As the seasons change from in season to off season, training and player development come into full swing. Today, I want to dive into the heart of the game: hitting.
Hitting, often regarded as one of the most challenging feats in all of sports, is where the game’s beauty truly shines. It’s a delicate balance of technique, mindset, and physicality. As a coach, I’ve had the privilege of helping players hone their hitting skills, and there are a few key principles that I always emphasize.
- Timing: At the heart of hitting is the ability to time the pitch. It’s not just about swinging hard; it’s about swinging at the right moment. A wise scout once told me that you could have the worst mechanical swing in the world, be on time, and still hit. On the flip side, have the most beautiful swing in the world and have your timing thrown off, good luck!
In my coaching experience, I often tell my players that “timing is everything.” One thing that is often overlooked with timing is SEEING. You can’t time what you can’t see, so pitch recognition and strike zone discipline also fall into this area for me. My favorite drill to work on with young players is the “7 Ball Drill”. Take 7 balls and write 1-7 on them. Place them on the plate, working from left to right. Make players take pitches in either front toss, BP, or Machine Work and tell you where the ball crossed the plate. Another efficient way to work on seeing the ball and timing is make EVERY pitch count in practice sessions. Have players swing at strikes and take balls, even in front toss. You can also put different spin on the ball and have players hit only certain types of spin (i.e 4 seam vs 2 seam)
- The Mental Game: Hitting isn’t just a physical endeavor; it’s a mental one too. Confidence and focus are paramount. Visualization and positive self-talk can make a world of difference when you step into the batter’s box. It’s crucial to keep a clear mind, trust your training, and stay confident, even as the game and pressure ratchets up. I firmly believe in training environments that put you in game like situations. One of my favorite things to do with hitters is to replicate increased heart rate during batting practice. When adrenaline starts to flow in the game, heart rate will increase. Learning to quickly lower one’s heart rate is so important. Try having your players do 15 push-ups as quickly as possible then stand up and try to lower their heartrate through breathing techniques as quickly as possible; then step in the box and take 5-6
- quality swings. Rinse and repeat!
- Bat Speed and Mechanics: Generating bat speed is essential for hitting success. The torque generated by your hips and the extension of your arms play a significant role in bat speed. Strengthening your core and spending time in the weight room focused on multi plane rotational power is an absolute for elite hitters. Those that can rotate the most efficiently tend to move the barrel through the zone at higher speeds. The higher the barbell speed, the longer a player can SEE the ball, and then wait to attack it. Besides ensuring that a player is appropriately training in the weight room, I am a firm believer in underload/overload bat training for bat speed. I like to use a bat that is 3 to 4 oz lighter than their game bat for underload and 3 to 4 oz heavier for overload. Players can go through all their drill work using the light and heavy bat and see marked improvement in their batspeed
- 4. The Power of Repetition: Repetition is the path to mastery. Hitting is no exception. Practice, practice, and more practice. The more swings you take in a controlled, purposeful manner, the better you’ll become. Consistency in your drills and approach to practice can help you build muscle memory and refine your skills. I am also a huge believer in quality reps. If you are tired, STOP! If you take 3 bad swings in a row, STOP! Have a plan when it comes to your hitting sessions, more is not always better. Be tireless in your consistency but be smart about your reps!
- Adjust and Adapt: Great hitters are great thinkers. Learn to read the pitcher and adjust/understand what pitchers can and cannot do. Especially at the amateur level, as a hitter, I can quickly eliminate one to two pitches. It is not the norm to face a pitcher who can command and control three to four pitches and often times, most amateur pitchers can only control one. Be a student, as a coach and a player, and watch with intent the first inning. You will receive most of the clues you need to develop a plan. At the higher levels (college and professional), the pitchers get better but so does the information. No matter what level you are at, formulating a plan and understanding what the pitcher is trying to do to get you out is of utmost importance. Be a student and think the game! If you like to read, I recommend diving into The Mental Keys to Hitting by Harvey Dorfman. It is a little old school, but boy does it have some golden nuggets!
- Seek Guidance: As a coach, I can’t emphasize this enough – don’t be afraid to seek guidance. This goes for us coaches just as much as players. Being a lifelong learner who is open to new ideas makes you better at your craft. We all have our “go tos” and what we believe works, but I know that some of my greatest breakthroughs as a coach have come from someone else’s eyes/ideas. Don’t be afraid to have other coaches work with your players and players, don’t be afraid to seek more than one opinion! The job of a hitting coach is to help a player understand his or her swing and how to make adjustments on the fly, not teach the same swing to every player. The player’s job is to take a little bit from every trusted source he or she can find so that they understand their swing. In the end, the player is the one that, when the lights turn on, must perform. Keep this perspective!
So, as we embark on another offseason, remember that the act of both teaching and learning hitting is an art that can always be refined and improved upon. Stay committed, work diligently, and have fun.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate the art of hitting. It’s a complex dance between the pitcher and the batter, a constant battle of wits and skills. I hope each of you has a great offseason and that bombs are flying starting in the spring!.