Tagged With "tips"
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Hitting Tips
I have been playing ball for over 13 years, but somehow I cannot get over the fear of the ball being so close to me, sometimes I jump back when in the box when really, i could have swung and it would have been a good hit. Do you guys have any tips for...
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Tips for Showcase Bullpens
My 2021 RHP has topped out at 84 and sits 80-83 verified by his travel program's pitching coach. He did a camp at a HA DIII this past October and his velocity dropped 3-4 mph. Could have been just an off day, or maybe he was pressing. Anyone have any tips I can share with him for maintaining velo during showcase and in non-game situation? I feel like he's trying to do too much but I'm not sure what kind of practical advice to give him other than top out at 87 and make your "bad days" 83-84,...
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Re: Tips for Showcase Bullpens
Well you could always have him chug a double dose of C4 and chase it with a Redbull before hitting the mound. I wish I was just joking, but that's what the competition is often doing. To not joke. With experience at the showcases he can learn to pace himself. Its a long day for pitchers. Even longer when you don't know your exact time to pitch during the day. As the day drags on, just stretch, hydrate properly, and try to stay loose. Hard to do sitting and waiting your turn if you are deep...
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Re: Tips for Showcase Bullpens
Depends on format of showcase. But in general I'd say because he's throwing maybe 30 pitches? Warmup longer and with more intent. It's not like a game where you may be expected to go 80-100 pitches. No reason to leave anything in the tank. If he can't maintain his velo for a 30 pitch showcase, he shouldn't be there. Other things from my kids experience; Find a good player to warmup with, don't team up with a kid that shouldn't be there. This goes back to "warmup longer" but make sure he's...
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Re: Tips for Showcase Bullpens
As a PO my kid traveled out of state for a showcase tourney and waited all week for his start only to choke. His turfs were slipping on the mound. His velo sucked. His location sucked. I don't think he completed 2 innings before he got the hook. Several coaches - who I believe were there looking at him - shut the door on him that day. Huge waste of time money and effort. Life goes on. He had other, better outings elsewhere. Other schools who were watching him came to see him pitch at his...
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Re: Hitting Tips
That can be a tough one. First, make sure that you're turning away from truly inside pitch, and not just lurching backwards. Second, get acclimated. Ask your coach if you can stand in the box while the pitchers throw their pens.
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Re: Hitting Tips
I'm going to be completely honest with you. If you've been playing 13 years, you must be at least 16. If you are still afraid of getting hit at this point, you are going to have to take a fairly drastic step to get over that or find another sport (and nothing wrong with that). You will need to take a full-on "embrace getting hit" approach. Have someone throw inside pitches at you as you stand behind a square screen. Practice turning in and taking the hit on your large muscles for pitches...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Good stuff in the posts above. Along with standing in during pens, which some pitchers actually like having (others don't of course)... Try standing in with a pitching machine dialed up to mid to upper 90s. Depending on the machine, you might dial up a curve/slider type pitch shape along with FBs... Random mix if possible. Just grab a bat and work on striding while tracking each pitch... No swinging. Get comfortable with the speed and natural ball movement... And work your way in toward the...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Learn to direct your focus away from getting hit and only focus on attacking the ball. Be aggressive at the plate.
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Re: Hitting Tips
The first thing to avoiding a HBP relates to vision. As a hitter are you seeing the ball well? Do you wear glasses? Have you had your vision checked. The key to hitting is seeing the ball well and the same with avoiding being hit by a ball. If you pick up the ball as early as possible you have more reaction time and this is the whole key to confident at bats. If you are sure vision is not an issue then you MUST practice getting out of the way of the ball to become empowered with the...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by Dadcoach: There is actually proper technique and it involves turning AWAY from the ball, (not into it!) Remember- Good hitters avoid HBP and are good at hitting because they are skilled at seeing the ball well. You mean turn into the pitch right? Also a hitter will take a HBP to get on base (except the head) it shows lack of fear of the ball.
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Re: Hitting Tips
Turn into the pitch? Must be a confusion of terms. Faced with a pitch off the plate inside, a right handed batter will tuck his left shoulder toward the catcher. Correct? I would call that turning away from the pitch. Reminds me of a kid I had in LL Minors. Big kid, bad attitude; had some potential, but was only there because his parents made him. I was showing him how to turn away from a pitch and wear it on his back so he wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't hear of it. He said that if he was...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by JCG: Turn into the pitch? Must be a confusion of terms. Faced with a pitch off the plate inside, a right handed batter will tuck his left shoulder toward the catcher. Correct? I would call that turning away from the pitch. Reminds me of a kid I had in LL Minors. Big kid, bad attitude; had some potential, but was only there because his parents made him. I was showing him how to turn away from a pitch and wear it on his back so he wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't hear of it.
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Re: Hitting Tips
Yup, I'm used to same terminology as Standball but just semantics. Dadcoach, everyone from at least HS JV up (if not younger) teaches and encourages players NOT to avoid HBP (unless at the head) but instead, how to get hit properly. Sorry, good hitters do not avoid HBP. OP is a teen and struggling with fear of HBP. The last thing he wants to be thinking about is to move to avoid being hit. You must be dad of a pitcher
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Re: Hitting Tips
Cabbagepatch, My son is actually a hitter, a sophomore who is leading his HS Varsity team in average and slugging so far this season. Scouts are fairly impressed with his approach and the training he has received. One of the keys to coaching is listening very careful to a player who is asking for help. You are right about HBP to the head. But this player has admitted he has true fear of the ball which is a special issue different than a regular hitter.It sounds like you have not coached a...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by cabbagedad: Originally Posted by Dadcoach: Cabbagepatch, My son is actually a hitter, a sophomore who is leading his HS Varsity team in average and slugging so far this season. Scouts are fairly impressed with his approach and the training he has received. One of the keys to coaching is listening very careful to a player who is asking for help. You are right about HBP to the head. But this player has admitted he has true fear of the ball which is a special issue...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Yes- we need to hear from RyyMann for his age and level of play- I am guessing around 16. There is a fascinating chapter in the book "Three Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger where Tony LaRussa's view on the HBP and beanbballs are a factor. The chapter highlights how this can have a huge and permanent impact on the mental approach of a hitter. Until I read this book I never understood the "Self-Police" approach to paybacks and what it was about from a managers perspective. The book is a...
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Re: Hitting Tips
One of the things we did when I played was actually practicing getting hit by pitches. We would start out with a Juggs Lite Flight machine, just to get techniques down. Then we would then move on to an actual pitching machine set at about 65 with real balls. It helps you realize that it doesn't really hurt that much and it gets you over the fear.
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Re: Hitting Tips
Wow, cabbagedad has posted an impressive resume and his experience is still questioned and from movies. Ted Williams was HBP 39 times in his career. While that isn't a lot, he was dinged a few times. "Getting out of the way" means so many things to good hitters. For example, with my child, one drill we do is called "The Progression Drill." In that drill, I throw at her front hip, throw one down the middle and then throw one away. She protects herself or "gets out of the way" on the one to...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by Dadcoach: Yes- we need to hear from RyyMann for his age and level of play- I am guessing around 16. There is a fascinating chapter in the book "Three Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger where Tony LaRussa's view on the HBP and beanbballs are a factor. The chapter highlights how this can have a huge and permanent impact on the mental approach of a hitter. Until I read this book I never understood the "Self-Police" approach to paybacks and what it was about from a managers...
Topic
Off-season Conditioning Routine
I’m a 14 year old who is going to be trying out for my schools team this March. How often should I be getting in batting practice and how many swings should I aim to take each session? I’m currently getting around 300 swings a week. I also try to incorporate some time each week to conditioning and strength training. Any tips for my routine would be appreciated. thank you, Nick Asmar
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
Hey, as a 13 yr old here, I also do some of the same things you do. For speed and agility drills, try to get an agility ladder(pretty cheap) and try some variations to work on your footwork. As far as speed drills not being done outside, try plyometrics(can be done indoors in a larger space like garage) and sprints if you can get to an indoor facility. Stay away from distance running, doesn't help for baseball and also slows you down since you get used to training slow. If you have social...
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
For conditioning I usually just do body weight exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, etc.) what type of speed/agility drills would you recommend? I can’t really do anything outdoors because of the weather here in Michigan.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
Keep up the strength training. What do you do for conditioning? I would work on speed and agility drills in place of old school “conditioning”.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
Thank you. I’ll look into the agility ladder and start doing some sprints.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
Dang... I've got a 2025 and he doesn't write like you do. Kudos! Keep working hard. Sounds like you've got a goal and plan.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
I’ve actually thought of that and will try to do some. Really is a good workout.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
do you have a walk/driveway that needs shoveling? full disclosure, i'm from Hawaii and live in California so I don't know much about snow but I've thrown my share of dirt around and I know that's a heck of a workout. can you incorporate shoveling every other day (or every day if it needs it)? you get some upperbody work, posterior chain work, core/twisting work, aerobic activity, etc.
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Re: Off-season Conditioning Routine
Lots of great advice here, body weight plyometrics are great ways to develop strength and power. Weight training is another option but I would not advise it unless you are supervised for proper technique and that may be hard at home. Please do not neglect the hitting and throwing prep. Remember if you can throw gas or mash, they will find room for you on the team. Lastly one of the old timers made a great statement about team practices...it is not to make you better, it is an opportunity for...