Transcript The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.)

Hitting Concepts and
Techniques
QUALITY AT BATS
Trojan Baseball
Simsbury High School
Simsbury, CT
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (QAB)
Making our own measurements of success to
reinforce PROCESS – NOT RESULTS
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QAB grades – sac, two strike hitting, two-out RBI, hard
contact, runner in from 3rd with less than two outs,
etc. (rubric on page 9)
sticking with it – if you want them to embrace process,
you can’t fake it
reinforcement – don’t embrace batting average, etc.
The process can be perfect, but that does not
guarantee perfect result. Therefore, we seek perfect
processes, and trust enough positive end results will
follow.
work to eliminate FEAR of results – focus on process
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Controlling the Process - ELIMINATES FEAR
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having a plan - hitting with your head
know situation (score, outs, objective)
know yourself and what are your
strengths and weaknesses
zone vs. two-strike approach
body language
positive self talk
visualization
flushing the negative
one pitch at a time – slow game down – limiting stimuli
making adjustments while trusting overall approach
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Dealing with Failure
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7 out of 10 times
learning from it to turn it into future
success
WHY is the result not what you
wanted
WHAT can you do next time
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Prepare in practice, perform in games
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game like swings – all the time in practice
quality preparation = high level of confidence =
greater probability of successful outcomes
Anxiety (FEAR) most often comes from a lack of
quality preparation
hands off mechanics in games from coaches –
FOCUS ON MENTAL APPROACH IN GAMES
no cloning – no two people alike, no two swings
alike
game speed whenever striking baseball – get
loose with dry swings
ESTABLISH ROUTINE – STAY WITH IT
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Mechanical Freedom with Mental Rules
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must have plan
must be smart
must understand the influence of the count, score,
situation, and expectations
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Hitters make adjustments
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Year to year – better pitching =
shorter swing or holes exposed as
we progress in level
Day to day – pitcher (power guy vs.
“junk”, sinker guy, etc.)
Pitch to pitch – understand the
count, sequences, tendencies
The Quality At-Bat
Philosophy (cont.)
Each hitter’s first at-bat begins
with the first pitch of the game
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tipping pitches – p, c, coach, middle
infielders
pick-offs
release point
runners on vs. no runners on
Quantifying a QAB
4
3
2
• Understood
situation
• Positive/Proper
Approach
• Communicated
• Execution of
plan
• Understood
Situation
• Positive/Proper
Approach
• Communicated
• Understood
Situation
• Positive/Proper
Approach
1
• Understood
Situation
Trojan QAB
Game AB’s =
4
Possible QAB Points =
16
Player point total =
11
Game QAB = 11/16 =
.688
Who is giving you QAB’s?
Mechanics before pitch
Stance
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comfortable
relaxed
balanced and wide
preferably squared
weight on balls of feet
Mechanics before pitch
(cont.)
Set-up
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hands up
grip – firm but relaxed with bat in fingers –NEVER in palms
V – wrists and forearms without tension
high hands at top of zone
eyes level – both looking at pitcher
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HAVE A ROUTINE…KEEPS FOCUS ON PLAN…NOT
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FEAR
Mechanics during delivery
Trigger/Stride/Load – all the same
thing
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- lower body
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hips load without turning, knee can turn slightly in
weight back for pitch identification without eyes moving
stride - quiet and short – stepping on thin ice
weight load on back leg
- upper body
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hands load too – BACKWARDS C…BE CAREFUL WITH HANDS…
NO ARM BAR…keep “V” in elbow
quiet shoulders
hands get to top zone without a bat wrap
Getting to ready position to
let hands work
what is “staying back”
Mechanics at pitch
Pitch identification
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as early as possible
be aware of count, situation, etc., but trust eyes (they are
less likely to lie)
Delivering bat head to hitting zone
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short and quick – “TO IT”
backside fires from knee to chest
heel plant
bottom hand – knob to ball
tall backside – no collapse
top of back hip down
hands inside / front of sternum – no
casting or arm bar
barrel above hands until contact
Mechanics at pitch
(cont.)
At contact
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eyes see bat hit ball and are still level
karate chop/punch hand position –
palm up/palm down
tall backside
not fully extended – ELBOW LOCKED
firm front side is axis of rotation
up on back toe at contact for full
weight transfer through ball – no
squishing bug
contact inside and top half of ball
keep it fair with backspin (why is
it deeper in center than left and right?)
Mechanics After Contact
Maintain balance
head down & between knees
knees between feet
Low Finish
stay on the plane
full extension – TOP EXTENDS THRU…
UNLOCKS ELBOW
Getting out of box
Drill Work
TEE
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Top Hand (Short Bat)
Bottom Hand (Short Bat)
Low Tee
Net Drill
High Tee
Low & Away
Middle
2 Tee (Inside/Outside)
2 Tee (Front/Back)
Drill Work (cont.)
Soft Toss – SHORT BAT
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Top Hand (muscle memory, isolation)
Bottom Hand (muscle memory, isolation)
One knee top hand (muscle memory, isolation)
One knee bottom hand (muscle memory, isolation)
Soft Toss – REGULAR BAT
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No trigger (progression # 1)
Pre-Trigger (progression # 2 - isolate back knee)
Load & Trigger (progression # 3)
Hold Finish (balance)
Top Hand Extension (extend thru ball)
Back Side soft toss
Self-Bounce Drill
** DROP DRILL (breaking balls)
** HIP TOSS (rotation)
** MOVING WALK (rhythm – explosion)
** FROM BEHIND (timing – “staying back”)
Drill Work (cont.)
Front Toss
 Back Foot Incline (back foot)
 Bounce (offspeed)
 Two Ball (focus, concentration)
 Speed Change (decision, adjust)
 Rapid Fire (rhythm)
 Plate Coverage
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In-Down
In-Up
Out-Up
Out-Down
Mid-Up
Mid-Down
FAT
Practice & Pre Game
“Run Scoring” Practice
Practice
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Three groups (cage, dome, tee)
Tee work CAN/WILL be done on field and cage
All three will have specific workout
Workouts will change (see attached)
Games
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Two groups
– One group on field divided into shaggers,
runners & hitters
– One group in cage divided into tees, soft toss &
front toss
Batting Practice Round
(DOME example)
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Round 1: Bunting: everyone not in cage is on grass in front of cage
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Round 2: Execution round: everyone is behind or on side of cage with on
retrieving bunts
– sacrifice bunt to 3rd
– sacrifice bunt to 1st
– sacrifice bunt to 3rd
– conceal bunt for hit to 1st
– conceal bunt for hit to 3rd and get out of box
deck hitter close to 3rd base side entrance
– hit and run (runner goes on pitch, hitter must swing, hits it on
ground)
– right side and down (runner gets read, but does not go)
– right side and down (runner goes after read)
– drive him in (hitter drives ball to outfield, runner tags, reads, gets
start)
– drive him in (hitter drives ball to o.f., runner tags, reads, runs)
Batting Practice Round
(cont.)
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Round 3: Opposite Round:
– hitter drives pitch opposite field or middle (if hit pull-side, round
is ended) X 5
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Round 4: Zone Round:
– hitter has less than two strikes and is looking for a pitch over
middle two thirds of plate he can hit hard on a line X 5
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Round 5: Two Strike Round:
– hitter makes physical adjustment, and changes mental plan to
become a defensive hitter and simply make contact (hitter’s
round ends on fifth pitch, or if he takes borderline strike) X 5
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Round 6: See It and Hit It Round:
– hitter ahead or even in count with less than two strikes and
runners in scoring position X 5
HAVE NO FEAR…
Focus on the process
Accept failure as part of the game…LEARN from FAILURE
Prepare, prepare, prepare
100 % Effort & Focus = SUCCESS