Hitting Tips - September/October
From the Illustrated Hitting Guide
Stepping Out on the Pitch
This generally begins because of fear of the ball
and may continue later simply because of habit. To help correct this habit, place a ball
glove or something flat to the left of the hitter’s stride area (for right-handers),
so they know when they are stepping out. If they realize they are stepping out and
continue doing it, they may have a balance problem. Have them lift their front heel off
the ground during their stance and stride. This will help them keep their weight forward
toward the plate.
Stepping out may also be due to the desire to pull the ball. Discourage strict
pull-hitting. The hitter should develop the mental image of hitting the ball straight back
at the pitcher and hitting to all fields.
If fear is a factor, it is important to convince the player that he is safer when striding
straight at the pitcher than when bailing out. The proper movement of the batter when a
ball is thrown at him is to turn inward toward the plate and then toward the catcher
(while dropping his head if the pitch is high). This protects his head and chest (the two
dangerous places to get hit). Bailing out opens the hitter up and usually results in
exposing the chest and head to the ball. Also, I know several young players who have
overcome their fear through on-deck prayer.
Hitting Tips - August
From the Illustrated Hitting Guide
Lunging and Overstriding
Lunging forward during stride
Many young players fail to keep their weight and hands back when striding toward the
pitcher. A simple way to work on this is to have players take (not swing at) pitches
during batting practice and freeze until you have time to look at the position of their
hands. Also, striding from their ready position (or stance) over and over will help remove
the lunge from their swinging habit.
Over striding
Over striding is a serious problem for many hitters,
leading to movement of their head and loss of balance. Often, widening their stance can
help correct this problem (they simply can't stride as far). In addition, placing their
ball glove six inches in front of their lead foot during batting practice can help them
from striding too far. Some hitters reduce their stride by trying to simply pick up their
front foot and placing it back down (it will still go forward when they are hitting).
Hitting Tips - July
From the Illustrated Hitting Guide
Correcting a Weak Swing
A swing that is slow in relation to a player’s physical ability reflects a problem in
thinking. Often a player slows down his swing in an effort to "just make
contact." Making contact is not hitting. This is very poor advice to give a player in
most situations. If a player takes a good swing, he will generally make better contact
than if he just tries to get the bat on the ball.
Mental focusing on bat speed often corrects a weak swing. One good way of creating this
focus is to define the position of the hands in the launch position (right before the
swing starts) as point A. Also, define the hands above the lead shoulder after the
follow-through is complete as point B. Then have the player concentrate on getting from
point A to point B as quickly as possible (without losing his balance or pulling his
head). Make sure the hands extends fully forward in getting to point B. Emphasizing
"A to B" during batting practice will help to develop a faster swing.
Hitting Tips
- June
From the
Illustrated Hitting Guide
Keep the Front Toe Closed During the Stride
Many coaches and parents instruct hitters to point their front toe at the pitcher when
striding. Pointing the toe when striding at the pitcher will cause their hips to open
before the start of the swing. Opening the hips early (before the swing actually starts)
reduces the power of the swing. Premature opening of the hips can also make it difficult
to hit an outside pitch. Instead, the toe should be pointing somewhere between closed (in
the direction of the plate) and a 45 degree angle (in the direction half-way between the
plate and the pitcher). This will allow the hips to explode open when the swing begins.
Keeping the front toe closed is one of Charlie Lau's "Ten Absolutes of Good
Hitting."
Hitting Tips
- May
From the
Illustrated Hitting Guide
Stance versus Swing
There are a lot of opinions and misinformation about a batter’s stance. At
the professional level, there are many extreme stances that are often criticized. Julio
Franco, for example, begins with his hands and bat over his head. Mickey Tettleton, on the
other hand, keeps his hands low with the bat held flat behind him. Eric Davis holds his
bat forward in the middle of his body. What many people don’t understand is that
their swings are very similar. Once their stride foot touches down, each of these players
has his hands over his rear foot at a height around the arm pit. This is the launch
position.
Younger players need to develop a stance that’s comfortable and that allows them to
reach the proper launch position as they land on their stride foot. As a general rule, the
younger the player, the closer he should hold his hands to the launch position when taking
his stance.
Hitting Tips -
April
From the
Illustrated Hitting
Guide
Poor Timing
Swinging late is often a problem with young players. One reason for swinging late involves
the hitter not knowing where he is suppose to make contact with the ball. Many want to
make contact over the plate instead of in front of it. Carrying the ball to the plate and
having the hitter swing slowly, indicating where they want the bat to make contact with
the ball, is a good way to show them to hit the ball out in front. Also, they should be
taught that the point of contact needs to be further out in front of the plate when the
ball is pitched inside and closer to the plate when the ball is pitched outside.
Players also need to understand that they must swing at a smaller ball against a fast
pitcher. They have to make the decision to swing a bit earlier and fire the hands at the
ball when it is further from the plate than they are used to (the ball looks smaller
further away from the plate).
The most important thing for good timing, however, is to teach hitters to make adjustments
with their stride foot. If they are swinging late, they need to lift the front foot and
begin the stride earlier. If they are swinging early, they need to lift the front foot and
begin the stride later.
Hitting Tips -
March
From the
Illustrated
Hitting Guide
Proper Hitting Goals
The goals of getting a hit (short term) or to hit .300 (long term) sound reasonable at
first. But having goals that are not within one’s control can lead to frustration,
desperation and a lowered probability of success. A line drive caught by the center
fielder should be considered more of a success than a bloop single over the short stop.
A more reasonable and useful goal is to have a successful at bat. Successful at bats are
under the hitter’s control. They don’t depend on how good the pitcher is or a
great defensive play. They don’t necessarily exclude a strike out. They can be
monitored by parents or coaches and provide the basis for real improvement (which
isn’t necessarily the case with batting averages). Such a goal also puts success
within every player’s reach.
A good at bat first and foremost involves taking a good
swing. Players should be taught to take a good swing or not to swing at all. A bad swing
single is not a success at the plate. The "just make contact" mentality has hurt
a lot of young players. "Good swing" in this context includes proper tracking of
the ball to the plate, good weight shift, balance, etc.
The second aspect of a good at bat is swinging at the
right pitches. This part of a good at bat will vary by hitter and experience. Generally,
this involves swinging only at strikes or, with two strikes, swinging at pitches that are
close to being a strike. For more advanced players, this might involve swinging at
specific pitches in selected parts of the strike zone early in the count.
The third aspect of a good at bat is making adjustments,
especially in relation to timing. Swinging late at the first pitch is fine as long as the
swing isn’t as late on the next pitch, etc.
A good at bat is a short term goal. Long term goals will
vary by level and experience (and concentration levels for very young players). Batting
.800, or having successful at bats 80% of the time, is a reasonable goal for many young
players. When a player truly adopts good at bats as their goal, their batting average will
almost always increase and they will get more enjoyment and satisfaction from the game.
Hitting Tips -
February
From the
Illustrated
Hitting Guide
Tip 1
Fear at the plate may be overcome (at least in part) by knowing what to do when the ball
is thrown at a hitter. The proper movement of the batter when a ball is thrown at him is
to turn inward toward the plate and then toward the catcher (while dropping his head if
the pitch is high). This protects his face and chest, which are the two most dangerous
places to be hit with a ball. This is illustrated below.
Staying relaxed at the plate will also help the hitter
pick up the path of the ball and avoid being hit in an area that could cause serious
injury. As hitters get more experience, they can begin trusting their reflexes and their
ability to see that a pitch is wild well before the ball reaches them. For several
players, prayer before going to the plate has proved helpful.
Tip 2
On-Deck Preparation
Many young players waste valuable time waiting for their turn to hit. They stand in the
on-deck circle and talk to teammates or take lazy swings with the bat. Poor on-deck
preparation reduces their probability for success. Good on-deck preparation should include
the following:
- Position yourself in the on-deck circle so that the pitcher and home plate are both in
view.
- Quickly loosen up your muscles by swinging the bat back and forth and over your head.
- Take your stance and focus on the pitcher.
- When the pitcher releases the ball, stride and swing hard, the same way you plan to
swing when getting up to the plate.
- Time your swing so that your bat head crosses the plate before the ball does.
- Make timing adjustments on the remaining pitches until it’s your turn.
- When leading off an inning, stand six or eight feet from the batter’s box and time
your swing.
- At least after a swing or two, do not use a bat donut on-deck. This will throw off your
timing (studies have found that the probability of hitting the ball on the first swing is
lower for players using a donut on-deck).
Hitting Tips -
January
From the
Illustrated
Hitting Guide
Tip 1
Rolling your wrists at contact (of bat on ball) will reduce the hitter’s ability to
power through the ball. Another version of this is to look down at the V (made by your
arms) at contact. Instead, wrists should roll after contact.
Palms should be flat at contact (one up and one down) as shown below.
Tip 2
A good follow-through involves your hands finishing up over your lead shoulder. Your head,
chest and knees should be facing the pitcher at end of your swing and you should keep your
balance.
Tip 3
Use your stride foot to adjust timing. If you are too late, stride earlier. Remember, you
have to start your stride before you know where the ball is being pitched.
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