By Jim Bain
They say there are 35 individual items involved in hitting a baseball. I'm not a 100% sure that's correct, but I do know that's far too many things to teach a hitter in one season.
Let's reduce those numbers to a more manageable task of learning, what I believe to be the Top Seven basic skills a hitter must learn before advancing to inside out swings and etc.
(1.) A hitter must learn a balanced batting stance. Balance is the cornerstone to every starting position in every sport known to man, as it's the foundation on which the body uses initiate movement. Having the weight evenly distributed over the hips and feet properly positioned is the key to balance.
(2.) Keeping the body loose. The ability to be explosive, actually means having the ability to instantly react. In order to remain explosive the muscles can not become tensed and the best method to prevent that is movement. Keeping the body slightly swaying, hands moving or rotating the bat before the pitcher becomes set, is imperative.
Do you think a hockey goal tender or a tennis pro, standing still and erect can suddenly react and stop a puck traveling 100 mph or return a 98 mph serve? Nearly impossible.
Same situation with hitting. The key element here is to know when to become completely still, body and head, but that's another article.
(3.) Batters must learn not to let their front hip and shoulder open too soon, referred to as "Flying Open," which makes hitting a pitch on the outside portion of the plate nearly impossible because you can't reach the ball with the bat.
A simple trick to help correct this problem is instead of pointing the toes of your lead foot straight or square to the plate, cock them slightly, an inch and absolutely no farther back than 2", towards the catcher.
Because you must move your front foot back to the proper positioning, this will force you to keep your front hip and shoulder closed longer,
preventing opening up too soon.
(4.) This next skill can be difficult to comprehend because it appears to be one movement, but in reality is two. A hitter must have his bat loaded when his front foot hits the ground. Let's break it down.
(a.) As the pitch begins travel towards home plate, the batter will begin his foot Starting Mechanism, either by lifting the front foot and moving forward, simply lifting the foot and setting it back down, or some other slight variation.
(b.) When the front foot sets back down the bat should move out of the launch position, into a full swing.
(c.) Then the bat is swung or not swung at the ball.
This is a two step process, but because it occurs so quickly and fluidly, it appears to be one continuous movement. You've heard the saying "hitting off the front foot"? This means the timing is off between the foot plant and launching the bat to ball contact, which produces feeble ground balls because of lack of power.
(5.) This may sound quite elementary, but is actually a huge hitting problem. A hitter must stride (move) Directly towards the pitcher, as an inch or two to either side can greatly have a negative affect on the swing.
One must remember, subconsciously it's not natural for a person to move directly forward towards a traveling object which could hurt him.
One trick to verify you're stepping correctly is to:
Measure 1 inch off the end of the pitching rubber and drive a nail or stick in the ground.
Do the same at home plate, securing the stake or nail passed the back corner.
Tie a string taunt to each end, but not taunt enough to raise it off the ground.
After swinging at a pitch, stop immediately and see where you're front foot has landed. Contact with the string indicates a forward movement. Landing on either side of the string indicates an issue which may require addressing.
(6.) You've heard the saying "Keep your head on the ball," but do you realize this is intended to be performed exactly as stated. Your head is initially turned sideways watching the pitcher, picking up the ball and watching it to the bat. If you don't swing and your head is still sideways looking out toward the pitcher instead of turned looking at the catcher, we have a problem.
Whether hitting or fielding a ball your eyes should Never lose contact with ball!!
(7. )You've heard "Use the whole ball park," or "Hit the ball where it's pitched," which is simple logic, not a magical formula.
If you bat right handed and attempt to pull a pitch on the outside portion of the plate to left field, you've greatly reduced your chances of hitting safely and nearly completely eliminated hitting the ball with power. Why?
Without delving into mathematical equations which explains the physics of the issue, I'll simply say "The forced degree of angle" makes the difference.
*** A 98 mph fastball located on the outside portion of the plate, hit to the right side of the field, requires the line of travel, angle direction change, of the ball to change very little, thus losing very little of its velocity. Then add the ball's velocity with the speed and velocity of the bat striking it... The velocity and power in which the ball travels increases dramatically.
*** Using the same example, except attempting to pull the ball to the left side of the field. The 98 mph fastball must literally come to a screeching halt in order to drastically reverse the angle of travel, which means the speed and velocity of the bat is the main force powering the ball.
That situation would be bad enough, but in reality the baseball is using it's 98 mph velocity to actually resist the bat's attempt to change it's direction that radically.
Jim Bain, former Minor league baseball player and member of "Baseball Coaches of America" shares his advice on baseball coaching baseball drills on his exciting info packed website: http://www.learn-youth-baseball-coaching.com
Be sure to check out his 2 books on Amazon, "The Pitch" and "Season of Pain". Great reading about baseball.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7783400
Advanced Youth Baseball Training Tips and Techiques
The Advances Youth Baseball Training Blog features daily posts with free articles on coaching youth baseball, advanced youth baseball drills, and advanced tips covering all aspects of youth baseball training. Our posts provide you with free baseball youth baseball hitting drills, youth baseball pitching drills, defensive drills for youth baseball and much more. Make sure to save or bookmark this site so that you can visit it regularly for baseball coaching articles.
Showing posts with label baseball hitting tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball hitting tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Youth Baseball Tips: Load For Successful Hitting
Baseball Player University Host Jeff Forney says: A hitter must go back to to go forward in the hitting process
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Baseball Hitting Tips - Excellent One Liners About Baseball Tips on Hitting

Baseball Hitting Tips - Excellent One Liners About Baseball Tips on Hitting
By Guest Author Larry Cicchiello
Sometimes you can say a lot with only a few words. The following list of baseball tips on hitting will prove just that point
"Everything goes toward the pitcher."
Your body should be going toward the pitcher and not toward third base if you are a right-handed hitter or toward first base if you are a left-handed hitter. It's a very common baseball hitting problem because it is extremely unnatural to go toward someone who is throwing a baseball in your direction. But, the truly great hitters all do it.
"Outstanding hitters have slow feet and fast hands."
The faster you move your feet around the better the chances are that you will get "sloppy." A steady, balanced foundation is as important to good baseball hitting as it is to building a house. Even if everything above the foundation is perfect, whether it be hitting a baseball or building a house, if the foundation is not perfect it will lead to many problems. And "fast hands" are of the utmost importance when hitting a baseball. It's very frustrating, especially for power pitchers, when a hitter literally just flicks the bat out with very quick hands and hits the ball hard for a hit.
"Short and quick is so much better than long and strong."
I can not overemphasize how being "short to the ball" is a very critical factor and one of the better baseball hitting tips. Being "short" is an absolute necessity and will enable you to catch up to any fastball. I would rather pitch against a baseball hitter with a long and very powerful swing than someone who is "short to the ball" any day!
"Stride and then swing."
They are two separate movements yet quite often weaker hitters will do them at the same time. Watch and you will see this very common baseball hitting problem often. They should happen in rapid succession but they are separate movements that should be done as smoothly as possible.
"Tension is a hitter's worst enemy."
An expression that's been around for decades and is still one of the better baseball tips on hitting. Hitting a baseball effectively is not an easy thing to do. If you tighten up your muscles it is pretty much impossible to be a good baseball hitter. That's one of the reasons some very good hitters will have a little waggle with their bodies or their bats while waiting for the pitch. It's almost impossible to tighten up your muscles when you are moving them. Relax and "let the air out."
"To hit the ball harder, you don't necessarily have to swing harder."
Don't place too much emphasis on how hard you swing the bat. It's a very common baseball hitting problem, especially with younger players.They swing too hard and miss the baseball by a foot. Focus heavily on getting the sweet part of the bat on the ball as often as you can. Trust me, one of the most important baseball tips on hitting is to just get the bat there and watch what happens. Let the bat do 90% of the work for you. Bat manufacturers spend millions of dollars on research to have the ball jump off the bat when hit on the "sweet spot." Nobody will ever notice how hard you did or did not swing at the pitch. What they will notice is your "seed" going up the right-center or left-center field gap!
You CAN improve and overcome any of your baseball weaknesses if you are a player, a coach, or if you are a baseball parent and your child is struggling! Larry Cicchiello has some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips available at http://www.LarryBaseball.com. Get ready to be raising more than a few eyebrows!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3269147
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Monday, August 29, 2011
How To Develop A Balanced Hitting Base For Youth Baseball Players!

How To Develop A Balanced Hitting Base For Youth Baseball Players!
By Chip Lemin
When I see a youth baseball player shooting line drives all over the field, there are certain things I look for in their swing. The first thing I usually notice will be that the player is balanced during the entire swing. Balance in a baseball swing is something that will deliver consistent results for the hitter. The balance in a baseball swing begins with the stance. The player's weight should be evenly distributed on both feet to start. When the player begins the trigger, or start of the swing, some of the weight will then shift to the back leg. These subtle movements were not always clear to me. I learned most of this from watching our team take hitting instruction from a professional instructor.
Some people will groan about paying someone to help a youth baseball player learn to hit properly. I must say years ago I was not a believer in hitting lessons. I thought I already knew all about hitting. My child has always been able to hit well, mostly due to natural talent luckily. My child was asked to play in a tournament with a travel team. This team used hitting instruction. As I watched how much it helped my child improve, I wanted to know more.
The best baseball swings are usually short and compact with a smooth follow through. Most parents teach their kids to take a long stride. I was guilty of this this. I also let their arms drop down too low, developing a long slow swing. Most of my mistakes were at the tee ball and coach pitch level with my first child. My eyes were opened at these hitting instructions that I had a lot to learn. Taking a wider balanced stance is the beginning of a solid base to hit from. The first thing the instructor did was widen up my kid's stance. This improved the balance right way. It also makes it harder to take a long stride to the ball. I am in favor of hitting instruction as early as the player will accept it. Don't ever force them to go. My child was a little hesitant until watching other kids having fun doing it.
My early ideas about keeping the elbow up, and the long stride, did not lead to a balanced powerful swing. I quickly learned to accept a new way of thinking. The earlier a youth baseball player learns to develop a balanced swing the better. A balanced swing makes it easier to hit to all fields. A balanced swing is much easier to repeat over and over from a good balanced base. The first move to the baseball from the trigger position will be with the hands. This is difficult for young players to learn at first. The are many drills to help instill this important part of the swing. I will share some of them with you soon in an upcoming article.
We have covered the very basics of the balanced hitting base of the swing. Most players will have to widen their stance to at least shoulder with. Some players even a little more may be needed. My child has a wide stance. This helps keep the toes on the ground during the beginning of the swing. If a player is lifting up the toes during the swing, they are shifting their weight improperly. The hands should be held as high as the player feels comfortable with. They should not be buried up against the body either, We are trying to eliminate movement that is not needed in the swing. When there is less movement, it is easier to stay balanced. So go find a quality hitting instructor that both you and your child feel good about. Get some references from others if needed. Go to lessons with an open mind. You will both learn a lot about balance in the baseball swing.
Thanks Coach Chip
Chip Lemin has been a promoter of youth baseball since they started using aluminum bats. That's a long time. I have witnessed many good people get into coaching without solid coaching skills and it is not fun for them or the kids.Today's newer coaches are also being shortchanged on sportsmanship, like there is none. Visit my site to sign up for a insightful, informational, free coaching e-course at http://www.baseballecourse.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chip_Lemin
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/987285
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Sunday, January 16, 2011
Best Way To Become A Better Hitter Fast! Baseball Training Tips
Best Way To Become A Better Hitter Fast! Baseball Training Tips
By Justin Willman
If you are looking for the best way to become a better hitter fast, this is the article for you to read.
Many people think baseball is an easy game, and hitting is something that anybody can do. This is of course until they step in the batters box with a ball moving at them 98 mph. As you probably know, hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Not everyone can do it, and if you can do it, it's even harder to do it on a consistent basis. This is why professional players are considered very good if they fail seven times out of 10. That is a whopping 70% of the time. You are basically a Hall of Fame baseball player if you can get a base hit four times out of 10, or have a 40% success rate. So now that you know the statistics, let's get down to business.
First, if you are looking to become a better hitter fast, you need to know the proper fundamentals. I recommend you get a good coach or someone to teach you how to hit properly. If you do not know the fundamentals first, you will not be successful. You must realize and understand how to properly hit a baseball. Once you have this down, you can then start moving on to more advanced things.
The next thing you can do to become a better hitter fast is to simply work hard. Working hard is very, very easy to do, but many people over complicate it, or they simply surpass it. This is seriously one of the secrets to anything you want to accomplish in life. You have to work hard in order to see results. If you are looking at any hitting programs and they are trying to guarantee that you will become some perfect hitter overnight, they are lying to you. In order to see results, it is up to you. You need to work hard.
Now go out and learn the fundamentals, work hard, and you will start to see results.
Justin is a baseball expert, having helped hundreds of people to easy Baseball Success He's recently developed a FULL video course showing you a step by step process for making your hitting easier and more effective. To learn how to seriously develop a great swing, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman
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By Justin Willman
If you are looking for the best way to become a better hitter fast, this is the article for you to read.
Many people think baseball is an easy game, and hitting is something that anybody can do. This is of course until they step in the batters box with a ball moving at them 98 mph. As you probably know, hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Not everyone can do it, and if you can do it, it's even harder to do it on a consistent basis. This is why professional players are considered very good if they fail seven times out of 10. That is a whopping 70% of the time. You are basically a Hall of Fame baseball player if you can get a base hit four times out of 10, or have a 40% success rate. So now that you know the statistics, let's get down to business.
First, if you are looking to become a better hitter fast, you need to know the proper fundamentals. I recommend you get a good coach or someone to teach you how to hit properly. If you do not know the fundamentals first, you will not be successful. You must realize and understand how to properly hit a baseball. Once you have this down, you can then start moving on to more advanced things.
The next thing you can do to become a better hitter fast is to simply work hard. Working hard is very, very easy to do, but many people over complicate it, or they simply surpass it. This is seriously one of the secrets to anything you want to accomplish in life. You have to work hard in order to see results. If you are looking at any hitting programs and they are trying to guarantee that you will become some perfect hitter overnight, they are lying to you. In order to see results, it is up to you. You need to work hard.
Now go out and learn the fundamentals, work hard, and you will start to see results.
Justin is a baseball expert, having helped hundreds of people to easy Baseball Success He's recently developed a FULL video course showing you a step by step process for making your hitting easier and more effective. To learn how to seriously develop a great swing, visit, http://www.DynamiteHitting.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Willman
===============================
Recommended Baseball Sites:
Baseball Coaching Digest
Baseball Coaching Digest - Today's Post
Baseball Coaching Digest: Daily Post Archive
New Articles for Coaches
Baseball Coaching Articles by Coach Nick Dixon
New Baseball Blogs
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YouthBaseballDigest.com
Homepage
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Baseball Parent Guide: Today's Post
Baseball Articles for Coaches
Baseball Blogs
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Throwing and Pitching Fundamentals
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Baseball Hitting Tips and Drills for Baseball Coaches & Players
Baseball Hitting Tips and Drills for Baseball Coaches & Players
Super8Hitting http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com/lcp. Baseball Hitting Drills for Coaching Baseball. Coach Joe Brockhoff reveals hitting tips for baseball instruction, and how to hit a baseball.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Baseball Hitting Drills: "Hitting Zones"
Baseball Hitting Drills: "Hitting Zones"
http://www.baseballsmith.com is another great resource for players, coaches and parents involved in youth baseball.
This drill illustrates proper soft toss technique when working with hitters to hit to all fields.
http://www.ebaseballtips.com
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
How to Hit Better in Baseball Immediately
How to Hit Better in Baseball Immediately
By Gueast Author Jeffery A Wise
Every baseball player serious about the sport desires to become the best hitter they can be. Even major leaguers always seek to improve their hitting. You should also want to learn how to hit better in baseball.
Players, parents and coaches should all be interested in learning the secrets to hitting better. Parents can encourage their children and give pointers. Coaches have a huge impact on teacher their players the hitting skills they need. If the following skills are practiced regularly, players' hitting abilities are sure to improve.
The basics include hitting mechanics, confidence and the right timing. Let's touch on hitting mechanics first. If we don't go over the mechanics of baseball hitting then we are doing a disservice to ourselves. Remember, even professionals work on basic mechanics every day. They get to the ballpark early to practice hitting and fielding. Those basic mechanics are:
-Stand shoulder width in the batter's box for maximum balance and bend slightly at the knees and waist while holding your bat in a vertical position six to eight inches away from your chest.
-Wait for the ball and keep your shoulder and hips closed until it's time to swing.
-Always have your head pointed towards the pitcher and keep your eyes on the ball at all times.
-Try to have a smooth and consistent swing no matter where the ball is pitched.
-Make sure you follow through with your swing
Confidence is most important while hitting. Remain in control, be selective and hit your pitch. Don't swing at the first pitch for a while to get the feel of the pitcher. If your at-bat goes all wrong, don't let it get you down. Even if you have no hits in three at-bats, the next at-bat might be the one to win the game or sustain a rally for your team. Stay calm and in the game.
When referring to right timing, it's not about the timing of your swing. Instead, it's the reality that sometimes the hits fall for you and sometimes they don't. You can have all your mechanics and confidence down to a science, but sometimes you hit it right at a fielder or you hit the ball foul by one-half inch. That's part of the game everyone goes through. If it wasn't, then everybody would hit.750 or better.
To learn how to hit better in baseball, begin working on these tips immediately and regularly. Never give up. Be sure of yourself and always be ready to attack the ball. These tips will help you be the best baseball hitter you can be.
Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn the proven system of how to hit a baseball so that you can learn how to hit a baseball better. Start learning today by reading our information, watching our videos and participating in our blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise
===================
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By Gueast Author Jeffery A Wise
Every baseball player serious about the sport desires to become the best hitter they can be. Even major leaguers always seek to improve their hitting. You should also want to learn how to hit better in baseball.
Players, parents and coaches should all be interested in learning the secrets to hitting better. Parents can encourage their children and give pointers. Coaches have a huge impact on teacher their players the hitting skills they need. If the following skills are practiced regularly, players' hitting abilities are sure to improve.
The basics include hitting mechanics, confidence and the right timing. Let's touch on hitting mechanics first. If we don't go over the mechanics of baseball hitting then we are doing a disservice to ourselves. Remember, even professionals work on basic mechanics every day. They get to the ballpark early to practice hitting and fielding. Those basic mechanics are:
-Stand shoulder width in the batter's box for maximum balance and bend slightly at the knees and waist while holding your bat in a vertical position six to eight inches away from your chest.
-Wait for the ball and keep your shoulder and hips closed until it's time to swing.
-Always have your head pointed towards the pitcher and keep your eyes on the ball at all times.
-Try to have a smooth and consistent swing no matter where the ball is pitched.
-Make sure you follow through with your swing
Confidence is most important while hitting. Remain in control, be selective and hit your pitch. Don't swing at the first pitch for a while to get the feel of the pitcher. If your at-bat goes all wrong, don't let it get you down. Even if you have no hits in three at-bats, the next at-bat might be the one to win the game or sustain a rally for your team. Stay calm and in the game.
When referring to right timing, it's not about the timing of your swing. Instead, it's the reality that sometimes the hits fall for you and sometimes they don't. You can have all your mechanics and confidence down to a science, but sometimes you hit it right at a fielder or you hit the ball foul by one-half inch. That's part of the game everyone goes through. If it wasn't, then everybody would hit.750 or better.
To learn how to hit better in baseball, begin working on these tips immediately and regularly. Never give up. Be sure of yourself and always be ready to attack the ball. These tips will help you be the best baseball hitter you can be.
Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn the proven system of how to hit a baseball so that you can learn how to hit a baseball better. Start learning today by reading our information, watching our videos and participating in our blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise
===================
BatAction Links

---BatAction Machine at CoachesBest.com
---BatActionMachine on Ebay.com
---BatAction Machine Video Clips
---BatAction Trainer - 15 Reasons Why You Must Own This Machine
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---If you are looking for BatAction Replacement Balls or Power Bands Click Here
BatAction Demo Videos on Youtube
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Hitting Mechanics Tip - Work More - Think Less
Hitting Mechanics Tip - Work More - Think Less
By Guest Author Nate Barnett
I texted a senior in high school who I work with on hitting mechanics, "How's the swing doing"? After a couple minutes his reply was, "I'm hitting.509 on the year... leading the state in doubles with 10... and 20 RBI's. Pretty good. In my response I asked him how he was able to stay so consistent this season. (His power numbers were inconsistent last season.) His answer was, "I don't know. Just hit everyday and work to the right side." I told him that was an awesome answer because in this case, "I don't know" is exactly where you want to be mid-season! Here's why.
If you are thinking about your hitting mechanics and what is making your body work, you cannot think about how your swing feels at the same time. In baseball, you play multiple games during the week and it's probable that your swing begins to change without you knowing it changed IF there isn't focus placed on repetition and feeling of your swing.
So when I asked him how he was able to keep consistent, his answer let me know that he wasn't spending too much time on how the movements should be (hitting mechanics) instead his focus was on how his swing felt (muscle memory). This is why he didn't really know since he was just hitting daily and working on seeing the ball deep into the strike zone. The key for him will be to remain consistent throughout the remainder of the season.
Awesome!
Nate Barnett is co-owner of The Pitching Academy. You can find The Pitching Academy's articles, blog, and videos on baseball hitting mechanics, pitching mechanics, pitching grips, and more when you visit the website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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By Guest Author Nate Barnett
I texted a senior in high school who I work with on hitting mechanics, "How's the swing doing"? After a couple minutes his reply was, "I'm hitting.509 on the year... leading the state in doubles with 10... and 20 RBI's. Pretty good. In my response I asked him how he was able to stay so consistent this season. (His power numbers were inconsistent last season.) His answer was, "I don't know. Just hit everyday and work to the right side." I told him that was an awesome answer because in this case, "I don't know" is exactly where you want to be mid-season! Here's why.
If you are thinking about your hitting mechanics and what is making your body work, you cannot think about how your swing feels at the same time. In baseball, you play multiple games during the week and it's probable that your swing begins to change without you knowing it changed IF there isn't focus placed on repetition and feeling of your swing.
So when I asked him how he was able to keep consistent, his answer let me know that he wasn't spending too much time on how the movements should be (hitting mechanics) instead his focus was on how his swing felt (muscle memory). This is why he didn't really know since he was just hitting daily and working on seeing the ball deep into the strike zone. The key for him will be to remain consistent throughout the remainder of the season.
Awesome!
Nate Barnett is co-owner of The Pitching Academy. You can find The Pitching Academy's articles, blog, and videos on baseball hitting mechanics, pitching mechanics, pitching grips, and more when you visit the website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Baseball Hitting: Basic Hitting Mechanics
Here is a pretty good video on hitting mechanics. I hope that your find it useful Have a great day.
While the baseball swing has many complexities, these are fundamental basics that young hitters can learn and benefit from. To become a BetterBaseball player, go to TeachingBetterBaseball.com!
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While the baseball swing has many complexities, these are fundamental basics that young hitters can learn and benefit from. To become a BetterBaseball player, go to TeachingBetterBaseball.com!
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
Helping Hitters With a Positive Mental Outlook

Helping Baseball Hitters Improve
By Jack Perconte
Having worked with thousands of baseball hitters over the years, I have noticed that many of them become upset when they hit foul balls, especially in batting practice. I try to have hitters feel good about fouling balls off. In that way they keep a confident, positive outlook for the rest of the at-bat. Once negativity enters a hitters mind, they may lose the confidence and the edge they may have had. Additionally, I do not believe it is good to show the pitcher that you are upset or ever give the opposition the feeling that you are less confident.
When I notice a hitter become upset over fouling off some pitches, I say, "Wait a minute, that was a good thing. It is better than a swing and a miss. Hitting is not that easy so just making contact is a positive thing." I follow that up with "Hey, that foul ball kept you alive for another pitch, and your pitch is coming." I strive to convince hitters that fouling a ball off on a tough pitch is a total victory because, "Even if you put that one in play, it would have probably been for an easy out." I follow that up with, "The chances of the pitcher throwing the next pitch in the same tough spot are very slim."
Of course, fouling a pitch off that was very hittable (right down the middle) can be demoralizing but I never want my hitters to feel negatively at home plate and, as mentioned, I never want them to give the pitcher the mental edge.
From a coaching stand point, good coaches should never give batters the impression that they do not believe in the hitters or that they (batters) may have missed an opportunity. Coaches often do this by looking disgusted or showing disappointment when a player fouls a good, hittable pitch off. Any negative feelings in sport generally lead to failure. Additionally, there are many words that coaches can use so hitters stay positive, optimistic and confident. Here are some of those that will help hitters keep a positive mental outlook:
1. "That wasn't your pitch anyway" - this is good to say when a hitter takes a borderline pitch that was called a strike or when the umpire makes a questionable call.
2. "Be ready, your pitch is coming" - always good advice and better than saying "Protect the plate," which puts the hitter in a defensive, negative mode.
3. "I know you can do this," which is always good advice, especially for less confident players.
4. "It only takes one," which is good to say to get hitters to stay positive and not dwell on past missed opportunities.
5. "Now you're ready" - good to say after a hitter did not swing at a pitch that maybe they should have swung at.
6. "Way to hang in there" - good advice after they foul off a pitch on a 2-strike count.
7. "Good at-bat" - good to say after the batter made an out but either hit the ball hard, had some good swings or battled the pitcher for many pitches.
8. "Nothing you can do about that at-bat, it's over and you will get him the next time" - always important advice suggesting hitters have short memories and a positive mental outlook in the future.
Of course, there are hundreds of positive words coaches can use, with the above being examples. The key is that athletes and coaches remember, "Negativity rarely brings out the best in a ball player."
Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His baseball playing lessons, books and advice can be found at http://www.baseballhittinglessons.com/baseball Jack is the author of two books, The Making of a Hitter and Raising an Athlete - his positive parenting advice and books can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Perconte
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Little League Digest - Proper Baseball Swing Mechanics and the "Belly Button" Rule of Hip Turn

Little league Digest: Baseball Batting Coaching Tips: Teaching Hip Turn Mechanics and Using the "Belly Button" Rule to Improve Baseball Swing Quality
The hips play an important part in the baseball swing process. The turn of the hips helps to generate power and bat speed. There are several important coaching points about the involvement of the hips in the swing. The "B B" rule is one good way to teach young players the degree of hip turn on various pitch locations. This article presents several coaching points and explains the "B B" rule.
By Nick Dixon

Here are 10 Coaching Points related to Hip Movement Mechanics:
1. The degree of hip movement is determined by the location of the pitch.
2. The hips must turn more when hitting an inside pitch.
3. The hips will turn less when hitting a pitch away.
4. The hips should not move before the hands and bat.
5. To free the hips, the back foot must spin, rotate or turn onto the toe.
6. The hips follow the barrel. The hips should open behind the barrel, not before it.
7. Premature front side or hip movement will cause a batter to pull the head and to pull of pitches.
8. The correct hip movement is a spin. Lunging or sliding the hips forward is not acceptable.
9. The hip movement should be a thrust or fast rotation. The faster the rotation of the hips, the faster the bats speed.
10. The degree of hip rotation can be taught by teaching the "Belly Button" rule as explained below.
The "Belly Button Rule" is explained as the following:
The Belly Button should follow the barrel of the bat through the baseball swing process. The location of a pitch determines hip turn. The degree of hip turn determines where the belly button is pointing when the batter finishes the baseball swing. The belly button should always finish in a position that points toward the direction in which the baseball was hit.
For example, when a ball is hit to the opposite field, the batters "Button" should point or be directed toward the opposite field when the swing is completed. If a batter pulls an inside pitch, the belly button should follow the ball and point toward the direction in which the ball was hit.
Coaching Point: For right and left handed batters, if the ball is hit through the box, up the middle, the belly button should "shine" or point toward second base when the swing is complete. For right handed batter, is a ball is pulled, the belly button should finish pointing toward third base. If a right handed batter hits the baseball down the right field line, the button should point toward first base when the swing is completed. If a left handed batter pulls the baseball, the hips should turn completely and the button should finish pointing at first base. If a left handed batter hits the ball to left field, the hips should turn less and the belly button should finish the swing pointing the 5-6 hole or between 3rd and 2nd base.
I hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck this season! Have a great day, Nick.
The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon
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Monday, May 24, 2010
Hustle and Increasing Your Baseball Performance

Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
By Nate Barnett
I work weekly with a 10U baseball club up here in Washington. Recently, they had a rough couple games with countless mental errors, lack of hustle and focus. Part of the deal is that they are 10 years old so some of that is to be expected. However, at practice the coach wanted me to work the magic and improve their overall hustle and focus pitch to pitch. The following is the email I sent to the coach about what we had gone over tonight at practice. If you have a young player, this is well worth helping him with.
Hi Coach,
Here is the stuff we worked on tonight. The boys looked good and caught on quickly.
1. In and out of the dugout in a "crisp" manner. This means once the last out is made the guys are hustling to their positions or back to the dugout. This will be particularly difficult when the guys are struggling with a recent mistake. But, as we talked about tonight, getting the body moving will help the brain recover!
2. At the beginning of the game, the SS and the CF will select a location in the dugout for all of the infielders and outfielders respectively to place their gloves and hats when they go out to hit. This way when the third out is made the guys on the bench will bring the glove/hat out to the players who are left on base. This will help out with guys getting to their positions quickly and ready for the next inning.
3. Each time there is a new hitter the infielders will turn around and face the outfielders and tell them how many outs there are. The outfielders will in turn return the outs call back to the infielders. This will keep everyone alert and in the game. Less mental errors are made when there is no confusion over outs.
4. As each pitch crosses the plate it's highly important that all players ready themselves. We talked about the two-step approach. As the pitcher begins to move in his delivery, the fielders move as well into their ready position with their glove out in front. Once the pitch has crossed the plate, the guys can move back to their starting position and get ready for the next pitch. This constant movement will help players stay focused as they are physically having to prepare themselves for the next pitch.
Nate Barnett is co-owner of The Pitching Academy.
You can find The Pitching Academy's articles, blog, and videos on baseball psychology, pitching mechanics, and hitting mechanics when you visit the website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Baseball Training For Power Hitting

By Vic Read
Watching a 5' 8", 160 pound shortstop hit a 400 foot bomb is always amazing. Sure, the 6' 4", 235 pound first baseman has the natural strength to put the ball out of the yard, but how does the smaller player do it? What does he possess to produce such power? And how do some larger players consistently hit for distance, while others just have the occasional home run?
The three main components to hitting the baseball consistently and for distance are:
1. Proper mechanics - feet comfortably spread apart, hands back, and a smooth transfer from load to swing.
2. Good eye-hand coordination - seeing the ball all the way in and watching the ball hit the bat.
3. Good bat speed - the faster the bat, the faster the ball flies out.
Each one of these components can be improved upon by every baseball player.
1. Proper Mechanics - Watch some major league games and check out the different styles of batting stance. Then grab a bat and see what is most comfortable for you. Being tense at the plate cuts down on your reaction time. And when that fastball is coming in, you have to be relaxed and ready to release the perfect swing. Once you have found a stance you like, go hit off the tee and then take some cuts at a batting cage and continue to refine your mechanics. Once you like your stance, then do some research and learn about loading up, staying back on the ball and swinging thru the pitch.
2. Good eye-hand coordination - soft toss, which is hitting a ball into a net when tossed by someone from a short distance, is a good tool to work on and improve your eye-hand coordination. Have the person toss the ball at different angles and different locations. Start off with slow tosses, and then increase the speed.
3. Good bat speed - there are many methods to help improve your bat speed. Try using a heavier bat or a wood bat during practice or in the cages. Swing off the tee using only one hand. Take a medicine ball, hold it out in front of you and rotate your hands like you were swinging a bat. The idea is to get your hands and hips moving faster to strike the ball at a greater speed.
Once you find that comfortable batting stance, and you have worked on the eye-hand drills, and you have improved your bat speed, than take a 100 swings a day. It can be off a tee, during soft toss, in a cage, or just in the backyard swinging at the air. But take a 100 good swings a day to make your swing as natural as breathing.
After my many years of coaching, watching and traveling to out of town baseball games, I decided to share my baseball tips and stories that I have learned and experienced along the way. To check out more articles that I have written, please visit my website at http://baseballknowledge.info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vic_Read
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Friday, May 14, 2010
Baseball Tips - This Problem May Be Causing That Hitting Slump

By Tom Read
Hitting the baseball is tough. You need to have a good batting stance, correct placement of the hands, good eye hand coordination, a good read on the type of pitch, and good body movement through the ball. And as the old saying goes, you are trying to hit a round ball square with a round bat. So when you go into a batting slump, which part of this equation is failing you?
This is a story I like to tell. My young son was in a bating slump like never before. He had gone from hitting the ball all over the field, to striking out at every plate appearance. Of course he was frustrated. This had never happened to him in his young career. So he and I started to take a look at each part of his swing.
His coach was also very helpful. He pitched extra batting practice to my son and gave us suggestions to try at the batting cages. We tried having him crowd the plate, back off the plate. We tried an open stance, then a closed stance. We raised his hands, we lowered his hands. We did soft toss and hit off the tee. We went ot a lighter bat, then to a heavier bat. I began to realize I was putting too much importance on this small part of his life. But to him it was very important.
Two weeks had gone by and I had decided that maybe this was his real hitting ability, and that his earlier success was just an unusual hitting streak. Then a thought came to me. At school they check every student's eye sight each year, but maybe he needed an eye exam.
My wife was able to get him into the eye doctor the next day. And can you believe it, his sight was 20-100, very bad. Surprisingly, we were all pleased with the news. Can you imagine that.? Happy that he had bad eye sight. Maybe this was his batting problem.
We were able to get glasses right away, and my son was amazed at what he could see. Leaves on the trees were now so much clearer. He was so trilled. He said let's get his ears checked. Maybe there was something he wasn't hearing. We told him his hearing was just fine.
Now the true test, the next game. I tried to prepare him for the worst, telling him it might take some time to adjust to this new sight. But that caution was never needed, he came out of the gate sending hits all over the field again. All those changes to his batting stance weren't needed. His eyes had changed very rapidly, but he had not noticed.
From what I understand, four other boys on the team had their eye sight checked within the next week. I guess you can say seeing is believing. So when you see changes in your player's ability be sure to consider their eye sight, as well as any other physical aspect. Kids grow up fast, and they make many changes during that time.
For other baseball tips and stories, please visit my website at http://baseballknowledge.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Read
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Baseball 2Day Coaching Journal; 12 Batting Flaws and How to Correct Each
Baseball 2Day Coaching Journal; 12 Batting Flaws and How to Correct Each
How to Correct Baseball Hitting Flaws is your guide to identifying and correcting baseball hitting flaws at every level of play inlcuding youth baseball, travel baseball, high school baseball, and college baseball.
We all know that coaching hitters involves many actions:
1. Careful analysis of the the present swing's quality.
2. Correction or elimination of incorrect mechanics.
3. Practicing the desired swing with correct execution repetitively.
4. Instilling patience, confidence and agressiveness.
The following are common mechanical errors
that should be quickly identified and eliminated.
There are many more and we will
continually add more.
1. Improper Stance Width
2. "Wrapping" The Bat
3. Looking At Your Nose
4. Poor Grip
5. Overstriding
6. "Hitch" In The Swing
7. "Locking" The Front Arm
8. Opening Up Too Soon
Click here to read this article at the Baseball 2day Coaching Journal.
BB2Day.com
How to Correct Baseball Hitting Flaws is your guide to identifying and correcting baseball hitting flaws at every level of play inlcuding youth baseball, travel baseball, high school baseball, and college baseball.
We all know that coaching hitters involves many actions:
1. Careful analysis of the the present swing's quality.
2. Correction or elimination of incorrect mechanics.
3. Practicing the desired swing with correct execution repetitively.
4. Instilling patience, confidence and agressiveness.
The following are common mechanical errors
that should be quickly identified and eliminated.
There are many more and we will
continually add more.
1. Improper Stance Width
2. "Wrapping" The Bat
3. Looking At Your Nose
4. Poor Grip
5. Overstriding
6. "Hitch" In The Swing
7. "Locking" The Front Arm
8. Opening Up Too Soon
Click here to read this article at the Baseball 2day Coaching Journal.
BB2Day.com
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Baseball Tips on Hitting - Practice is Essential For Your Baseball Hitting Success!

Batting Tee for the Perfect Swing - AdvancedSkillsTee.com
Baseball Tips on Hitting - Practice is Essential For Your Baseball Hitting Success!
By Larry Cicchiello
Real good hitters are not born that way. They have worked very hard and spent countless hours to reach that status. There is simply no substitute for hard work and practicing your baseball swing. Are you willing to pay that price?
You've got to go out and hit, hit, hit and then hit some more. Some professional players take 500 swings a day in the off season. It's not by accident or good fortune that some of them bat.330 or hit 45 home runs. Maybe that's why they are professional hitters, because they pay the price and work very hard at it.
Back in the 1970's, I heard about a golfer who just won a major tournament. Do you know what this golfer was doing after the final round of golf? He was practicing for a couple of hours hitting balls out of the sand trap because he had a poor shot out of the trap late in the tournament. Need I say any more? This player won the tournament and was practicing for several hours after his victory!
Good hitters are usually always practicing something. If you've had problems at the plate for a couple of games, it's not a big deal at all and "welcome to the club." Go out to the field or the batting cages the next day and work on the specific pitch and or location that's giving you trouble.
It is very important to practice your swing often. The only way to get good habits is through repetition. Unfortunately, a very common problem is players have a strong tendency to practice what they already do well instead of practicing on the areas that they need work on. Avoid falling into this trap. You will be well rewarded for practicing on areas that you need work on.
Let's say you are a hitter that "eats fastballs for breakfast" but low and away breaking balls give you problems. If you spend 90% of your baseball hitting practice working on hitting the low and away breaking ball, you will become efficient at hitting that pitch also. So now, you have become a very good hitter of both the fastball and the low and away breaking ball. Do you have any idea as to what a problem that presents for opposing pitchers?
You have now become a feared hitter because you no longer have a glaring weakness for a pitcher to exploit. Oh sure, even the great baseball hitters handle some pitches better than other pitches. But the point here is that they do NOT have glaring weaknesses. And it's all because they practice what they do NOT do well at the plate. It took a fabulous M.L.B. hitter two years to learn how to hit a "slider." Do you know how he learned how to hit the "slider?" By spending countless hours of batting practice hitting the "slider."
About five years ago a reporter was interviewing one of the best hitters in M.L.B. She mentioned to him about his God given talent. He very politely told her he's not so sure that he was born with any special talent. She looked at him with a look of puzzlement on her face. He told her that when he was about 12 years old, he and about ten friends decided to practice every day at the ballpark. About a week later, only about five of them were showing up at the ballpark. A week after that, only himself and one friend were showing up.
Maybe that's one of the reasons this player makes about 20 million dollars per year. I'm not implying for a second that if you work hard and practice frequently you have a good chance to sign a contract like that. What I AM implying is that if you work hard you will be rewarded. That I will guarantee.
Are you willing to pay that price?
Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello
=================
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Baseball Tips - This Problem May Be Causing That Hitting Slump

Baseball Tips - This Problem May Be Causing That Hitting Slump
By Tom Read
Hitting the baseball is tough. You need to have a good batting stance, correct placement of the hands, good eye hand coordination, a good read on the type of pitch, and good body movement through the ball. And as the old saying goes, you are trying to hit a round ball square with a round bat. So when you go into a batting slump, which part of this equation is failing you?
This is a story I like to tell. My young son was in a batting slump like never before. He had gone from hitting the ball all over the field, to striking out at every plate appearance. Of course he was frustrated. This had never happened to him in his young career. So he and I started to take a look at each part of his swing.
His coach was also very helpful. He pitched extra batting practice to my son and gave us suggestions to try at the batting cages. We tried having him crowd the plate, back off the plate. We tried an open stance, then a closed stance. We raised his hands, we lowered his hands. We did soft toss and hit off the tee. We went ot a lighter bat, then to a heavier bat. I began to realize I was putting too much importance on this small part of his life. But to him it was very important.
Two weeks had gone by and I had decided that maybe this was his real hitting ability, and that his earlier success was just an unusual hitting streak. Then a thought came to me. At school they check every student's eye sight each year, but maybe he needed an eye exam.
My wife was able to get him into the eye doctor the next day. And can you believe it, his sight was 20-100, very bad. Surprisingly, we were all pleased with the news. Can you imagine that.? Happy that he had bad eye sight. Maybe this was his batting problem.
We were able to get glasses right away, and my son was amazed at what he could see. Leaves on the trees were now so much clearer. He was so trilled. He said let's get his ears checked. Maybe there was something he wasn't hearing. We told him his hearing was just fine.
Now the true test, the next game. I tried to prepare him for the worst, telling him it might take some time to adjust to this new sight. But that caution was never needed, he came out of the gate sending hits all over the field again. All those changes to his batting stance weren't needed. His eyes had changed very rapidly, but he had not noticed.
From what I understand, four other boys on the team had their eye sight checked within the next week. I guess you can say seeing is believing. So when you see changes in your player's ability be sure to consider their eye sight, as well as any other physical aspect. Kids grow up fast, and they make many changes during that time.
Once you know their eye sight is good, and you are looking for some batting tips, please visit this website for some helpful instructions http://hittingslumptip.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Read
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Monday, April 5, 2010
Level Swing Baseball Or Softball - What Does it Really Mean?
Level Swing Baseball Or Softball - What Does it Really Mean?

By Bryan Ciconte
Alright let's talk hitting! So how many of you baseball or softball hitters out there heard the term of having a level swing. I will, in this article, review the word level in other ways in order to submit this properly. I will use words such as flat or correspond to etc. when it comes being on plane or level. Yes, having a flat swing is vital to becoming a complete hitter whether you play the game of baseball or the game of softball. The concept of achieving this is vital to consistency in your game.
As a baseball player you will have to be on plane with your swing in reference to the pitch that is delivered. What does this mean? If your trying to hit a fastball that is coming to you on a down angle your swing must be adjacent to the pitch in order to hit the ball square at impact. This will in return take out the idea of creating backspin etc... Lets get that word out of your mind. Good square contact is important, not backspin. In addition if you heard the concept of rotational hitting or linear hitting this will also play a factor in your swing plane. Keep these swings in mind when it comes to developing your swing plane. Both result in different attack angles. To further understand what these hitting styles are please do your research for further information.
Some relative factors with swing plane:
If a pitch is up in the zone you will obviously have to relate your swing to the path of the ball. So you may hear the term getting on top of a pitch. In reality this term means leveling your swing up to the plane of the pitch, which in return creates a much flatter swing plane.
If your trying to hit a breaking pitch you are obviously going to have some type of an upswing when it comes to attacking the angle of the pitch properly. If you try to attack the pitch on a downswing there is a good chance that you will either cut the ball and pop up or pound it in the ground.
I just wanted to touch on some of this idea. I have a lot more information on this concept in depth on my website. I hope this short article gave you a basic concept of what having a level swing is all about. Thanks and good luck - Bryan.
Your #1 source for online hitting information! Bryan @ Hitting Made Simple: Hitting Made Simple.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Ciconte
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---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips
Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds.
Hurricane Video

By Bryan Ciconte
Alright let's talk hitting! So how many of you baseball or softball hitters out there heard the term of having a level swing. I will, in this article, review the word level in other ways in order to submit this properly. I will use words such as flat or correspond to etc. when it comes being on plane or level. Yes, having a flat swing is vital to becoming a complete hitter whether you play the game of baseball or the game of softball. The concept of achieving this is vital to consistency in your game.
As a baseball player you will have to be on plane with your swing in reference to the pitch that is delivered. What does this mean? If your trying to hit a fastball that is coming to you on a down angle your swing must be adjacent to the pitch in order to hit the ball square at impact. This will in return take out the idea of creating backspin etc... Lets get that word out of your mind. Good square contact is important, not backspin. In addition if you heard the concept of rotational hitting or linear hitting this will also play a factor in your swing plane. Keep these swings in mind when it comes to developing your swing plane. Both result in different attack angles. To further understand what these hitting styles are please do your research for further information.
Some relative factors with swing plane:
If a pitch is up in the zone you will obviously have to relate your swing to the path of the ball. So you may hear the term getting on top of a pitch. In reality this term means leveling your swing up to the plane of the pitch, which in return creates a much flatter swing plane.
If your trying to hit a breaking pitch you are obviously going to have some type of an upswing when it comes to attacking the angle of the pitch properly. If you try to attack the pitch on a downswing there is a good chance that you will either cut the ball and pop up or pound it in the ground.
I just wanted to touch on some of this idea. I have a lot more information on this concept in depth on my website. I hope this short article gave you a basic concept of what having a level swing is all about. Thanks and good luck - Bryan.
Your #1 source for online hitting information! Bryan @ Hitting Made Simple: Hitting Made Simple.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Ciconte
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HurricaneMachine.com - Links
---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips
Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds.
Hurricane Video
Friday, April 2, 2010
Little League Digest - Proper Baseball Swing Mechanics and the "Belly Button" Rule of Hip Turn
Little League Digest - Proper Baseball Swing Mechanics and the "Belly Button" Rule of Hip Turn
By Nick Dixon
Little league Digest: Baseball Batting Coaching Tips: Teaching Hip Turn Mechanics and Using the "Belly Button" Rule to Improve Baseball Swing Quality
The hips play an important part in the baseball swing process. The turn of the hips helps to generate power and bat speed. There are several important coaching points about the involvement of the hips in the swing. The "B B" rule is one good way to teach young players the degree of hip turn on various pitch locations. This article presents several coaching points and explains the "B B" rule.
Here are 10 Coaching Points related to Hip Movement Mechanics:
1. The degree of hip movement is determined by the location of the pitch.
2. The hips must turn more when hitting an inside pitch.
3. The hips will turn less when hitting a pitch away.
4. The hips should not move before the hands and bat.
5. To free the hips, the back foot must spin, rotate or turn onto the toe.
6. The hips follow the barrel. The hips should open behind the barrel, not before it.
7. Premature front side or hip movement will cause a batter to pull the head and to pull of pitches.
8. The correct hip movement is a spin. Lunging or sliding the hips forward is not acceptable.
9. The hip movement should be a thrust or fast rotation. The faster the rotation of the hips, the faster the bats speed.
10. The degree of hip rotation can be taught by teaching the "Belly Button" rule as explained below.
The "Belly Button Rule" is explained as the following:
The Belly Button should follow the barrel of the bat through the baseball swing process. The location of a pitch determines hip turn. The degree of hip turn determines where the belly button is pointing when the batter finishes the baseball swing. The belly button should always finish in a position that points toward the direction in which the baseball was hit.
For example, when a ball is hit to the opposite field, the batters "Button" should point or be directed toward the opposite field when the swing is completed. If a batter pulls an inside pitch, the belly button should follow the ball and point toward the direction in which the ball was hit.
Coaching Point: For right and left handed batters, if the ball is hit through the box, up the middle, the belly button should "shine" or point toward second base when the swing is complete. For right handed batter, is a ball is pulled, the belly button should finish pointing toward third base. If a right handed batter hits the baseball down the right field line, the button should point toward first base when the swing is completed. If a left handed batter pulls the baseball, the hips should turn completely and the button should finish pointing at first base. If a left handed batter hits the ball to left field, the hips should turn less and the belly button should finish the swing pointing the 5-6 hole or between 3rd and 2nd base.
I hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck this season! Have a great day, Nick.
The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon
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The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!
LittleLeagueDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
BaseballParentGuide.com
AmericanBaseballDirectory.com
LittleLeagueLinks.com
By Nick Dixon
Little league Digest: Baseball Batting Coaching Tips: Teaching Hip Turn Mechanics and Using the "Belly Button" Rule to Improve Baseball Swing Quality
The hips play an important part in the baseball swing process. The turn of the hips helps to generate power and bat speed. There are several important coaching points about the involvement of the hips in the swing. The "B B" rule is one good way to teach young players the degree of hip turn on various pitch locations. This article presents several coaching points and explains the "B B" rule.
Here are 10 Coaching Points related to Hip Movement Mechanics:
1. The degree of hip movement is determined by the location of the pitch.
2. The hips must turn more when hitting an inside pitch.
3. The hips will turn less when hitting a pitch away.
4. The hips should not move before the hands and bat.
5. To free the hips, the back foot must spin, rotate or turn onto the toe.
6. The hips follow the barrel. The hips should open behind the barrel, not before it.
7. Premature front side or hip movement will cause a batter to pull the head and to pull of pitches.
8. The correct hip movement is a spin. Lunging or sliding the hips forward is not acceptable.
9. The hip movement should be a thrust or fast rotation. The faster the rotation of the hips, the faster the bats speed.
10. The degree of hip rotation can be taught by teaching the "Belly Button" rule as explained below.
The "Belly Button Rule" is explained as the following:
The Belly Button should follow the barrel of the bat through the baseball swing process. The location of a pitch determines hip turn. The degree of hip turn determines where the belly button is pointing when the batter finishes the baseball swing. The belly button should always finish in a position that points toward the direction in which the baseball was hit.
For example, when a ball is hit to the opposite field, the batters "Button" should point or be directed toward the opposite field when the swing is completed. If a batter pulls an inside pitch, the belly button should follow the ball and point toward the direction in which the ball was hit.
Coaching Point: For right and left handed batters, if the ball is hit through the box, up the middle, the belly button should "shine" or point toward second base when the swing is complete. For right handed batter, is a ball is pulled, the belly button should finish pointing toward third base. If a right handed batter hits the baseball down the right field line, the button should point toward first base when the swing is completed. If a left handed batter pulls the baseball, the hips should turn completely and the button should finish pointing at first base. If a left handed batter hits the ball to left field, the hips should turn less and the belly button should finish the swing pointing the 5-6 hole or between 3rd and 2nd base.
I hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck this season! Have a great day, Nick.
The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.
Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Dixon
===Advertisement from our sponsor:=====

Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.
The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!
LittleLeagueDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
BaseballParentGuide.com
AmericanBaseballDirectory.com
LittleLeagueLinks.com
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