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PROVIDING COACHING SUPPORTS TO YOUNG ATHLETES AND PARENTS
Explore concepts that support movement, cognitive development and hitting for young athletes and foster a love for the game
Hitting Ideas to Consider
"Control the Controlables"
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
"Control the Controlables"
Take control of things like your grip and lead shoulder. Gain an understanding of how your rear shoulder, elbow and wrist work together and provide a 'piston' of sorts. While your lead side can be an axis point to your swing providing direction and dynamic leverage. Having a thought or image in your mind with one of these things can get you trending in the right direction. Or simply having a mantra like 'stance narrower before wider' to help prevent swaying can get you mentally prepared in the on deck circle. There is not a line in the sand where a wide stance ends and narrower begins, it's a feel/trust if you will. One ounce of an unfavorable move can quickly cancel out two ounces of good. Know your limitations and use this to motivate yourself to get better.
The Feels
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
"Control the Controlables"
It may be clearer to communicate hitting moves into feels vs connect-the-dot cues or even a buzzword like deceleration. Having a feel the bat handle is above your rear hand for as long as possible will help you keep your hands above the pitch and allow the rear forearm to pivot through the swing. Tap into your senses and raise your awareness of these feels. Have a move or two that you can repeat, lean on and blend with your athleticism. Learn to self-assess and surrender unfavorable moves like overrating your shoulders. Terminology like swing down, probably will never be agreed upon in the hitting world on what it means. Deceleration is hard to teach but more of a byproduct of being very athletic and aware. However, we can probably agree on what it feels like to put an I-Phone to your ear or a waiter holding up a tray of food. Find the feel that works for you.
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
Develop practice routines where you experiment and exaggerate with your swing to learn the moves and feels. Next 10 swings I am going to swing down on the top of the baseball. Learn to practice at home by yourself. Hit off a tee and learn to self-hit wiffle balls in your backyard. Move fast/move slow, with force/with touch. Blend them together. Be deliberate when practicing vs 'just getting in your hacks'. For example, "for the next 12 swings I'm going to feel like my front shoulder is pointed at the 2nd baseman for as long as possible." Learn to find the barrel of the bat vs chasing exit velocity. Listen for the sound and feel of your contact. One of the most important metrics is the barrel winning the race. Leave 3 mph of bat speed in the bat bag to help create a dynamic swing with direction. For ideas on practice routines and how to move better click below.
Train The Counterintuitive moves
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
Do you have to be pushed on or pulled off the practice field?
Train the counterintuitive moves to help create leverage, adjustability and better direction with your swing. Moves like..."going forward but staying back" vs “all momentum forward,” "collecting/catching the ball” vs “swinging to a destination point". Develop trail wrist extension to help create leverage. Train your front leg/foot to 'hover' to allow for adjustability. Learning these moves will help your swing look and feel effortless but remaining sudden at the same moment. We're trying to rid abrupt, bit-by-bit movements that might feel safe. To have that effortless look you have develop your ankle mobility and a dynamic 'gait'. This will help your feet rocker and grab the ground. Ground up^.
looking at a youth swing
Lift N' Chop vs Lower N' Sling
Take a look at two hitting styles and begin to build a discerning eye for hitting. We have Lift N Chop (or drop n scoop) often happening vs Lower N Sling, not happening enough. While ‘lowering’ not overrating, we capture gravity. Learn how to identify less favorable moves and get young hitters to move more dynamically and with less bit-by-bit movements. If we over-rotate the barrel will cross the line and get away from the hitter. If welower/drive the rear shoulder, the barrel will have a better chance staying behind the rear wrist and closer to my rear shoulder and staying inside the line.
Move the Arms Freely
Learn to move the arms freely in a pendulum dynamic under your chin vs the shoulders over-rotating. Imagine the arms raising and lowering along the white line of the batter's box. While at the same time you feel your shoulders remaining pointed at home plate. The 'pendulum' dynamic of your arms will help you ride momentum and keep your core stable Try to imagine that initial move with your lead shoulder/arm being fairly aggressive after that you should be riding momentum. Less steering.carrying your arms.
The Rear Forearm
No doubt the barrel has to go DOWN, however, the action of the rear forearm, having an over-the-top move (across the line) or an efficient restaurant waiter feel (inside the line) will have a significant impact on how the swing gets delivered. Train the rear forearm/wrist to hover to allow for that 'sudden' pivot. Try a thought 'hands higher before lower' to help pivot the rear forearm through.
MLB SWINGS THROUGH THE YEARS
A New Generation of MLB Hitters
Compare the swings of retired players like Albert Pujols (relaxed top hand grip that is more under the bat handle throughout the swing) to today’s stars like Bobby Witt, Jr. (strong top hand grip that is more over the bat handle).
HUMILITY
Why are the two best players in the game also the most humble? Perhaps they truly understand how difficult it is to achieve and maintain what they have accomplished.
