Transcript Slide 1

This picture says it all.
1.
Head down and
between his feet.
2.
Balanced with a
good base.
3.
Hips and hands
are on the ball.
4.
Weight is back
behind the ball.
5.
Front side closed
with perfect L.
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The Big Four
1. Start
2. Load
3. Explosion
4. Finish
The Start/Base
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Base should be comfortable
to help you keep balance
throughout the swing.
An athletic position is always
a good start.
The chin rest on the front
shoulder with your eyes fixed
toward the pitcher.
We are preparing ourselves
for launch so keep the body
relaxed only thinking about
the approach.
The hands grip the bat lightly
in the fingers and in an area
near or around the back
shoulder.
Knees stay relaxed with our
weight on the balls of the
feet. Never the heels.
What start is best for you?
Notice the placement of the head, eyes, hands, and feet. Also look at
the back and front elbow. The weight distribution for each hitter.
What start is best for you?
Notice the placement of the head, eyes, hands, and feet. Also look at
the back and front elbow. The weight distribution for both.
The Load/Launch
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The load should be short and
rhythmic.
It can be a slight turn of the
hands, a leg lift, or rolling knee.
Timing of the load is when the
mind can adjust with the pitch:
The harder the throw the smaller
or sooner the load.
The load and hands will be
almost one with each other (the
foot comes down the hands
should fire, the knee rolls the
hands explode, etc.).
This is the most important part
of the swing. You have to
create movement to generate an
explosive swing. “An object in
motion is easier to move than
not in motion!”
The Load/Launch
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
When you get to your launch the
weight should stay back.
If you stride or have a leg lift you
must land with a soft toe and a soft
front side.
Soft front side: meaning weight does
not shift to the front of the stance.
In a good launch 70% of you weight
will be on the back foot and 30% on
the front.
This will allow us to use are hips and
the force of our legs to generate bat
speed and power.
Good hitters can tell when they are
out on the front foot usually when
they take a pitch. That is why it is
important to establish a good take.
Keeping the weight in the proper
position will allow us to hit with more
power and easier to adjust to off
speed pitches.
The Load/Launch
1. The hands should
be close to the back
shoulder or ear.
2. The back elbow will
be pointed away
from the pitcher.
3. When loading do not
wrap the bat around
the head because it
makes the swing
longer to the ball.
The Load/Launch
The Load/Launch
1. The head must have
little or no
movement.
2. Your eyes should
now be fixed on the
window or box at the
pitchers release
point.
3. The chin is still
positioned on the
front shoulder.
Explosion!!
!! EXPLOSION !!
The Explosion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The hips should drive to the
ball while keeping the weight
balanced and not drifting
forward.
When the hips start, pull the
bottom hand through without
showing the knob of the bat
to the pitcher.
The top hand is the driving
force to contact. It’s just as if
you were punching the ball.
Our concept will be to keep
the hands inside the ball.
Trying not to go around the
ball or creating a long swing.
We want the angle of the bat
to go from A to B
A controlled explosion!
“Thunder scares but lightning strikes”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We should be able to have
balance again during the swing
to contact and beyond.
The head must remain down on
contact all the way through the
swing.
The hips do drive through the
ball but the front side must
remain closed. In order to do
this the front foot cannot fly open
or spin.
The head will remain between
the feet while keeping our
weight back.
For explosive hips try to
emphasize pinching the knees
and creating the L on the back
side. Remember we do not shift
our weight forward when trying
to accomplish this position. If
you do, this is a term I call
leaking.
The Drive
1.
2.
The body should have and imaginary axis going down through the head to the
ground. Just imagine that there is a wall against our front side hip.
Our axis of rotation should be as small as possible.
Picture an Olympic figure skater. To spin faster what do they do with the body? Do
they make themselves bigger or smaller? The smaller or shorter we can make our
path along that imaginary line the quicker our hands will be and the more consistent
the swing will be in the strike zone. The key is to keep the head between the feet.
Head Down
Head Down
The Eyes Have It
The eyes have it.
At contact and through contact.
From contact to finish.
The Finish
1. “We finish where we
started!”
2. The head should end up
in the same place
throughout the swing.
3. A helpful tip is to think
shoulder to shoulder
with the chin.
4. Stay on that imaginary
line an try not to drift
even during the swing.
5. We should still remain
balanced ending up with
a sound base.
The Finish
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The damage is done on contact but
in order to have solid contact we
must follow through to get maximum
drive or launch.
To get a good feel for when the hips
and hands finish you must know
where to be or end up.
The hands will finish high and the
belly button should be facing toward
the direction of the ball.
The backside or but cheeks will be
clinched together.
The head is key making sure it
travels from the front of your
shoulders to the back. The head
should stay through the zone as
long as possible. If you lift the head
too soon the ball may be topped or
capped.
The back leg will create an L shape
and the front leg will be slightly stiff.
The last is balance. Where you
finish after contact will determine if
the swing was correct.
Finish Through the baseball!
Key points to check for a good finish.
1. The head has to remain free
from the swing. If the head
moves so does the ball.
2. If you fall over the plate you
are probably going around the
pitch instead of staying inside.
3. If you have trouble with your
balance you should adjust
your base.
4. Is my head coming off the ball
too soon? You can tell by the
flight of the ball ( topspin or a
diving ground ball).
5. We are trying to create back
spin. Emphasize hitting down
through the ball.
The Finish
The Outside Pitch
The Outside Pitch
1.
2.
3.
4.
When hitting the outside pitch you must allow the ball
to travel deep into the box trying to hit it off of the back
leg.
To notice pulling off look at the ball in reference to the
swing. A left hander that pulls usually hits the outside
pitch weakly to the second baseman, and a right
hander usually hits it weakly to the short stop.
Hitting the ball deep in the stance helps you drive that
ball with the meat part of the bat.
This is the only exception with balance on the outside
pitch. That is you may fall toward the direction of the
ball after contact.
Notice the head in position to
hitting the outside pitch.
AL
Arod from start to finish
COACHING POINTS AND PHYLOSOPHY
1. You should always finish where you started.
(Start where you finish)
2. Emphasize the use of the hands. They are
what control the bat.
3. Stay inside the ball and not around, trying to
keep a short quick swing (A to B).
4. Think hips and hands with a controlled
explosion and good balance (unselfish).
5. Drive the hips and create a good L on the back
leg with the front foot closed & a little flexed.
6. Hit in an athletic stance and on the balls of your
feet.
From physical to mental
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Have an approach before you enter the box.
Fastball! The only pitch I look for in an aggressive
count. The good hitting counts ex: 00,10,20,21, and
31.
The box is your property, protect and guard it with
authority. If a pitcher takes too long call time and step
out.
Know the situation before you step into the box.
Moving runners, driving them in, or the position of the
fielders.
Picture in your mind the pitch and see it through the
infield. See yourself getting a base hit or double, etc.
Hitters Frame/ Pitchers Release
Release Points
1. Find a spot to focus on.
2. Never stay focused for
more than a few
seconds on one spot
because our eyes tire at
long periods of time.
3. I focus on the glove then
when the pitch is
delivered I find the
release point or window.
4. Find something that is
comfortable for you. Ex:
hat, jersey, number
Timing, Timing, Timing
Timing is the key element to hitting. If we can’t learn to make adjustments
hitting will be a difficult task to do. It is important to create perfected word
habits. How will you work? Take this approach! Which is the easiest way
to cut a tree? Using a sledge hammer or an axe? An axe of course! You
may think you are working hard everyday, but are you working the right
way? Even the professional hitters have to better there swing. Look at it
this way! If you want to be a 500 hitter than you should get 500 quality cuts
at least everyday. I feel that hitting is confidant driven with the more cuts
you take, along with quality practice, success can be achieved. Study the
game and especially your opponent and the umpire, because knowing what
you are up against and their tendencies will make consistency easier.
Never press! Hitting requires patience and self confidence. Without the two
you will always put yourself into bad hitting situations. Study film on your
swing at games and practices. Make sure you are putting yourself in the
best position to succeed. It was said that Tony Gywnn study every at bat
after every game to perfect his swing (182). Allow your swing to develope!
Don’t go changing you swing for every bad day at the plate. Remember 3
out of 10 is a good hitter. Here are some key points.
Key Points
1. Study/ know your swing and your
opponent.
2. Find the release and see the ball.
3. Be a patient hitter.
4. Put yourself into good hitting counts.
5. Controlled explosion with balance.
6. Visualize what a hit feels like and savor
that emotion.
This says it all.