensures a good jump to 1b.

29. Goal should be to hit the ball on the barrel everytime; if a pitch won't allow you to do that, take it.
30. Learn about the pitcher and umpire from paying attention to teammates at-bats.

31. Handle adversity well, realizing baseball isn't fair (but better than losing a job), but you move on to focus on the next play.

32. The pressure is on the pitcher with the bases loaded; be patient and don't try to do too much.
33. Great hitters are constantly working on their craft.

USE the cues to keep things simple for your hitters, and you will notice the improvement. A certain cue can have a profound effect on a hitters swing.

Coach it up,
Miles

http://www.iybca.org/gift
 

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Coaching Baseball: How To Hit To The Opposite Field

By Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.

Hitting to the opposite field is a real and a very valuable skill for baseball players at every level.
Over the years, there have been some players who were quite proficient at hitting to the opposite field.

The great ones include: Derek Jeter, Tony Gwynn, George Brett, Wade Boggs, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew.

Don Mueller, who played in the forties and fifties and who recently died, was known as Mandrake The Magician because of his ability to generate hits to any part of the field.

So what does it really take to hit the ball to the opposite field?

Mark Gola, the author of eight books on hitting and the former hitting coach at Princeton University and Rider College and the current Direct Of Athletic Communications at The College of New Jersey, described five keys to hitting to the opposite field.

1) Commit to it

Most young, talented hitters like to turn on or drive balls to the pull-side. It's where the hardest and longest balls are hit. But the pitch dictates where the ball is hit (with the exception of situational hitting). To hit the ball with authority to the opposite field, a hitter must commit to hitting ball that is located middle-away to the opposite field. 'Wanting' to pull the ball inhibits the hitters' ability to drive the ball the other way.

2) Let the ball get deep

To hit the ball to the opposite field, the hitter must let the ball get deep in the hitting zone. "Let the ball travel" is another commonly used phrase. This allows the batter to hit the ball with strength, maintain balance throughout the swing, and keep the hands in a palm-up, palm-down position at contact. When a hitter recognizes a pitch is away, he can think opposite field all he wants, but if his timing is too early, he will reach extension prematurely. Either the top hand will 'roll' prior to contact and hit a 'rollover groundball' or when he reaches the barrel will dip and pop the ball up weakly to the opposite field. To hit the ball the other way, you have to let it get deep.

3) Minimize hip rotation

A hitter needs to 'quiet' his hips when hitting the ball to the opposite field. They should not fully rotate. To turn on or pull a ball effectively, a hitter must fully rotate his hips. On a pitch over the outer half of the plate, the hips do not turn as much. This enables the hitter to keep the force of his swing on the ball and keep his head down. If the hips fully rotate, the force of the swing will begin to pull away from the ball and take the head with it.

4) Keep the top hand strong

The hitter must keep the top hand strong and keep the barrel of the bat above, and then at the middle of the baseball. Because outside strikes are farther away from the hitter, the tendency is for the top hand to 'lay off' a bit and the barrel slides beneath the middle of the ball. This often garners the description of the hitter "dragging his barrel". The top hand needs to stay strong to deliver the barrel of the bat to the middle of the ball with authority.

5) Finish the swing

A hitter needs to finish his swing when driving the ball to the opposite field. This allows the hitter to maintain bat speed to and through the ball. A mistake hitters make is that they resign themselves to a modified or less aggressive swing when hitting the ball to the opposite field. Yes, there is less time to generate bat speed from the load position to contact since the ball is traveling deeper in the hitting zone. But the objective is to "drive" the ball, not "serve it" the other way. Finishing the swing enables the hitter to maintain bat speed.

Claudio Reilsono, the head baseball coach at Carnegie Mellon, noted that most coaches would say to hit the " inside of the baseball" which I think is a good idea. This mental approach will enable you to bring your hands out in front of your body a bit more and the angle of the bat will be such that you will hit the inner half of the ball and drive it the other way."
"I also think that moving up in the box a little is quite helpful in learning to hit to the opposite field," says Reilsono.

Learning to hit to the opposite field can also help some hitters to break out of a hitting slump. It can also help players to feel more versatile at the plate.
 

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D., Psychotherapist, Author, Columnist And Founder of http://www.StayInTheZone.com.

 Dr. Granat has developed peak performance programs for top athletes from every sport from around the world. He has appeared in many major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, USA Today, ESPN,The Chicago Tribune, The CBC and The BBC. Golf Digest named him one of America's Top Mental Gurus. For more tips on hitting get 101 Ways To Break A Hitting Slump. He recently produced a new video called How To Avoid Choking, Get Mentally Tough And Stay In The Zone. These programs are available at http://www.stayinthezone.com. Dr. Granat is available for counseling and for seminars and can be reached at 888 580-ZONE or at info@stayinthezone.com.
 

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6 Bad Habits That Affect Baseball and Softball Hitters

By Mike Huber

One of the most common complaints from players is the lack of power behind the plate. No matter what philosophy of hitting you believe in, none of them will help you reach your greatest potential if these top 6 bad habits are not stopped in their tracks. This is true for baseball and girls' softball. If you have any of these bad habits, ridding yourself of them will automatically increase power and bat speed.

Smushing the Bug

If you were taught to smush the bug, you have dug yourself into a hole. Smushing the Bug involves a small muscle movement that reduces power and bat speed. Some hitters are taught to twist or turn their back foot to create more bat speed and power in the swing. Nothing can be farther than the truth. Additionally, it is nearly impossible for you to hit middle or outside pitches with the sweet spot of the bat if you have a spinning back foot problem. A sure pop out! This is the most major of these six diseases because it also throws off your balance. This bad habit needs to be fixed right away, but it's not easy.

Correction: Try swinging the bat while your back foot is planted flat on the ground. See if you can swing without moving your back heel off the ground. Also, it may be helpful to work on hitting outside pitches off of the tee. This will help you hit from your heels and keep that foot from spinning too soon.

Bat Wrapper

This common bad habit affects batters who were trained in the "back elbow up" theory. If your back elbow goes up when getting your weight back, the bat will start to wrap around your head and throw off the timing of the swing, ultimately adversely effecting power and bat speed.

Correction: In your stance, bring the elbow down right away. If this doesn't work and your elbow keeps popping up, lay the bat back in your top hand when you move your hands and weight back. This should help prevent the bat from wrapping around your head. You should iron this out by practicing this correction technique until you're confident that the habit is broken. This disease is most likely going to keep coming back, so monitor it and drill it out of your system!
Back leg collapse

This disease is pretty serious and must be addressed. When that back leg collapses, you lose all of the power in your big muscles, and your eyes and head do too much bobbing. This type of batter pops out a lot!

Correction: Stay as tall as possible in your stance and when swinging the bat for power.
If that doesn't work, do some swinging drills where you swing off your back leg only. If it collapses, you'll fall down swinging. Remember, stay tall and hit the ball!

Head Diver

This player was led to believe that if he dives his head near the contact zone, he'll see the ball better. This action causes your eyes to move off the ball path and throws you off balance. It also locks up the large muscles and prevents power and bat speed production.

Correction: Concentrate on thrusting your back muscles. If you're a head diver, you're trying too hard to hit the ball with your eyes instead of letting your body bring your hands to the ball. "Crack your back" and keep your head behind the ball. It is nearly impossible to have any kind of power or bat speed when you are off balance. Once you contact the ball, remember that it's OK to let your head come off of the ball for a complete follow-through!

Bent Lead Arm

If hitters' are swinging slightly up and popping up often, you can look to see if their lead arm is bending too much at the start of their swing. This problem is rare, but easy to fix.

Correction: All you need to do is concentrate on keeping the lead arm straighter when starting your swing. Most advanced or experienced hitters will not have this problem, but it's something to be aware of. Remember; only make adjustments when the ball is not flying like it should in batting practice. If you're hitting rockets and your lead arm bends a little, then who cares? In the swing, the lead arm will usually straighten at first and then possibly bend at contact depending on pitch location (Especially the low pitch).

Twister

The hitter who twists his upper torso while getting his weight back before he swings will have problems hitting the ball. There is way too much eye movement and upper body movement when the hitter has this problem. This throws your timing and swing path out of synch.

Correction: This is a rare disease that can be cured by religiously practicing getting your weight back without turning your shoulders. Your hands should move straight back without the shoulder turning much. It makes a big difference!
 

There are 25 bad habits that inflict baseball and softball players when they are up to bat. Most of these bad habits are old swing techniques that were actually taught to them by coaches, parents or other players on the team. You can learn how to quickly spot the 25 bad habits and how to correct them by visiting http://hubiemagicblog.com When you visit the site, you can also read about the discovery and development of the first perfect swing that works for both baseball and softball.

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Youth Baseball Coaches: Squishing the Bug Is a Bad Habit

ByMike Huber

If you coach youth baseball hitters to squash the bug, you have only dug them into a hole. Squashing the bug involves a small muscle movement that reduces power and bat speed. Some youth baseball hitters are taught to twist or turn their back foot to create more bat speed and power in the swing. Nothing can be farther than the truth. Additionally, it is nearly impossible to hit middle or outside pitches with the sweet spot of the bat if you have a spinning back foot problem. A sure pop out!

Why is the swing technique called squishing the bug still being taught to youth baseball hitters?

Some coaches believe that it is necessary that hitters be on the balls of their feet at the point of contact. This is commonly known and taught as "squishing the bug", "squish the bug", "squashing the bug", and "squash the bug". Coaches who advocate this swing technique are typically coaches in the youth leagues. This swing technique is not what great hitters do in the minor and major leagues.
Coaches who still advocate the squishing the bug swing technique typically do so for one of the following reasons:

1. Coaches often have large egos and believe that their methods are better than others.
2. The coach is underestimating the potential and abilities of youth baseball hitters.
3. They have never watched a video of pro hitters, in slow motion, frame by frame.

When viewing live speed videos or still images, you will probably see what looks like squishing the bug. But when viewed frame by frame, you will see that the bug doesn't get squished until well after the point of contact. The heel coming up off the ground and the ball of the foot twisting is actually a result of the body rotating on its center of mass or axis.

One other reason that a few coaches still advocate squishing the bug.

They believe it is a simple way to teach hip rotation to youth baseball hitters.

Some people contend that many coaches underestimate what youth baseball hitters can do. No matter how you look at it, or what the reasons are, teaching little league players the wrong swing techniques only sets them up for failure as they progress into higher leagues of baseball.

Youth baseball hitters need to learn the right way to swing the bat from the beginning so what they learn doesn't have to be unlearned later. Most adults know how hard it is to break bad habits.

In case you have been taught an incorrect way of hitting, here are a few tips for unlearning the squishing of the bug swing technique.

Try swinging the bat while your back foot is planted flat on the ground. See if you can swing without moving your back heel off the ground. Keep practicing until you can. Also, it may be helpful to work on hitting outside pitches off of the tee. This will help you hit from your heels and keep that foot from spinning too soon. Spinning the foot before the point of contact greatly reduces bat speed and power.
When players of any age learn the correct rotational swing technique, he or she will be able to hit balls over the outfield fence, even if they are the smallest kid on the team.
 

As a player moves up in the ranks, to high school, college and travel teams, he may not realize that his swing contains bad habits. Even the smallest of wrong movements can greatly reduce the power of your swing. Have your swing analyzed by a hitting specialist. Go to http://hubiemagicblog.com to learn more.

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Where to Find a Good Hitting Coach

ByMike Huber

If only finding a good hitting coach was as easy as looking in the yellow pages. Unfortunately, things just aren't that easy when it comes to baseball and softball hitting coaches. It can be difficult to find a good hitting coach for youth baseball and softball programs.

Think about it. Pro teams hire specialized coaches for anything and everything, even a bench coach who specializes in, I don't know, spitting? Just kidding, a bench coach is responsible for keeping the team motivated and focused and probably some other stuff, like bathroom breaks. On a more serious note, youth league teams typically have one general coach and an assistant coach. These coaches are volunteers and rarely specialize in any one area of the game.

Coaches of youth baseball and softball are often a parent of one of the players on the team. These coaches can be great at teaching the basics of the game but when a player has trouble with hitting, he/she is probably not the best person to ask for advice. The youth players and coach tend to bond, creating a sense of loyalty that can actually prevent a player from reaching his or her full potential as a hitter. How? The sense of loyalty often prevents the parents of the player from seeking outside help. Hitting a ball with a bat is the toughest part of the game to get a grip on. Most youth players either suck at it or they are naturally gifted hitters. Without a good hitting coach, the youth players that suck at it probably always will and, more often than not, quit playing the game before they reach high school.

Can you imagine how many kids quit the game because they didn't have a good hitting coach to bring out their full potential and hidden natural talents?

A good hitting coach has an arsenal of tips and tricks that help players hone their abilities and reach their own, individual best performance behind the plate. Before we discuss where to find a good hitting coach, we first need to know what makes a coach a good hitting coach.

Characteristics of a good hitting coach:

• Has a proven track record
• Has a stack of positive testimonials from previous clients
• Can explain their approach to hitting and why it works, in simple terms
• Can explain to the player(s) the what, when, why and how of each step
• Can show the player proof of their improvement after a number of lessons
• Can identify and solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Builds confidence and mental toughness along with skills (mental toughness doesn't mean military style training)

Where to find a good hitting coach.

Despite the bonding that may have taken place between the volunteer coach and his youth players, a good coach will be the first one to suggest that parents hire a good hitting coach for their child. He is also the first one a parent should ask for suggestions. You won't find a coach in the yellow pages, usually, but instead, by asking around. Ask the other parents, coaches of opposing teams, schools, and so on. Word of mouth is a good hitting coach's best advertising and all you have to do to find one is ask. Before hiring a coach that specializes in hitting, make sure they meet all of the above list of characteristics. Otherwise, you will be wasting your time and money.

Every coach has their own ideas of what works and what doesn't. If what they are preaching works, then they shouldn't have a problem with showing you proof that their approach to hitting works. Hitting philosophies are abundant and comparable to religion in the fact that each one claims truth, but unlike religion, the proof is tangible.
 

Mike Huber is a team hitting specialist for baseball and softball, who has 10 years of solid evidence that his hitting system, called Hubie Magic, works. He meets and exceeds the list of characteristics of a good hitting coach and his hitting system has a plus 90 percent success rate. You can read about the Hubie Magic Hitting System at http://aboutbaseball.co or his main site at http://hubiemagic.com
 

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Best Hitting Technique to Increase Bat Speed

By Mike Huber

Is Bat Speed Important?

Fast bat speed is the skill that hitters are now focusing on and seeking out new ways to accomplish the fastest bat speed possible. Keeping alert to and learning new batting techniques is what training is all about. A fast bat speed is important in both baseball and softball and it can definitely give the hitter a jump on the competition. Increasing your swing speed is the key to hitting the ball harder and further but some hitting techniques have limits as to how fast a hitter can swing the bat, merely because of the laws of physics. Baseball scouts love to see bat speed at their combine and showcase camps. When it is recorded on paper, it is the one hitting skill that really stands out for the scouts.

How to Increase Bat Speed

As a way to increase bat speed, hitters are beginning to take a closer look at rotational swing mechanics because it has been proven to increase the speed of your swing and thus, the rate of bat speed. Many hitter training systems and consensus coaches have adapted to a technique that combines linear mechanics with rotational mechanics as a way to increase the speed of the bat. In some cases, this combo technique has been proven to increase the average bat speed by 20+ mph.

Combo Technique Explained

The part of the swing that helps swing speed rise is the pushing off of the back leg before rotating the hips into the ball. It has been proven by radar guns, that this technique out performs the old techniques of the past. Put a ball on the tee and take the combo hitting technique for a test drive. Radar guns don't lie. Then watch the flight of the ball, it also doesn't lie. Hitters and coaches around the world of baseball are buying into this combination technique. This technique makes sense, initially, and is backed by a substantial amount of statistical proof to support it. But, does that make it the best technique for increasing bat speed?

Popularity Doesn't Come Without Limitations

Is this combo technique too good to be true? One hitting specialist's answer is yes! The scientific answer to this is also yes. Even though the test results don't lie, they are deceptive. Why? Because each time a hitter uses the technique, he or she should show improvement until they reach their maximum potential. Like the saying, "Practice makes perfect." The deception is that there is a limit as to how fast a hitter can swing the bat using that method, thus lowering what should be, the hitter's maximum potential.

This technique, that combines linear mechanics with rotational swing mechanics, really doesn't work to bring each hitter to their maximum hitting potential. The reason is because hitters are taught to hit the ball when it is out in front of them. The hitter is taught to launch a linear attack off the back foot to meet the ball in front, then follow that up with a powerful rotational hip action. Sure, speed increases, but the forward movement toward the ball has wasted time and resulted in a limit to power and speed.

Once the hitter makes a move or slides forward to the ball, he needs more bat speed to make up for wasted time. So really it is all a wash in most cases. The increase in bat speed made up for the lost time; meaning that the hitter can only get so much better.

The Key is the Right Swing Technique

In reality, the key to a finding a hitter's maximum potential is to teach them a hitting technique that increases both time and speed. The problem with introducing a swing technique that uses only rotational swing mechanics is that most trainers will claim that you can't gain bat speed without linear body momentum when starting the swing.

Their theory has been proven wrong over and over again, but most coaches and trainers just won't listen and take the time to try it for themselves. Using rotational mechanics to produce maximum power and speed has been scientifically backed and proven by those who study martial arts. Several rules that are common in martial arts and the laws of physics can be applied to real life baseball and softball hitting scenarios.

One such technique has been perfected and tested for well over 10 years. Teams and individuals who have been trained in the all rotational swing method have been astounded by its power from the very first swing. The rotational swing method has aided teams and individuals of both baseball and softball in breaking over 80 batting records and winning many championship games. Testing of this method has consistently produced batting average and slugging percentage increases of up to 200 points.

The all rotational swing method is the only hitting technique known to product these results in only two steps and in as little as three lessons. It is the only hitting technique known to produce increased batting average and slugging percentage, simultaneously. To date, using a hitting system that consists of only rotational mechanics has not been beaten by linear or combination hitting system.
 

If you are a baseball or softball coach or hitting trainer, I urge you to try this out for yourself. I truly believe you will be amazed. You can learn more about the all-rotational hitting technique at http://hubiemagic.com
 

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Develop Proper Hitting Mechanics in the Batting Cage

By James J Lathon

You can improve your hitting by using the batting cage. The advantages are you can work on your timing, and develop good habits. It is important to know when you are getting good quality hits. A quality hit is not only hitting the ball hard but the type of hits you are getting.

The focus should be on hitting line drives and hitting the ball on the ground. With time, these types of hits will translate into higher hitting average, and there is less chance of these balls being caught as opposed to fly balls. Here are some techniques that have helped many hitters and are practiced by many big leaguers.

The strategy on hitting a baseball to help keep you focus and meeting you goal is scoring your batting cage practice. All that is needed is a person to keep tracking of your hitting performance as you are batting in the batting cage.

To accomplish this follow these simple steps:

1. Use the three-point hitting system. This point system awards 3 points for line drives, 2 points for balls hit on the ground or low to the ground, and 1 point for fly balls.

2. Create the three hitting zones. For the hitting cage as well as the practice field, by use of arbitrary markers for each zone. The Zones are to be separated by about 6 yards. The ground ball hitting should have a horizontal zone from the ground to six (6) yards straight up in the air. The line drive hitting zone should be the zone between 6 and 12 yards in the air. Finally the fly ball zone should be the hitting zone between 12 and 18 yards in the air.

3. Using the Arbitrary markers in the batting cage. In the hitting cages, you can use arbitrary markers such as the top of the pitching machine to mark off each section. Regardless of your arbitrary markers, you want to star scoring each session in the batting cage.

4. Record your results after each session. It's important to get in the habit of recording each of your sessions. As you keep this record try to outdo your previous best scores. This will turn batting practice into a game and you will benefit and get more enjoyment out of your practices
.
5. If at the batting cage by yourself, use the memory technique. At times you will be along at the batting cage, in these instances focus on your scoring by seeing how many times you hit 6 in this target zones. Your goal for the next round should be to get at least 7 hits in this area. This type of concentrated thinking will not require you to see how you scored in the other areas, and still get the maximum benefit and encouraging you to hit in these main zones.

Like most everything in life, you get better at things the more times you do them. Hitting a baseball is no different. The best advice for baseball hitting is practice, practice, and I repeat PRACTICE YOUR SWING. This is the strategy that work for the PROS.

James Lathon is the owner of ProHittingCages.com. Visit his website for more baseball tips and to see various batting cages that hitters around the country are using to train with today.

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Developing Poor Hitters? Wooden Bats Vs Aluminum

By Jim Bain

The number one fear I have is, Are we developing a generation of poor hitters without realizing it? Are screaming line drives, hit by 70 pound kids, the result of excellent hitting mechanics or the result of the bat he's using? One must begin to consider this scenario as composite baseball bats are beginning to be banned by little league, high school and college levels as illegal because they are becoming dangerous.

It's a scientific fact composite and aluminum bats add 20 to 30 feet of distance to a hit ball. They are very forgiving of a swing which produces "bad contact" or "mis-hits" resulting in a Texas League line drive into right field instead of a soft line drive to the second baseman. True and very knowledgeable baseball people would find it nearly impossible to determine which Pinging Sound was the result of solid contact or a miscue with their eyes closed.

We really don't know for sure what kind of hitters we are developing until they begin hitting with wooden bats.

Looking To The Future: Advise to Coaches

Coaches at the higher age and talent level should take it upon themselves to perform some real soul searching and look at what might be the Best for their players, although it will place the win - loss record in jeopardy.

Players with enough talent to be seriously scouted by Major League Scouts, or college for that matter, should intensely consider switching from an aluminum bat and begin using a wooden baseball bat.

I realize this is a Catch 22 with possibly huge impacts on the player's numbers. A 30 home run season suddenly becomes a 20 or even 18 home run season. Texas league base hits, which add to the batting average, become outs and more than likely the number of Extra base hits go down. High prices to pay when trying to accumulate spectacular numbers in which to impress scouts.

However, there is a positive flip side. Should the hitter discover, by the sound and results of using a wooden baseball bat, his hitting mechanics aren't quite as good as thought, he has time to adjust and correct the flaws before being thrust into a higher level, A ball for example, and suddenly realize he has issues. *** Rookie level Minor League Baseball forward prohibits using anything but a wooden baseball bat. ***

Secondly, Baseball Scouts, although far from perfect, look at how many teams passed by Albert Pujos in the draft, are not stupid people in regards to baseball issues. They see and realize a player using a wooden baseball bat hitting.303 with 12 home runs and 60 RBIs, is a much better hitter than the player hitting.340 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs while using an aluminum bat.

Bottom line: We don't know what kind of a hitter a player is until he's forced to use a wooden bat.

Jim Bain, former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth, shares his advice on running baseball drills on his exciting info packed website: learn-youth-baseball-coaching.com


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The Best Way to Stop Your Fear of Being Hit by a Pitch

By Thomas E Wilson

For some young baseball players one of the leading troubles to overcome in baseball is the fear of being hit by a pitch while batting. This fear is the reason behind many technical problems at the plate, the most significant being "stepping in the bucket" where you step away from the plate as you swing. It is basically impossible to be a good hitter if you're afraid of the ball. As former Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski stated, "If you're afraid of being hit, you might as well not bother going up to the plate at all. You can't hit the ball if you're afraid it will hit you." While this may be a big fear to overcome, with a little hard work and effort it can be done.

The very first thing you should do for you to overcome your fear of being hit by a pitch would be to realize why you are scared of it. You're likely scared of being hit by a pitch because you don't want to be harmed or in pain. Well, if you master how to avoid getting injured when a pitch is coming at you, you will most certainly be less scared of the ball hitting you. If you are going to get hit by a pitch, the ideal spot to get hit is on the back or side of your body. So rather than bailing out and exposing the front of your body you should turn towards the backstop in a clockwise direction (if you are right-handed) so that your back is what gets hit. If you get hit in the back or side you will not be in as much pain as you would be in if you got hit in other places.

Now that you realize what to do if a pitch is coming at you, you should repair your confidence in acknowledging that if the pitch does hit you, it's not going to hurt significantly because it will hit your back or side. A terrific drill to perform will be to have somebody kneel ten feet from the hitter and throw rolled up socks for the player to swing at (only if they're strikes). Once in a while throw a rolled up sock at the batter and have him turn away from the pitch the proper way rather than step away from the pitch.

As soon as the player gets the hang of it using socks, progress to tennis balls, and after that soft tee-balls. As soon as the hitter feels safe knowing it does not hurt very much when the ball hits his back and he is not stepping in the bucket even with soft tee-balls, start using normal baseballs. Throw some batting practice as you would normally, but throw a couple of pitches directly at him. If he uses the right technique of turning away from the pitch, he'll soon recognize that it doesn't hurt very much to get hit in the back or side even using a normal baseball. His overall confidence while hitting will improve and he will have the ability to hit the ball better than ever as he will be striding towards the pitch instead of away from it.

It is really depressing that a lot of young baseball players with a lot of potential never succeed and often quit playing just because they're afraid of being hit by a pitch. We all have fears and it's important, whether we are referring to baseball or life in general, to conquer those fears. By working hard and digging deep, you'll be able to get over this fear with no problems and get back to your baseball workouts and doing your best at the game.

In addition, if you are interested in improving your game, check out www.BestBaseballWorkouts.com to find more helpful information as well as baseball workouts and training programs for sale that will take your game to the next level!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_E_Wilson

Real Hitting Tips For Baseball Players

By Jeffery A Wise

Hitting tips are meant to help baseball players. And while there are many different tips, some are more effective than others. In order for any hitting tip to work, you have to commit to it and practice it often. Even if you're hitting a.300, don't stop practicing your hitting because practice is sure to make you better and better.

The hitting tips listed here are the most common and the most helpful for baseball players. First, you have to be a confident hitter. If you have doubts about your skills and capabilities, you are more likely to fail and get more strikes than hits. Trust that you can and will get the job done.

You also have to be familiar with the strike zone. If you know this area you will be able to judge whether a pitch is a strike or a ball. This will lessen your chances of striking out.

Baseball is as much mental as it is physical. So, you must be prepared mentally while you're at bat. Ignore what's going on around you and just focus on the pitcher and what he's throwing.

You must have a consistent, smooth swing every time you swing the bat. You also need a good batting stance. If you don't feel balanced and comfortable, you will not be able to hit the ball.

Recognize each pitch and practice adjusting to changes. If you are able to recognize the difference between a curveball and a fastball, you will be better prepared for the swing.

Every baseball player has a hitting slump occasionally. Learn how to shake the slumps and get back in the game physically and mentally. A slump isn't the end of the world, but how you react to slumps determines how quickly you get out of them.

Situational hitting is necessary to learn. Before you even step up to the plate, you need to have a goal and know what your mission is. Do you need to move a runner over? How many outs are there? If you have any questions about what you should do, talk to a coach.

Remember that no matter where you are in the line-up, every position is important for winning games. You have been put where you are because of your strengths. Trust your coaches and just focus on helping your team win.

Lastly, take care of your body on and off the ball field. To be the best player you can be, you need to eat healthy and exercise. Of course, you also need to have fun.

Think about each of these hitting tips and practice them as often as you can. If you need help in any area, ask a coach, teammate or parent.

Remember that the reason to practice your hitting tips is to give you skills and talent to become the baseball player you want to be. Find out why you need Baseball Bats that are comfortable in your hands.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise

5 Surefire Ways To Become A Better Hitter

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to introduce to you 5 surefire ways to become a better hitter! These methods have been working for years, and you can copy them today, right here and right now!

Alright so the first surefire way to become a better hitter is you need to develop the right mindset for success. If you have ever read the book, The Secret, or have learned about the law of attraction, you understand how powerful your mind actually is. You see, when you just go through the motions in life or baseball, you are pretty much just walking aimlessly. What you need to do is create some goals, stick to them, and use your brain to your advantage!

The next way to become a better hitter is to work hard and work often. I'm sure you have heard the saying, practice makes perfect, but I don't believe this is true. I believe perfect practice makes perfect.

Next, you need to watch the game of baseball! Not many players actually watch the game. I believe if you watch and learn from people who have been successful before, you will be a great hitter!

The fourth surefire way to becoming a better hitter is learning from your mistakes. Video tape your swing and watch it. See what you are doing wrong!

The final way to become a better baseball player and hitter is to constantly work on your swing and strive to make yourself better. Remember, every day you have a choice to get better or worse. Which choice will you make?

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

How To Become A Baseball Hitting Machine

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to tell you exactly how to become a baseball hitting machine. If you are looking for a way to start producing better numbers and start absolutely crushing your competition, then this is the best article for you to read!

The first thing I want to tell you about how to become a baseball hitting machine is to overcome failure fast and easily without letting it affect your game! Lots of times players will strike out or hit a pop fly and come back to the dug out screaming or throwing their bat or glove. This is not necessary and will just lead to more failures.

Instead, you should keep your head up, think about your mistakes for a minute or two, and then move on. If you know what you did wrong but you move on, you will see much greater success very fast.

The next thing you need to do in order to turn yourself into a machine is to get a groove going. Find a swing that fits your style and your body and go with it! Don't try and re-invent the wheel. Look at pro baseball players' swings and see what they are doing. Model your swing after what you see them doing.

The last thing you need to do is produce. I know this kind of sounds like a no brainer, but in order to be a machine, you need to be automatic, right? Focus on the little things, don't get distracted, and you will be on your way to becoming a baseball hitting machine.

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

How to Increase Your Power Hitting

By Jim Bain

Anyone who coaches or hangs around the baseball park long enough will see the player labeled "Potential" but never seems to quite live up to expectations. He's the player no pitcher can seem to strike out, but he can't seem to buy a hit, because although he always seems to make contact, he can't get the ball out of the infield.

This otherwise very good ball player has one of two problems which require addressing in order to improve his hitting power. The first issue is one of faulty hitting mechanics, the player is not opening his hips quick enough or wide enough to generate sufficient power from the bat to the baseball.

A decent batting coach can view two or three swings and tell immediately if the player has a mechanical problem or a strength problem, one part which could be weak legs. The legs generate the power used to swing the hips open and strengthening the legs with squats and lunges will help, increased strength never hurts, in creating explosive hips.

However, the player's mechanics may be fine, and based on his ability to make contact on a consistent basis, indicates they probably are, then there is an upper body strength issue.

A player's wrist, forearms and fingers must be strong or else the power generated from the hips, legs and shoulders is absorbed at these points before the power can be transferred to the ball.

Look at it in this light. You have a 50' water hose hooked to the outside faucet (spigot) which produces enough pressure (100psi) out of the hose nozzle to shoot a stream of water 10' and knock a plastic cup off the table.

However there are three couplings in the 50' length of pipe which leak badly allowing water to stream out. Because of the loss of water to these 3 leaks, the 100 psi pressure from the faucet is reduced to 60 psi out of the nozzle.

There are numerous methods for strengthening the forearms, wrist and fingers, but one drill will increase the strength of all three at one time and improve the batter's swing.

It's a very basic, cave man actually, drill, but extremely effective. You'll need an old car tire which is not mounted on a wheel, a large truck tire or donut tire will not work well for this drill.

Using a rope or chain, hang the tire from an overhead structure or tree limb, where the middle of tire hangs at belt level of the hitter. Using a wooden bat, the hitting assumes his normal batting stance, then swings hitting the tire with the bat.

The intent is to swing through the tire, hitting the tire and moving it out of the way as you finish your follow through. Initially the hitter will not be able to move the tire very much, but as his strength increases the tire will be moved farther, due to the increased energy transfer from the bat to the tire, because the weak body parts are now strong.

Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain

7 Tips On How To Become A Better Hitter!

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to talk to you about 7 tips on how to become a better hitter. These tips have not only allowed to me to be a great hitter, but they completely transformed my game and how I play baseball. Heck, I even signed a pro contract a few years ago!

Alright, so let's get down to business.

Tip #1. Watch your favorite baseball players and develop your swing after theirs!

Tip #2. Create your own style! Don't try and exactly imitate your favorite player's swing, create your own swing. Watch how good their mechanics are, but remember that all of us have different bodies, so no swing should be the exact same.

Tip #3. Find your mistakes and correct them. You can do this using a video camera, pictures, or even having someone with experience watch you hit.

Tip #4. Practice often. The best time to practice your baseball swing is during the off season when no one else is working! Do all the tips listed above in the off season, so when the regular season comes, you will be ready to rock and roll!

Tip #5. Practice the correct things! I'm sure you have heard the saying, practice makes perfect. I think the saying should be, perfect practice makes perfect.

Tip #6. Work harder than your competition. This tip can tie right into practicing often, but if you work harder in practice than other players, you will perform better.

Tip #7. Have fun! Don't get frustrated when you strike out or make an error!

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

3 Key Components to Creating A Great Baseball Swing!

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to tell you my closely guarded hitting secrets that only a tight knit group of coaches and players know. I will show you the 3 key components to creating a great baseball swing!

Alright, so obviously if you are on this page you play baseball. And obviously you are not seeing all the results that you wish to see, right!? Of course that is the case, because if it weren't, you would be a pro already!

So here are a few of my key components to creating a great baseball swing. The first thing you need to do is develop the right mechanics and tools in order to succeed. Try and sit down and watch baseball. Don't just flip through tv channels, actually watch the game and pay attention.

Pay close attention to the small things. Watch how hitters hold the bat. Watch what they do once they are on base. All of these things can make you a better hitter.

The next key component is to actually practice baseball! You can't get better at anything if you don't take the time to practice and make yourself better, so do it!

The last thing that you can do to become a better hitter and baseball player is have fun playing the game. Lots of players take a simple game too seriously. Unless you are playing at the pro level, it is not your job. Sure you want to perform and play well, but it's not your job. Don't treat it like one!

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

5 Essential Secrets to Hitting

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to talk to you about the 5 essential secrets to hitting. These secrets have not just made me a better hitter, they have transformed my game and they have helped turn me into an elite hitter. These tips and tricks can be put to use right away, so you don't have to wait weeks or months to see results.

Okay, so the first essential secret to hitting a baseball well and with lots of power is to practice your hitting swing often!

I know what you're thinking. Obviously you think this so called "secret" is something that is just plain common sense, but to be honest, simply practicing longer and working harder will translate directly into success, which is what you want!

The next essential secret is training in the off season. This is somewhat over looked by players, probably because they get lazy or just can't find the motivation. Be different and stand out!

The third thing you can do to become a better hitter is learn from your mistakes! Find out what you are doing wrong and simply fix it! Try and video tape your swing and learn! Next, you can watch baseball and learn from your favorite players. Again, this concept is far overlooked but is extremely powerful!

The fifth essential secret to hitting is to not get too frustrated and just have fun! Remember, baseball is just a game, so treat it that way! Unless you are playing in the pros, it is not your job! Have fun!

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

How to Increase Your Baseball Hitting Success!

By Justin Willman

In this article, I am going to tell you everything you need to know about how to increase your baseball hitting success!

To tell you the truth, there is no pill or potion you can take to make yourself a better hitter and baseball player over night. If there was, it would definitely be a hot seller. Honestly, there is a reason why people don't play baseball. Some kids may say it is a dumb, boring, slow sport that requires no skill, but the real reason they don't like it is because it is hard!

Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports. That is why you are considered a very good hitter if you hit over.300, which is having success just three times out of time. If you hit.400 in the Big Leagues, you will not only be an all star, you will be in the Hall of Fame.

So now let's get to the meat. How to increase your baseball hitting success! The first thing you need to do is practice a lot. I know, common sense right? Although this seems like an easy concept to understand, many players do not practice hard enough or long enough in order to really see results.

Next, you need to practice in the off season when no one else is. This is when the cream truly rises to the top and this is the time you can show everybody you are the best player on the field!

I am a former pro baseball player, having helped hundreds of people to easy baseball success. I've recently developed a video training course showing you a step by step process for making your baseball training results come easier and faster. To learn how to become a better hitter without all the fluff, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman

Creating the Perfect Batting Stance

By Jim Bain

A batting stance which does not allow a fluid and mechanically sound swing and follow through will void any aspirations of becoming a good hitter. Learning the proper batting stance is the second most important thing you must learn as a hitter. What's the first thing? Professional baseball players will quickly tell you hitting is 90% mental, and without a clarity of purpose and a vision of how the body is going to perform while hitting the ball, the body will not respond efficiently enough to consistently hit the ball with power. Mental toughness is for another lesson.

There are numerous basic mechanics, which we'll delve into, but the first thing which must be addressed about perfecting a batting stance is it must be Comfortable and Balanced for you. These are the two basic building blocks all batting stances are perpetuated on, and I know there are Professional Baseball Players, who resemble pretzels or some other weird looking configuration and who will violate one or more of the elements required for a good batting stance.

One must remember, these players are the exception and are not to be mimicked, as we are looking at establishing good fundamental basics on which to build.

Some of these steps you are already performing, some may be uncomfortable at first, but all of them will become automatic after you acquire more experience, but it is important we look at and identify every step individually to establish a good system and batting stance.

Squaring yourself to the plate should be the first thing you do as you enter the batters box. The greater majority of hitters, more or less, place their feet shoulder width apart with home plate centered between the legs. This is not an unbreakable rule as some hitters prefer to stand up or back in the box, but the majority will straddle the plate.

Where you stand in the box is of your choosing, but no matter where you stand in the box, always stand in the exact same location every time you bat. You must be able to establish a location in which to relate to the ball or else you will not see the break or the rotation of the ball clearly if you're seeing it from a different perspective every time you hit.

Extend your bat out and be sure you can touch the outside of the plate with it, if not move closer because you may have trouble reaching an outside pitch if you're too far away from the plate.

Standing with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width, bend your knees and bring your chest over your feet. You don't want to be erect when hitting because it retards flexibility, rather lean slightly forward, insuring your weight in on the balls of your feet, not on your heels.

The next step is learning the proper way to hold the bat. A lot of players grip the bat more with the palm of their hand than their fingers, which is incorrect as few people realize there is no strength in the palms of your hands, only in the fingers. You want a strong grip on the bat for control. A little hint: Always check to make sure your Knocking Knuckles on both hands line up. This is the proper grip and if they aren't lined up adjust them to where they are.

Holding the bat your hands should be brought to shoulder level, slightly above or below is also acceptable as long as you can still wrap the bat barrel around the back of your head.

You now have a perfect foundation on which to build additional hitting skills.

Jim Bain - Former Minor league baseball player, who since retiring has dedicated his life to teaching baseball to youth. Visit his exciting info packed website: http://www.Learn-Youth-Baseball-Coaching.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain

Hitting - Teaching the Correct Stride

By Andy Pohl

The stride might be the most over taught aspect of the baseball swing. Simply speaking, the stride is the movement of the front leg before contact. Personally, I don't care how a hitter strides, as long as they stride to balance. Some hitters, like Juan Gonzales, kick up their front leg as if they were pitching. Other hitters, such as Chipper Jones and Sammy Sosa, bring their front foot back and forward quickly as if they were tapping the ground. Other hitters, such as Jeff Bagwell, do not stride at all-they just pick their front foot slightly off the ground and put it back in the same spot. Whatever is comfortable with the hitter works for me, as long as certain rules apply. In addition, regardless of how a one strides, all successful hitters stride to a balanced position. The phrase "stride to balance" is often used to further describe this aspect of the swing.

First of all, hitters must not over stride, or stride out too far. This results in an unbalanced position that prevents the hitter from making a powerful move towards the ball. Secondly, hitters must stride with their front foot at or very close to a 45 degree angle. A wide open foot while striding prematurely releases the hips, thus decreasing the hitter's power and plate coverage. A closed front foot locks up the hips, thus preventing the hitter's ability to create maximum rotation. Striding with the front foot close to a 45 degree angle enables the hitter to maintain both their posture and balance throughout the swing while correctly laying the foundation for a proper hip rotation. Finally, and most importantly, hitters must not move forward when striding. Moving forward during the stride, otherwise known as a 'dive move', causes the hitter to lose all balance and power.

Ultimately, when the hitter strides, the head should remain over the rear knee. During the stride, there is only slight linear motion forward, and after the front heel drops to the ground, the linear aspect of the swing is over. There is no more movement forward. The dropping of the front heel acts as an anchor that stops the hitter's momentum from going forward. After the hitter's front heel is firmly planted on the ground, the hitter moves rotationally to the baseball.

By keeping the weight on the backside and minimizing forward linear motion during the stride, the hitter is able to keep his upper body still, mainly his head. This allows the hitter to see the pitch better, which in turn, increases his ability to make consistent contact. While it is hard enough to hit any moving object, it is much harder to hit that moving object when you are moving too. Keeping the head still enables the hitter to see the plane of the pitch more accurately. Remember, hitting is sight oriented. No matter how good one's mechanics are, nobody, not even Ted Williams, could hit blindfolded.

Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports

DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com


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Rotational Hitting Mechanics - The Best Hitting Mechanics You Can Teach Your Players

By George Montoya

What are the best batting mechanics you can teach your players?

As a baseball coach, that's a question that I get all the time. If you look around you'll notice well meaning coaches doing the same stale drills, but never really improving their player's mechanics. In fact, these baseball coaches, most of the time, are enforcing poor hitting mechanics.

So what can you do?

The fact is that 95% of all Hall of Fame hitters are using rotational hitting mechanics. That's right; the Major League swing is rotational hitting.

I learned how to teach rotational hitting, and so can you.

Here are some key things to keep in mind about rotational hitting.


It all starts with the grip - The knocking knuckles of the hand have to be lined up; this makes for a more accurate swing. Why do you think an axe handle is oval? It automatically lines up your knuckles for a reason - accuracy!
The stance - You don't want to be too wide or to narrow. A good start is feet shoulder width apart, or about the length of their bat wide.
Load - As the pitcher begins their motion, the batter turns their lead shoulder and front knee toward the plate slightly, always keeping both eyes on the pitchers release point.
Stride and weight transfer - The batter shifts their weight from the back foot to the front foot on a tilted axis, NOT a straight up and down axis. You might even note that their back foot becomes light, sometimes even coming completely off of the ground a couple of inches.
The Hips - Once the batter is going to take their swing, their front heel drops locking out the front leg, and the hips begin to rotate. The rotation of the hips is what pulls the hands around. This is when the batter turns around a fixed axis, their front leg.

Important! The key rotational hitting points above are what most Major League baseball players do during their swing. You CAN learn to teach the mechanics of the Major League swing.

Don't ignore these steps. Quit doing the same stale drills ever other coach out there is teaching. Do your players justice... YOU CAN!

Learn the rotational hitting drills that will show you how to improve your player's mechanics, and make you look like baseball genius.

At www.baseballslugger411.com you can get all the information you need to succeed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Montoya