Download - Hitting Concepts and Techniques QUALITY AT BATS

Hitting Concepts and Hitting Concepts and TechniquesTechniques

QUALITY AT BATSQUALITY AT BATS

Trojan BaseballTrojan Baseball

Simsbury High SchoolSimsbury High School

Simsbury, CTSimsbury, CT

The Quality At-Bat The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (QAB)Philosophy (QAB)Making our own measurements of success Making our own measurements of success

to reinforce to reinforce PROCESS – NOT RESULTSPROCESS – NOT RESULTS QAB grades – sac, two strike hitting, two-out RBI, QAB grades – sac, two strike hitting, two-out RBI,

hard contact, runner in from 3rd with less than two hard contact, runner in from 3rd with less than two outs, etc. (rubric on page 9)outs, etc. (rubric on page 9)

sticking with it – if you want them to embrace sticking with it – if you want them to embrace process, you can’t fake itprocess, you can’t fake it

reinforcement – don’t embrace batting average, etc.reinforcement – don’t embrace batting average, etc. The process can be perfect, but that does not The process can be perfect, but that does not

guarantee perfect result. Therefore, we seek guarantee perfect result. Therefore, we seek perfect processes, and trust enough positive end perfect processes, and trust enough positive end results will follow.results will follow.

work to eliminate work to eliminate FEARFEAR of results – focus on process of results – focus on process

The Quality At-Bat The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.)Philosophy (cont.)Controlling the Process - Controlling the Process - ELIMINATES ELIMINATES

FEARFEAR having a plan - hitting with your headhaving a plan - hitting with your head know situation (score, outs, objective)know situation (score, outs, objective) know yourself and what are your know yourself and what are your

strengths and weaknessesstrengths and weaknesses zone vs. two-strike approach zone vs. two-strike approach body languagebody language positive self talkpositive self talk visualizationvisualization flushing the negativeflushing the negative one pitch at a time – slow game down – limiting stimulione pitch at a time – slow game down – limiting stimuli making adjustments while trusting overall approachmaking adjustments while trusting overall approach

The Quality At-Bat The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.)Philosophy (cont.)

Dealing with FailureDealing with Failure 7 out of 10 times7 out of 10 times learning from it to turn it into learning from it to turn it into

future successfuture success WHY is the result not what you WHY is the result not what you

wantedwanted WHAT can you do next timeWHAT can you do next time

The Quality At-Bat The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.)Philosophy (cont.)Prepare in practice, perform in gamesPrepare in practice, perform in games game like swings – all the time in practicegame like swings – all the time in practice quality preparation = high level of confidence quality preparation = high level of confidence

= greater probability of successful outcomes= greater probability of successful outcomes Anxiety Anxiety (FEAR) (FEAR) most often comes from a lack most often comes from a lack

of quality preparationof quality preparation hands off mechanics in games from coaches – hands off mechanics in games from coaches –

FOCUS ON MENTAL APPROACH IN GAMESFOCUS ON MENTAL APPROACH IN GAMES no cloning – no two people alike, no two swings no cloning – no two people alike, no two swings

alikealike game speed whenever striking baseball – get game speed whenever striking baseball – get

loose with dry swingsloose with dry swings ESTABLISH ROUTINE – STAY WITH ITESTABLISH ROUTINE – STAY WITH IT

The Quality At-Bat The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.)Philosophy (cont.)Mechanical Freedom with Mental Mechanical Freedom with Mental

RulesRules must have planmust have plan must be smartmust be smart must understand the influence of the count, score, must understand the influence of the count, score,

situation, and expectationssituation, and expectations


Hitters make adjustmentsHitters make adjustments Year to year – better pitching = Year to year – better pitching =

shorter swing or holes exposed shorter swing or holes exposed as we progress in levelas we progress in level

Day to day – pitcher (power guy Day to day – pitcher (power guy vs. “junk”, sinker guy, etc.)vs. “junk”, sinker guy, etc.)

Pitch to pitch – understand the Pitch to pitch – understand the count, sequences, tendenciescount, sequences, tendencies


Each hitter’s first at-bat begins Each hitter’s first at-bat begins with the first pitch of the with the first pitch of the gamegame

tipping pitches – p, c, coach, tipping pitches – p, c, coach, middle infieldersmiddle infielders

pick-offspick-offs release pointrelease point runners on vs. no runners onrunners on vs. no runners on

Quantifying a QABQuantifying a QAB

Trojan QABTrojan QAB

Game AB’s = Game AB’s = 44

Possible QAB Points = Possible QAB Points = 1616

Player point total = Player point total = 1111

Game QAB = 11/16 = Game QAB = 11/16 = .688.688

Who is giving you QAB’s?Who is giving you QAB’s?

Mechanics before pitch Mechanics before pitch

StanceStance comfortablecomfortable relaxedrelaxed balanced and widebalanced and wide preferably squaredpreferably squared weight on balls of feetweight on balls of feet

Set-upSet-up hands up hands up grip – firm but relaxed with bat in fingers –NEVER in grip – firm but relaxed with bat in fingers –NEVER in

palmspalms V – wrists and forearms without tensionV – wrists and forearms without tension high hands at top of zonehigh hands at top of zone eyes level – both looking at pitchereyes level – both looking at pitcher HAVE A ROUTINE…KEEPS FOCUS ON PLAN…NOT HAVE A ROUTINE…KEEPS FOCUS ON PLAN…NOT FEARFEAR

Mechanics before pitchMechanics before pitch(cont.)(cont.)

Mechanics during deliveryMechanics during delivery

Trigger/Stride/Load – all the same Trigger/Stride/Load – all the same thingthing

- lower body- lower body hips load without turning, knee can turn slightly inhips load without turning, knee can turn slightly in weight back for pitch identification without eyes movingweight back for pitch identification without eyes moving stride - quiet and short – stepping on thin icestride - quiet and short – stepping on thin ice weight load on back legweight load on back leg

- upper body- upper body hands load too – BACKWARDS C…BE CAREFUL WITH HANDS…hands load too – BACKWARDS C…BE CAREFUL WITH HANDS…

NO ARM BAR…keep “V” in elbowNO ARM BAR…keep “V” in elbow quiet shouldersquiet shoulders hands get to top zone without a bat wraphands get to top zone without a bat wrap

Getting to ready position to Getting to ready position to let hands worklet hands work

– what is “staying back”what is “staying back”

Mechanics at pitch Mechanics at pitch

Pitch identificationPitch identification as early as possibleas early as possible be aware of count, situation, etc., but trust eyes be aware of count, situation, etc., but trust eyes

(they are less likely to lie)(they are less likely to lie)

Delivering bat head to hitting zoneDelivering bat head to hitting zone short and quick – “TO IT”short and quick – “TO IT” backside fires from knee to chestbackside fires from knee to chest heel plantheel plant bottom hand – knob to ballbottom hand – knob to ball tall backside – no collapsetall backside – no collapse top of back hip downtop of back hip down hands inside / front of sternum – no hands inside / front of sternum – no

casting or arm barcasting or arm bar barrel above hands until contactbarrel above hands until contact

At contactAt contact eyes see bat hit ball and are still eyes see bat hit ball and are still

levellevel karate chop/punch hand position – karate chop/punch hand position –

palm up/palm downpalm up/palm down tall backsidetall backside not fully extended – not fully extended – ELBOW ELBOW

LOCKEDLOCKED firm front side is axis of rotationfirm front side is axis of rotation up on back toe at contact for full up on back toe at contact for full

weight transfer through ball – weight transfer through ball – no no squishing bugsquishing bug

contact inside and top half of ballcontact inside and top half of ball keep it fair with backspin (why is keep it fair with backspin (why is

it deeper in center than left and it deeper in center than left and right?)right?)

Mechanics at pitch Mechanics at pitch (cont.)(cont.)

Mechanics After Contact Mechanics After Contact

Maintain balanceMaintain balancehead down & between kneeshead down & between kneesknees between feetknees between feet

Low FinishLow Finishstay on the plane stay on the plane full extension – full extension – TOP EXTENDS TOP EXTENDS

THRU… THRU… UNLOCKS ELBOWUNLOCKS ELBOWGetting out of box Getting out of box

Drill Work Drill Work

TEETEE• Top Hand (Short Bat)Top Hand (Short Bat)• Bottom Hand (Short Bat)Bottom Hand (Short Bat)• Low TeeLow Tee• Net DrillNet Drill• High TeeHigh Tee• Low & AwayLow & Away• MiddleMiddle• 2 Tee (Inside/Outside)2 Tee (Inside/Outside)• 2 Tee (Front/Back)2 Tee (Front/Back)

Drill Work (cont.)Drill Work (cont.)

Soft Toss – SHORT BATSoft Toss – SHORT BAT Top Hand (muscle memory, isolation)Top Hand (muscle memory, isolation) Bottom Hand (muscle memory, isolation)Bottom Hand (muscle memory, isolation) One knee top hand (muscle memory, isolation)One knee top hand (muscle memory, isolation) One knee bottom hand (muscle memory, isolation)One knee bottom hand (muscle memory, isolation)

Soft Toss – REGULAR BATSoft Toss – REGULAR BAT No trigger (progression # 1)No trigger (progression # 1) Pre-Trigger (progression # 2 - isolate back knee)Pre-Trigger (progression # 2 - isolate back knee) Load & Trigger (progression # 3)Load & Trigger (progression # 3) Hold Finish (balance)Hold Finish (balance) Top Hand Extension (extend thru ball)Top Hand Extension (extend thru ball) Back Side soft tossBack Side soft toss Self-Bounce DrillSelf-Bounce Drill ** DROP DRILL (breaking balls)** DROP DRILL (breaking balls) ** HIP TOSS (rotation)** HIP TOSS (rotation) ** MOVING WALK (rhythm – explosion)** MOVING WALK (rhythm – explosion) ** FROM BEHIND (timing – “staying back”)** FROM BEHIND (timing – “staying back”)

Drill Work (cont.)Drill Work (cont.)

Front TossFront Toss Back Foot Incline (back foot)Back Foot Incline (back foot) Bounce (offspeed)Bounce (offspeed) Two Ball (focus, concentration)Two Ball (focus, concentration) Speed Change (decision, adjust)Speed Change (decision, adjust) Rapid Fire (rhythm)Rapid Fire (rhythm) Plate CoveragePlate Coverage

– In-DownIn-Down– In-UpIn-Up– Out-UpOut-Up– Out-DownOut-Down– Mid-UpMid-Up– Mid-DownMid-Down– FATFAT

Practice & Pre Game Practice & Pre Game “Run Scoring” “Run Scoring” PracticePractice

PracticePracticeThree groups (cage, dome, tee)Three groups (cage, dome, tee)Tee work CAN/WILL be done on field and cageTee work CAN/WILL be done on field and cageAll three will have specific workoutAll three will have specific workoutWorkouts will change (see attached)Workouts will change (see attached)

GamesGamesTwo groups Two groups

– One group on field divided into shaggers, One group on field divided into shaggers, runners & hittersrunners & hitters

– One group in cage divided into tees, soft toss One group in cage divided into tees, soft toss & front toss& front toss

Batting Practice Round Batting Practice Round (DOME example)(DOME example)

Round 1: Round 1: Bunting:Bunting: everyone not in cage is on grass in front of everyone not in cage is on grass in front of cage retrieving buntscage retrieving bunts– sacrifice bunt to 3rdsacrifice bunt to 3rd– sacrifice bunt to 1stsacrifice bunt to 1st– sacrifice bunt to 3rd sacrifice bunt to 3rd – conceal bunt for hit to 1stconceal bunt for hit to 1st– conceal bunt for hit to 3rd and get out of boxconceal bunt for hit to 3rd and get out of box

Round 2: Round 2: Execution roundExecution round:: everyone is behind or on side of everyone is behind or on side of cage with on deck hitter close to 3rd base side entrancecage with on deck hitter close to 3rd base side entrance– hit and run (runner goes on pitch, hitter must swing, hits it on hit and run (runner goes on pitch, hitter must swing, hits it on

ground)ground)– right side and down (runner gets read, but does not go)right side and down (runner gets read, but does not go)– right side and down (runner goes after read)right side and down (runner goes after read)– drive him in (hitter drives ball to outfield, runner tags, reads, drive him in (hitter drives ball to outfield, runner tags, reads,

gets start)gets start)– drive him in (hitter drives ball to o.f., runner tags, reads, drive him in (hitter drives ball to o.f., runner tags, reads,

runs)runs)

Batting Practice Round Batting Practice Round (cont.)(cont.)

Round 3: Round 3: Opposite Round:Opposite Round: – hitter drives pitch opposite field or middle (if hit pull-side, hitter drives pitch opposite field or middle (if hit pull-side,

round is ended) X 5round is ended) X 5

Round 4: Round 4: Zone Round:Zone Round:– hitter has less than two strikes and is looking for a pitch 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 5over middle two thirds of plate he can hit hard on a line X 5

Round 5: Round 5: Two Strike Round:Two Strike Round:– hitter makes physical adjustment, and changes mental hitter makes physical adjustment, and changes mental

plan to become a defensive hitter and simply make contact plan to become a defensive hitter and simply make contact (hitter’s round ends on fifth pitch, or if he takes borderline (hitter’s round ends on fifth pitch, or if he takes borderline strike) X 5strike) X 5

Round 6: Round 6: See It and Hit It Round:See It and Hit It Round:– hitter ahead or even in count with less than two strikes and hitter ahead or even in count with less than two strikes and

runners in scoring position X 5runners in scoring position X 5

HAVE NO FEAR…HAVE NO FEAR…Focus on the processFocus on the process

Accept failure as part of the game…LEARN from FAILUREAccept failure as part of the game…LEARN from FAILURE

Prepare, prepare, preparePrepare, prepare, prepare

100 % Effort & Focus = SUCCESS100 % Effort & Focus = SUCCESS