We will beging swinging the sticks on January 1st. I was hoping some of you would like to share some of the hitting drills you do, preferably in doors. I like a lot of what we do, but I always looking for ways to mix it up.
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Hitting indoors is a great time to get specific and work on the the mental and mechanical aspects of the swing, because (as you know) when hitting on the field players are mainly concerned about the quality of contact.
When we hit inside our drills are usually centered around these areas: Mechanics, vision, sweet-spot awareness, mental approach, and "other" drills that are player specific (i.e. if you're a lunger, work on the stay back tee).
So if we're inside, we may have six stations. If we split our two cages in half, four of the stations will be inside the cages and the other two will be in an open drill area. The stations could be set up like this:
1. Stride...swing w/ tee (mechanics).
2. Count hit (mental).
3. Numbered tennis balls (vision).
4. Short (front) toss (mechanics).
5. Plastic golf ball soft toss w/ swiftstik (Sweet spot awareness).
6. 90 MPH drill (if facing a pitcher with extra velocity).
Once again, I've found players are more apt to work on swing mechanics and technique when inside because they are not as "ball flight bound" as when hitting on the field. So I try to take advantage of that.
I know you were asking about drills and I did not answer that specifically. But I think its very important to have specific plan for those drills when you hit inside. If you want to get drill-specific, just pm me.
When we hit inside our drills are usually centered around these areas: Mechanics, vision, sweet-spot awareness, mental approach, and "other" drills that are player specific (i.e. if you're a lunger, work on the stay back tee).
So if we're inside, we may have six stations. If we split our two cages in half, four of the stations will be inside the cages and the other two will be in an open drill area. The stations could be set up like this:
1. Stride...swing w/ tee (mechanics).
2. Count hit (mental).
3. Numbered tennis balls (vision).
4. Short (front) toss (mechanics).
5. Plastic golf ball soft toss w/ swiftstik (Sweet spot awareness).
6. 90 MPH drill (if facing a pitcher with extra velocity).
Once again, I've found players are more apt to work on swing mechanics and technique when inside because they are not as "ball flight bound" as when hitting on the field. So I try to take advantage of that.
I know you were asking about drills and I did not answer that specifically. But I think its very important to have specific plan for those drills when you hit inside. If you want to get drill-specific, just pm me.
You may want to try the Ultimate Hitting Machine (do Yahoo search) as one of your hitting stations. (works with baseballs, softballs, rubber dimple balls, whiffle balls)
You can also workout with the insider bat and one handed swing trainer bats on this machine.
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You can also workout with the insider bat and one handed swing trainer bats on this machine.
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Ryan23-How does the 90mph drill work??
quote:Originally posted by ExWrangler:
Ryan23-How does the 90mph drill work??
Its a drill the coaches at LA Tech explained at our state coaches clinic. They would use the drill before facing someone with serious gas.
The pitcher stands in the cage behind the "L" screen approx. 20' from the hitter. With ball in hand, he will step to throw, take the ball up to the power position (or the "T") ready to turn and fire to the plate and pause. (The pitcher has not thrown the ball at this point.)
The LA Tech coaches stressed that their goal against extra velo guys was to get the stride foot down a tad earlier where all the hitter has to do is heel drop and quickly snap to contact. So, as t he pitcher loads to fire, the hitter strides and pauses. So, both pitcher and hitter are paused at this point.
With both pitcher and hitter pausing, the pitcher turns and fires the ball to the hitter.
Our hitters are never on time to start with, but slowly will get on it and start making contact on most pitches.
It is a good idea to use tennis or incrediballs for this drill and to wear helmets. Also, it is important the pitcher simply turn and fire from the loaded position so the hitter cannot "re-stride" to hit the pitch.
So, they teach to finish the stride earlier than normal.....
I would recommend not to listen to any of these coaches.....
I would recommend not to listen to any of these coaches.....
Uh let's see - Louisiana Tech has finished on average 2nd in the WAC for these categories
Batting Average
Slugging Percentage
Runs
Homeruns
Hits per Game
On average they finish 3rd in
RBI
Total Bases
On average they finish 4th in
Hits
While this is not super scientific these numbers aren't too bad for coaches you don't think anyone should listen to.
Batting Average
Slugging Percentage
Runs
Homeruns
Hits per Game
On average they finish 3rd in
RBI
Total Bases
On average they finish 4th in
Hits
While this is not super scientific these numbers aren't too bad for coaches you don't think anyone should listen to.
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
So, they teach to finish the stride earlier than normal.....
I would recommend not to listen to any of these coaches.....
I knew when I posted that it would draw some fire! But yes, while still taking a stride, they focus on making sure the stride foot is down a tad earlier.
It has worked well for us in the past, including in a state championship game. So I am a believer in the approach when you would otherwise by overmatched by the pitcher's velocity. But I understand it doesn't fit into every coaches philosophy.
The only thing that concerns me about these types of approaches to hitting is that at times they appear to be specific to a certain situation, as opposed to developing an approach that will lead to success at every level.
Some colleges teach a swing and an approach specific to swinging aluminum. I don't know if that is beneficial longer term.
Some colleges teach a swing and an approach specific to swinging aluminum. I don't know if that is beneficial longer term.
quote:It has worked well for us in the past, including in a state championship game.
You might be teaching it, but your kids ain't doing it.....It's not even common sense....Any smart pitcher or coach would simply change speeds.....
1. This an approach used when you are totally overmatched by the pitchers velocity. I coach a a small school with average athletes. 90 MPH might as well be 120, we'll strike out 14+ times with a normal approach. We literally have zero chance without it.
2. We are only trying to get to toe touch a tad earlier, whereby we only have to heel drop and go. It (in my opinion) is a very minor change. Not a brand new philosophy or a radical technique change.
3. Since the pitcher is already throwing harder then most of my line-up can handle, a change of speeds (to something less than 90+) would be welcome. "I know they can't touch your fastball and its your best pitch, but they seem to be striding early...lets take a little off". ???
I find it interesting you judge what my kids are actually doing over the internet.
But I am interested what you suggest? Stay with your normal hitting approach?
2. We are only trying to get to toe touch a tad earlier, whereby we only have to heel drop and go. It (in my opinion) is a very minor change. Not a brand new philosophy or a radical technique change.
3. Since the pitcher is already throwing harder then most of my line-up can handle, a change of speeds (to something less than 90+) would be welcome. "I know they can't touch your fastball and its your best pitch, but they seem to be striding early...lets take a little off". ???
I find it interesting you judge what my kids are actually doing over the internet.
But I am interested what you suggest? Stay with your normal hitting approach?
What is wrong with not striding at all. Work on batspeed, quickness.
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:quote:It has worked well for us in the past, including in a state championship game.
You might be teaching it, but your kids ain't doing it.....It's not even common sense....
Actually, striding sooner is the only thing that makes common sense. It's also the easiest adjustment to make.
You can't increase bat speed by eliminating your stride, you actually slow it down. (Any pitcher that throws from the stretch will tell you what happens)
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
So, they teach to finish the stride earlier than normal.....
I would recommend not to listen to any of these coaches.....
So what would you suggest when you see hard-throwers? Most hitters are going to use their stride as a "timing mechanism". We have had success striding earlier against hard throwers, striding later against soft-tossers. It sure seems to simplify things for our hitters, especially when we see a guy at 88, then a guy the next day at 74.
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
So, they teach to finish the stride earlier than normal.....
I would recommend not to listen to any of these coaches.....
Had Jose Batista, from Toronto, followed your advice BlueDog, he would likely have repeated his Home Run total of 2009 (13) and not reached his 2010 Major League Leading number (56 - I think).
When interviewed he said that the big change was ensuring that; "he got is foot down (stride completed) BEFORE the pitcher released the ball."
hum, very interesting...
do as they do...not as they say...
http://blog.prorumors.com/2010...e-run-of-the-season/
in that video he clearly doesn't get his foot down before the pitch is released....just like almost every other big leaguer doesn't get their foot down before the pitch is released
http://blog.prorumors.com/2010...e-run-of-the-season/
in that video he clearly doesn't get his foot down before the pitch is released....just like almost every other big leaguer doesn't get their foot down before the pitch is released
Prime, please don't talk when you should be listening and learning.....
You got two ears and one mouth for a reason....
No MLB hitter would do such a thing unless he was terribly fooled........
You got two ears and one mouth for a reason....
No MLB hitter would do such a thing unless he was terribly fooled........
MLB hitters let the swing put the front foot down.....They don't put the front foot down, then swing....
If a college coach wants to teach hitting that isn't high level, so be it....But, I wouldn't listen to him, that's for sure....
If a college coach wants to teach hitting that isn't high level, so be it....But, I wouldn't listen to him, that's for sure....
Watch the back hip firing....That's when the front foot touches down...
As belligerent as Bluedog is, he is correct. While this may work as a generic teaching aid on some lower level, it obviously is not the correct sequence in a high level swing.
Good call here by Floridafan.
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
The only thing that concerns me about these types of approaches to hitting is that at times they appear to be specific to a certain situation, as opposed to developing an approach that will lead to success at every level.
Some colleges teach a swing and an approach specific to swinging aluminum. I don't know if that is beneficial longer term.
quote:, please don't talk when you should be listening and learning....
Thank you for getting to the point, for a change. Actually, I didn't say I agreed totally, only that Jose Batista personally "credited his success this year to his work on getting the foot down early (before pitchers release was his perception).
Now perception may not always be truth, but to HIM it's his reality.
From a pure Physics perspective I would want the sequence to occur without interruption and as close to ball strike as possible.
And in viewing these clips, the same you've posted for years, I don't see the swing (bat hands moving forward) forcing the foot down. To my old eyes, the foot is already down.
I'm listening again, Blue.
Just don't confuse toe touch and heel plant...both happen but in different ways. Keep watching the back hip and you'll see when each occurs. Stay smooth and quiet is my advice with the stride.
Can't believe Bluedog actually mentioned the back hip...atta babe.
If the teacher is saying stride to hit the ball I would be a bit cautious; if he says stride to see the ball I would feel better. JMHO.
There is a reason pitchers change speeds and that has a real bearing on this discussion. Why was Trevor Hoffman's change the most feared pitch by MLB hitters for years?
Can't believe Bluedog actually mentioned the back hip...atta babe.
If the teacher is saying stride to hit the ball I would be a bit cautious; if he says stride to see the ball I would feel better. JMHO.
There is a reason pitchers change speeds and that has a real bearing on this discussion. Why was Trevor Hoffman's change the most feared pitch by MLB hitters for years?
Poor Jeff Francouer moved his hips as his front foot touched. Look where that got him. When he waits until he puts his heel down, he hits the ball.
I clearly do not have the coaching experience that many of you have, so my only reason to post here is simply to receive instruction and clarification.
I always thought that the stride was a timing mechanism, however, this Fall I witnessed a coach instructing his players to load (the hands) and step (stride) before the pitcher even released the pitch. Most of them did it as the pitcher separated the hands and kept their weight back.
I later talked to the coach and he said that he taught the technique because it forced his players to see the ball better, recognize the pitch, and let the ball travel. Now all they had to do was throw the hands and fire the back hip. He said it prevented them from being way ahead of a pitch because they were able to recognize it.
Since then I've seen a few others doing it as well, or at least something similar. So since I am new to coaching school ball, my question is: What should I be teaching my boys regarding hitting technique?
P4G
No man can climb out beyond the limitations he places on himself.
I always thought that the stride was a timing mechanism, however, this Fall I witnessed a coach instructing his players to load (the hands) and step (stride) before the pitcher even released the pitch. Most of them did it as the pitcher separated the hands and kept their weight back.
I later talked to the coach and he said that he taught the technique because it forced his players to see the ball better, recognize the pitch, and let the ball travel. Now all they had to do was throw the hands and fire the back hip. He said it prevented them from being way ahead of a pitch because they were able to recognize it.
Since then I've seen a few others doing it as well, or at least something similar. So since I am new to coaching school ball, my question is: What should I be teaching my boys regarding hitting technique?
P4G
No man can climb out beyond the limitations he places on himself.
