The Joe Mauer Quick Swing Training Blog has free baseball coaching and training tips for baseball players, coaches and parents. Our daily posts provide you with free baseball articles, baseball videos, and baseball batting drills.
Baseball Hitting - The Basics to Success By Chris Moheno
Baseball hitting is a lot more then just swinging a bat around and hoping to get lucky. When it comes to learning how to hit a baseball, you have to remember that there is a lot more skill, technique, and focus needed then meets the eye.
There has to be a lot of practice hours put in or you will never be able to swing the bat like some of the great names in baseball history. By practicing hard and keeping a few simple tips and hints in mind you will be able to swing like a pro in no time at all.
Remember though, besides hard-core technique, there is also a lot of room for the practice of visualization and positive thinking in your baseball training, which has proven to help many people.
If you have been swinging for a while but just want to learn to hit better the first thing you need to do is to avoid any major changes in your stance. Even though this seems a little bit backwards considering you are trying to hit better, it is an important move. Many players, even the not so great ones, naturally develop certain stances in order to make up for something such as a dominant right eye. Before you make any drastic changes make sure that you figure out why it is that you do what you do. If there is no reason for the stance, the grip, or the swing that you have other then laziness or lack of knowledge then it is time to get to work on that.
Time to get ready for the hit. If you do not have a lot of experience with this then make sure that you have a bat you are comfortable with and get up to bat. Get in a proper fitted stance. Keep your chin tucked in along with your front shoulder. Make sure that your head is completely turned so that you are able to clearly see the pitcher. Stay off of the heals of your feet by remaining on the balls of your feet. And most importantly, keep your head still. Even though you may find that over time your stance will change, it is extremely important to keep those simple things in line. Always stay on the balls of your feet and never take one eye off of the pitcher. These are the rules no matter what stance you adopt.
Time to select the right ball to hit. Even though you may be willing to swing at anything that comes at you it is important that you do not. Not every pitch is a good pitch. Be selective and be patient about it. There is no reason to go in overly aggressive. Just make sure that you are concentrating on putting the ball in play and use the entire field to do it. As you are waiting for the ball to come your direction you will want to carefully think through what it is that you are trying to do at the plate.
Imagine and envision yourself striking the bat against the ball. Picture complete batting success before you even have the chance to hit the ball in real life.
The last step would be to take all of the skills you have learned and hit the ball. Make sure that you swing with force and that you follow through with it. Imagine where in the field you are sending the ball and see what happens.
If you feel you need more help with your baseball hitting then you need to seek out some one on one help. Having someone right next to you through your baseball training is always a great thing to have. There are also many DVD's that are being sold in order to perfect your skill. Watching the exact technique played out is a great way to make sure that you are doing everything you should be doing.
Keep practicing and then one day everything will suddenly click and you will be hitting every ball that comes your way.
Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically. His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game.
Great product........ If used correctly and religously your hitting will improve. Just like any other product of it's type it will be up to the player to continue using it. I like the design because the ball releases down to the batter. This is what a batter really see's during live pitching. After that it's all about timing and bat speed which this product helps to develop.
by By Ralph S. PalmieroThis review is from: SKLZ QuickSwing Batting Aid with Auto Feed (Sports)
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This review is from: SKLZ QuickSwing Batting Aid with Auto Feed (Sports) I bought this for my eight year old to help eliminate the long slow swing he was using off the batting tee. Although I was skeptical at first, after watching the 'infomercial' for this product on YouTube I became more interested. The product I received is built better and sturdier than the one I saw on YouTube and includes the auto-feed feature as well.
Other reviews I had seen on the internet complained about shattering of the elbow that the ball drops from. This version appears to have addressed and resolved that problem as well as the elbow is made of a more pliable plastic than the rest of the tube. My only complaint is that the elbow is made of translucent plastic which makes it easier to see the ball before it drops. I created a cloth sleeve to cover the elbow to eliminate that issue.
Overall I am very satisfied with this Quickswing. Amazon had the best price and free shipping. I believe the Quickswing is a good alternative, and in many ways a much better product at a lower price, than the 'soft-toss' machines I was also considering. It is a bit more cumbersome to transport though.
Proper Batting Helmet Sizing By guest author: Rick Grantham
It's a sad fact that one of the number one reasons for sports related injuries among children is that they were wearing sports equipment that was ill-sized or weren't wearing it at all. When you consider how hard a baseball or softball actually is and how fast and hard they are thrown even in children's games; the damage that can be done by the impact of a ball to a child's head is enormous. One of the reasons many children give that don't wear their safety gear such as batting helmets, at all times during a game is that the batting helmets aren't comfortable. Usually once a parent looks into it, they will find it is not really the batting helmet at all, in all actuality it is a case of the batting helmet not being fitted to the child properly.
No one has to tell you that your child should be wearing a helmet at all times and you can help make that a reality for every game if you work with your child when you're buying a batting helmet and make sure that the batting helmet fits comfortably so the child will be protected as well as comfortable while playing.
A batting helmet should fit snugly but not so snug your child has a headache. When the child moves his head from side to side the helmet should stay in place not move around. Inability to see due to a helmet shift is another reason that injuries sometimes happen, make sure that your child has a well fitted helmet by doing a little smart batting helmet sizing for your child before you buy.
The foam on the interior of the helmet is a must-have for your child's safety. It keeps the head away from the outer shell of the helmet in the event of an impact. While the odds are not high that your child will get beaned with a ball when playing, you need to prepare for something like that "just in case" and your child's head will be protected in the small chance that something like that happens.
Last word, don't skimp on the batting helmet that you choose. You're basically buying safety and you don't want cheap safety. You want the best you can get and that may be the difference between purchasing some unknown off-brand with questionable plastic parts and may or may not have quality foam and a name brand that has been inspected and meets safety standards. Choose the batting helmet that will offer the ultimate protection and one that is properly sized for your child.
Use these tips and make sure that you get the best fitting helmet for your child. When you have a properly fitted batting helmet, you may just find you have the opposite problem and you can't get your kid to take it off - even to go to sleep at night!
Rick Grantham writes for BooYahVillage. He has written numerous articles on sporting goods, sporting tips, and Fan Gear.
QuickSwingTrainer.com - Joe Mauer Baseball Trainer by SKLZ Coach2winVideos Video shows a college player working out on the SKLZ Joe Mauer Quick Swing Baseball Batting Trainer. Visit http://www.QuickSwingTrainer.com for more information on this popular baseball swing trainer. Available at http://store.baseball2u.com/joemaqusw... The baseball cath net shown is the 7' by SKLZ available at http://store.baseball2u.com/sk7mupone...
the basic batting stance, including how to practice the right style sure to increase bat speed. Tips include taking the bottom hand to take you to the ball, the top hand, which is the power hand that forms a V, and how to keep your hands inside to perform the Power V.
SKLZ QuickSwing Batting Aid with Auto Feed (Sports)
Great product........ If used correctly and religously your hitting will improve. Just like any other product of it's type it will be up to the player to continue using it. I like the design because the ball releases down to the batter. This is what a batter really see's during live pitching. After that it's all about timing and bat speed which this product helps to develop.
Posted on Amazon.com by Ralph S. Palmiero
Joe Mauer QuickSwing Batting Machine This is great product for disciplining your ball player to swing quickly. Not as easy as it may seem. The engineering of the product was so-so. With the tube full of real baseballs or dimple balls the upper half where the balls feed in tends to droop causing the last six of twelve balls to not go to the feeder end. I took a bungee cord and hooked it from front to back and it works fine now. Where the tube attaches to the adjustable arm is a bit sloppy causing it to wobble a bit. Both issues are fixable. If not for either of theses nuisances this would be getting a solid 5 star rating. Auto drop feature is a must.I would still highly recommend this to anyone wanting to discipline themselves to swing quickly.
Posted on Amazon.com by Todd Ehman
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The Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer is the perfect swing trainer for improving bat speed, batting skills, and confidence. This vide demos the product and explains some of its benefits and advantages. Visit http://www.QuickSwingTrainer.com or http://store.baseball2u.com/joemaqusw... for more information.
Video shows the Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer being loading and set-up between hitting sessions. You will see the college player loacd the machine and take batting practice swings. He is hitting the balls into a SKLZ 7' Pop-up Baseball Drill Catch Net. The net is available at http://store.baseball2u.com/sk7mupone... Make sure to visit QuickSwingTrainer.com or http://store.baseball2u.com/joemaqusw... for more information on the Joe Mauer Quick Swing Baseball Batting Trainer.
Many athletes like to keep themselves in shape at all times, but this is especially true whenever they are actually playing the game. It is important, however, for you to make sure that you are ready for the upcoming season and that you do not allow yourself to fall into disrepair while the game is not being played. This is true, regardless of what type of sport you play but many people that play baseball feel that exercising in the off-season gives them an edge whenever it comes time to step onto the field again. Here are some effective baseball off season workouts which you may find beneficial.
One of the most important things for you to consider in this regard is going to be the position that you play. An outfielder, for obvious reasons, is going to have to do a different type of workout than the pitcher may do. However, they can all benefit from an overall workout plan that will help to keep them lean and in shape. This is often done through a regular routine of weightlifting, along with effective cardiovascular workouts. Here is the basic way that this is done.
As far as the weightlifting is concerned, there are some considerations for the various positions that are played but almost anybody can benefit from a short routine of multi-joint exercises. The reason why this is the case, is because it allows you to effectively work out more of the body in less time and these exercises also help you to build muscle and in a much faster way. Multi-joint exercises workout more muscles of the body, unlike bicep exercises or something similar which only concentrate on one muscle group. When you do multi-joint exercises effectively, you really assist your body in growing in all areas.
Cardiovascular exercise is also a very important part of any effective baseball off season workout. The type of cardiovascular exercise that you are doing, however, may differ depending upon your position. For the most part, however, short bursts of activity are what is going to be necessary in order to get you in shape for the field and for this, you will need high-intensity interval training. This is where you go hard for a period of time, typically one minute, and then go easy for an equal or longer amount of time. Cycle through this for 8 to 10 sets on any piece of exercise equipment and you will quickly gain cardiovascular endurance.
Of course, you don't need to play baseball regularly in order to benefit from this type of baseball off season workouts. As a matter of fact, anybody that would like to lose weight, get in shape or stay in shape can benefit from doing these combination of exercises. The real key is to be consistent in your efforts and to make sure that you're constantly progressing in the exercises that you are doing. This will not only help you if you decide to step out on the field in the spring, but it will also assist you in looking good all year long.
Baseball Drills : Baseball Training Aids for Kids eHowSports When kids are training to play baseball, there are a lot of training aids that can be useful, including hitting tees or a simple baseball bat for dry swinging. Find out how to make a device for working on pitching delivery with help from a baseball instructor in this free video on baseball training aids.
Expert: Jory Jensen Bio: Jory Jensen pitched for Utah Valley University for four years, and is currently an instructor for Rocky Mountain School of Baseball and Hardball, Incorporated. Filmmaker: Michael Burton
Series Description: Baseball training involves basic strength and weight workouts, in addition to exercises that help to establish flexibility and agility. Find out how to do drills to become a better baseball player in this free video series on baseball training.
Baseball Hitting Tips - The Coil Drill By guest author: Hunter Sendefer
When teaching young ball players the art of hitting, it is very important to start at the beginning. This is because you can confuse these young players very easily if you give them too much to think about too quickly, so taking an extremely cautious approach is the best way to go. The coil is a drill that can give these players a very good base to learn from, which will help them develop other hitting skills in the future.
The basic purpose of this drill is to help these players develop a routine when they first step into the batter's box. Without this routine, players might start getting fidgety and forgetting important parts of their hitting technique, so keeping a routine is a vital part of developing consistency at the plate.
This drill starts with each player gripping the bat properly and stepping into the batter's box. Each player should then take his or her normal batting stance while the coach simulates throwing a pitch. The hitter will then work on his or her coil and then freeze when the process has been completed. The coach, in turn, will have a few things to watch for throughout this process, which will help determine whether or not the player has gone through this process properly.
The first thing that that coach needs to watch for is the player's grip, as an improper grip can not only force the player to have an awkward swing, but it can also cause an injury in some cases. The player should also be completely relaxed, as more relaxed players are generally less likely to swing at bad pitched. The weight shift is another important part of this process, as too much of a weight shift can leave the player off balance, while too little can force the player to pop the ball up.
Other things to watch for include where the players' hands end up and whether or not they are hindering their own line of vision. There are many players out there who will turn their shoulders to the point where they can no longer see the ball. When the player freezes after the coil, the coach should check to make sure that both eyes can still be seen because this player will never be able to hit the ball if he or she cannot see it.
Older players should practice getting a sign from the third base coach before stepping into the batter's box, just to make this part of the routine. Once the players have gotten the hang of the drill, the coach can begin using them situations before setting foot in the batter's box and have them inform you on what their approach will be in this situation. In a game situation, the players will have to consider all of these things before setting foot in the batter's box, so make sure that they know what to do in every situation and make all of this part of the routine.
Hunter Sendefer is a former player and current youth baseball coach who consistently coaches his teams to the winners column including an active 26 game winning streak. He frequently contributes to http://www.Batting-Trainer.com where you can sign up for free baseball batting videos and hitting tips or learn about the revolutionary new Insider Bat batting trainer. http://www.Batting-Trainer.com/features
This commercial features Minnesota Twins catcher and American League Batting Champion Joe Mauer, and Hall of Fame hitter Paul Molitor demonstrating the Quickswing batting training aid. This hitting training equipment was invented by Joe Mauer's father to help his kids get their practice swings indoors during Minnesota's long winter months. It helped Joe Mauer develop that short, compact, quick swing.
Baseball Fundamentals - Throwing & Catching By guest author: Brian Schofield
Throwing a Baseball
It sounds so simple yet so many players do this incorrectly at a young age. In my opinion, nothing hampers a young player's love for the game more than if he can't throw the ball correctly. Fundamentally it is a very simple concept, but must be practiced correctly to be mastered. I have been blessed with having 4 girls as my children. They don't quite love baseball like I do but one thing I've tried to really teach them is how to correctly throw and catch a baseball. The first thing I tell them is that they aren't going to hurt me. To demonstrate I start with a softer ball like a wiffle ball or a tennis ball because the theory is how they throw and catch, not what they throw and catch. I want the confidence to be built up, not crushed because a hard ball smashed them in the mouth. Stand a fair distance apart, maybe 15-20 feet and have both players stand facing each other. When it is your turn to throw the ball, make absolutely sure of a couple points.
One, always step with your lead foot and aim it at the person you are throwing. Your front foot should point directly to your target. When practicing this for the first time it is ok to exaggerate the step. Second, make sure the ball is released behind or near the ear of the player throwing the ball. Young players will tend to short arm the throw by holding it too long. When they do this you will notice right away because the throw will have no life on it. A short arm throw eliminates the shoulder from being used and that completely decreases velocity on the ball. I have the players say step, plant and throw until they form a comfortable rhythm. My father was an incredible baseball coach growing up and I believe the difference was he took the time to teach us the simple concepts like throwing and catching a ball which is really what the game is all about, isn't it?
Catching a Baseball
Young players need to be shown the correct way to catch a ball as well. Don't get me wrong, some players will know from day 1 how to do both these things while others won't. Some may show all the ability but haven't been taught the correct fundamental behind it. Young players tend to do two things incorrectly when catching a baseball. One, they box it. I call it boxing the ball when everything thrown to them is met by a boxing motion with the glove always going in a downward motion no matter how low the throw is. Instead of just turning the glove over with the palm up, players will do the opposite and box it no matter where it is. Second, the opposite occurs and they try to catch everything with the palm up. I've seen more kids clocked in the head because of this than you could imagine. This is mastered only through correct repetition and practice. I encourage parents to spend 10 minutes outside showing kids how to correctly throw and catch. If it is done you will avoid the kids being made fun of or teased and they'll stick with it. I'm glad I did and I'm glad that my father took the time to play catch with me.
Baseball Training - 5 Tips For Spring Training By guest author: Mike Singh
Training for baseball doesn't stop after the season is over. The best time to get ready for the next season is during the off season, not training camps, and not a few weeks before the opening game. It takes time to build muscle strength, coordination and skill. Many of these things can be done at home and even indoors. Here are 5 tips for what you should be doing during your baseball off season this year.
Tips To Start Your Off-Season
* Strength Training - The key to being able to hit a home run comes not only from coordination and skill but from the right muscle build. While it is important to keep in shape it is also important to weight train. Get in a cardio workout but also getting in some toning of the arms, shoulders, legs, and back. While you don't need to look like a professional wrestler, building some muscle tone can really do well to improve your overall game.
* Knowledge Is Power - This old saying is true here in baseball training too. If you are a pitcher, learn how to hold the ball. If you are a catcher, learn the necessary calls and know them well. Develop a new understanding of the game. What plays will improve the team? What skills, then, do you need to have to do just that? Learn through DVD's as well as through just watching successful pitchers, batters and outfielders play.
* Work On Your Stance And Swing - The ball is coming at you. Do you hold your shoulders right? Do you swing at the right angle? Do you follow through as you should? If you don't, now is the time. Learn how to do this through coaching videos or through working with a trainer. But, learn.
* Eat Right - You know that your diet is important. Instead of trying to lose twenty winter pounds in the spring, just don't put them on. Overall your body will be in better shape and you'll be able to work most effectively on those muscles.
* Excellent equipment - No one said you shouldn't use quality equipment like swinging nets, pitching machines and just plan old getting outside and throwing the ball around. Sometimes, the best thing for a player is getting to know his team.
On http://www.1-stop-baseball.com/ you will find more about softball fastpitch gloves & baseball team uniforms.
How to Pitch a Baseball : Back Side Follow Through in Baseball Pitching expertvillage Learn about the importance of back side follow through when you pitch a baseball in this free sports instruction video.
Expert: Mike Lumley Bio: Mike Lumley is the President and head instructor of Lumley School of Baseball and has a very extensive back ground in baseball and baseball camps; two years Scholarship at Eastern Michigan University, Filmmaker: Melissa Schenk
The Baseball Swing Grip By guest author: Nate Barnett
The hands are the only physical connection you have with the bat as the baseball swing begins. While other parts of your body are responsible for generating the power in hitting a baseball, your hands and how they grip the bat play a large role in how fluid the bat passes through the hitting zone. Therefore, it stands to reason that some time and attention by paid into understand the quick and easy fundamentals of gripping the bat.
A good grip occurs when the handle of the bat is held primarily in the fingers of the hand. In order to accomplish this correctly, simply lay the handle of the bat across the lower base of the fingers of each hand. Then, just close your hands around the handle. Pay attention that you are not squeezing the bat. Instead, hold it lightly in your fingers.
The reason you should keep a light grip is because it will keep the muscles of the hands, wrists, and forearms loose and prepared for quick action in your baseball swing. Loose muscles are fast muscles while tense muscles will create a blocky swing that will produce little positive results. Unfortunately, many hitters when facing a pitcher who throws a speedy fastball will grip the bat with flexing muscles and white knuckles. The tightness in the hands, wrists, and forearms will prevent other muscles from helping you create a quick baseball swing. Next time you get a chance to watch a Major League Baseball game, watch how many of the hitters lightly grip and re-grip the bat as they wait for the pitch. This is simply an unconscious habit many hitters employ to keep from gripping the bat too tightly.
Two Effective Grips
Option #1: The easiest way to ensure that you are keeping the bat up in the fingers is to rotate your hands so that the second row of knuckles on each hand line up with each other. Many hitters find this grip slightly uncomfortable. The second option may be better suited if this is the case.
Option #2: Rotate the hands until the second and third knuckles line up with each other. This "box grip" is used by quite a few Major League players. With either option you choose, it is important to be comfortable. So, pick the one that feels the best for your size and shape of hand and stick with it.
The Quickswing is the HOTTEST training aid on the market! Endorsed by Hall of Fame inductee - Paul Molitor, and proven by Minnesota Twins catcher - Joe Mauer, the Quickswing is designed to improve bat speed, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and muscle memory. It is a very simple concept that allows you to train BY YOURSELF, while hitting a moving ball! Some other benefits are: Right or left handed hitters can operate individually or with a partner, can be used INDOORS or OUTDOORS, accomodates ANY regulation size ball; baseballs, softballs or plastic golf balls, adjustable end-dial allows you to increase or decrease level of difficulty, is adjustable to different heights and can be folded for easy transport & storage. This new automated model will take up to 12 baseballs (or 8 softballs) and cycle them out every 5-6 seconds.
Jake Mauer II has come a long way with a product that he invented to help his three sons learn to hit a baseball more consistently. With the weather conditions in Minnesota, Mauer felt that his boys weren’t getting enough swings during the weather-shortened baseball season. “We had to come up with a tool that could be used indoors. With the Quickswing, weather is no longer a factor in getting your cuts in,” Mauer points out. He had no idea that his original “contraption” made out of PVC pipe, a coffee can, and cement would someday revolutionize conventional baseball training aids, and become the fastest growing training aid on the market today. Many high schools, colleges, youth associations, and thousands of individual players across the country use the Quickswing in their daily training regimens. They all have one common goal in mind – to become better hitters!! The Quickswing is a very simple idea with a very unique twist. It allows you to take batting practice by yourself, while hitting a moving ball.
In case you are wondering if Jake’s sons ever did become better hitters:
Joe Mauer was the #1 overall player selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He was drafted out of Cretin-Derham High School where his batting average was .605 and where he only struck out one time in his entire high school career.
Jake Mauer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball’s 2001 draft. He led the University of St. Thomas to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2001 and runner-up in 1999 & 2000. He batted .449 with a school record 84 hits and a team best 58 RBI’s in 2001, which earned him MIAC Player of the Year and MVP.
Billy Mauer is currently a pitcher at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN where he is almost certain to be drafted after the 2003 season. Pro Scouts have clocked his fastball at over 90 mph (Somebody had to throw batting practice).
Features
•Ideal for hitters of all ages and abilities. Baseball or Softball players! •New Auto-feed design allows you to load up to 12 baseballs (or 8 softalls) and cycles them out in 5 second intervals. •Delivers a moving ball downward, forcing you to wait to see the ball and react quickly. Adjusts to varying degrees of difficulty. •Adjusts to varying heights. Portable and durable •FREE instructional DVD by 2006 A.L. Batting Champion, Joe Mauer, and Hall of Fame inductee, Paul Molitor.
TOP 5 Hitting Drills Every Serious Ballplayer Needs By guest author: Joey Myers
There are so many hitting drills out there; it can leave you wondering where to start. This article will reveal Swing Smarter's greatest baseball drill hits! These drills are the cream of the crop when it comes to hitting success. You won't:
Need an expensive hitting contraption, Require a hitting partner (one exception), or Waste anymore time with hitting drills doing absolutely nothing to help your swing. Future reference: these drills go into more depth under the Smart Hitting Tips tab on the navigation bar.
Also, the hitting drills included here are arranged in of importance. The rotational lower half drills are mentioned first because they need to be mastered before moving onto the linear upper body drills.
Before we get started, there are two issues before starting any baseball drill work to keep in mind...
A less is more approach, AND Making smaller circles. Taking a less is more approach means to slow the hitting drills down at first until muscle memory can be created, and even then, move into a 60-70% game speed swing. Swinging under control transfers power generated in the hips and core without tense muscles into the upper body.
Making smaller circles means to break each movement down into digestible parts. The first drill we talk about does just that...
1. Balance & Reach For a right handed hitter, stand sideways on a small 3 inch platform, feet together with bat in hands (we're NOT swinging, just holding it in a starting position).
Lift the left foot slightly off the ground, then raise the left knee up to hip level; you should be in a solid balance position.
Now, balancing on the right leg, have the hitter reach out with a closed left foot like they're striding towards the pitcher, then have them tap the ground softly (about 2-3 feet out) like they're striding on eggshells, and slowly return to the starting position. Reverse directions for a lefty.
The goal of the drill is for the player to get what it feels like to really load up the backside with a majority of their weight. And, tapping the ground lightly simulates what a correct stride should be. So, in short, they learn:
Maximum load of the back leg, and How to be light with the stride foot.
Building into the next hitting drill... 2. Bat Behind the Back Drill We start with the bat behind our lower back gripping it like in a karate punch stance.
Step 1 is to transfer our weight to the back leg (70/30), Step 2, keeping our weight back, we stride with the front foot 1-3 inches (a separation occurs between our front foot and weight shift), and Step 3 we squish the bug, or rotate the back foot, so the toe finishes pointing at the pitcher. The latter two hitting drills help train the central nervous and muscular systems with the right rotational energy transfer, while the next few drills will train the upper body to harness that power and transfer it into the baseball.
Remember, less is more with the following...
3. Top/Bottom Hand Drills Off the Tee First, when doing this drill, we want to choke up to the top of the bat grip tape, so we have more control. Take the off hand and lay it across the stomach, and don't let it flop around while swinging.
Two things to focus on with the TOP hand (besides the footwork we've been working on with hitting drills 1 & 2 above), is to:
Take the knob DOWN to the incoming baseball (imagine it's incoming off the tee), and Take the barrel through three imaginary baseballs hovering an inch apart past the contact point.
The TOP hand is our push and power hand ALWAYS, no matter what side you're hitting on...
would you rather PUSH a big giant heavy dresser or PULL it, to move it? We impress the girls (or boys) with the power in our TOP hand NOT our bottom hand.
Two things to focus on with the BOTTOM hand:
Take the knob DOWN to the incoming baseball, and Keep the front elbow DOWN. The bottom hand guides the hands DOWN, it's like the rudder on a boat, steering the barrel as short as possible into the swing plane. The bottom hand starts to work first, then the top hand takes over like the thruster on a rocket ship, pushing through the ball.
4. Two Tee Drill This is the best drill for practicing the DOWN part of Down & Through, shaving down to a shorter swing.
You set up 2 tees, one behind the other, with about 2-3 feet distance between a ball sitting on top of each. The back ball should stand about 6 inches higher than the ball on the front tee.
Once we're all setup, then we take our stance...the object of the drill is to NOT hit the back baseball, only the front one. If we hit the back one, then our swing is too long and we need to shorten it. The best key to shorten it is to tell ourselves to take the knob DOWN to the incoming baseball.
Last but certainly NOT least... 5. Hitting Through 3 Baseballs This part of these hitting drills requires an extra pair of eyes or a video camera, in the beginning, to give the hitter proper feedback.
You're going to set 3 baseballs an inch or so apart on the ground spanning a straight line from the contact point of the tee. As you hit the ball, try to extend the TOP hand out, palm up, through the three baseballs (imagine the baseballs you set on the ground in front of the tee are floating in mid-air after the contact point).
Martial Artist do this all the time when breaking boards...they envision a spot well past their striking point because they know a broken hand would result if they didn't, so they strike THROUGH the board 3-4 feet past.
This drill should be done in slow motion at first to get a feel for how the top stays palm up well past the contact point. This is one of the hardest things for young hitters to do because they've gotten in the bad habit of rolling over too early.
If you're hitting the ball on the ground too much, then use the TOP hand to push through more...AND, if you're hitting the ball in the air too much, then take the knob down more to the incoming baseball.
I didn't get this concept until after my college career had ended, from a Rod Delmonico book. I had a hard time keeping my barrel in the hitting plane, which meant I was rolling over too soon.
If you like this, then please check out the two Part Series that cuts through swing flaws like a hot knife through butter...
Also, rolling over too soon causes a bump in the pitched ball path...do a swing in slow motion while rolling too soon and see for yourself.
SHORT to it, LONG through is the only way to create the vital backspin, helping us to swing smarter NOT harder!
My name is Joey Myers, and I played 18 total years of baseball finishing my career after my fourth year of college (2000-2003) as a Fresno State Bulldog (the 2008 College World Series Champions). I'm very grateful for the success I had at Bullard High School, and getting a scholarship to play at a Division I university, Fresno State, where I started 110 out of the 178 games I played, in the outfield. Now I devote most of my life to baseball swing coaching and personal fitness training. My website are http://www.swing-smarter-baseball-hitting-drills.com/ and http://www.corecreationsonline.com/
How To Improve Your Baseball Vision And Hand-Eye Coordination (Part 1) BaseballVision http://www.baseballvisionprogram.com/ -- Chris McKnight and Harvey Ratner teamed up to produce a DVD which helps baseball hitters improve their hand eye coordination through unique sports vision training drills. Chris and Harvey's techniques will help you improve your baseball vision and hand eye coordination using simple drills which have increased the batting averages of players from high school all the way to the pros.
Chris is the manager of the 2009 independent professional baseball Texarkana Gunslingers team, and he has also authored numerous articles that have appeared in "Scholastic Coach" "Coach and Athletic Director" and the American Baseball Coaches Association "Coaching Digest".
Go to the website to find out more about how Chris' information can help you improve your vision for sports
QuickSwingTrainer.com - Joe Mauer Baseball Trainer by SKLZ Coach2winVideos Video shows a college player working out on the SKLZ Joe Mauer Quick Swing Baseball Batting Trainer. Visit http://www.QuickSwingTrainer.com for more information on this popular baseball swing trainer. Available at http://store.baseball2u.com/joemaqusw... The baseball cath net shown is the 7' by SKLZ available at http://store.baseball2u.com/sk7mupone...
Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer Ball Loading and Set-up Demo.wmv Coach2winVideos Video shows the Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer being loading and set-up between hitting sessions. You will see the college player loacd the machine and take batting practice swings. He is hitting the balls into a SKLZ 7' Pop-up Baseball Drill Catch Net. The net is available at http://store.baseball2u.com/sk7mupone... Make sure to visit QuickSwingTrainer.com or http://store.baseball2u.com/joemaqusw... for more information on the Joe Mauer Quick Swing Baseball Batting Trainer.
Quick Swing Trainer - Joe Mauer's Baseball Swing Trainer Coach2winVideos The Joe Mauer Quick Swing Batting Trainer is one of the best batting trainers in baseball. This portable, lightweight, and inexpensie baseball batting trainer makes the perfect backyard batting station or team batting pratice drill. For more info visit http://www.QuickSwingTrainer.com Product available with shipping within one business day at http://www.baseball2u.com/joemaquswba...
Joe Mauer's Quick Swing Baseball Batting Training Aid estrategy This commercial features Minnesota Twins catcher and American League Batting Champion Joe Mauer, and Hall of Fame hitter Paul Molitor demonstrating the Quickswing batting training aid. This hitting training equipment was invented by Joe Mauer's father to help his kids get their practice swings indoors during Minnesota's long winter months. It helped Joe Mauer develop that short, compact, quick swing.
You did not find this video by accident. It was optimized for search and marketed online by David Erickson, who blogs at his eStrategy Internet Marketing Blog (http://e-StrategyBlog.com ); you can follow David on Twitter at http:twitter.com/derickson or subscribe to his YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/davideerickson
Quick Swing Trainer - Joe Mauer's Baseball Swing Trainer Coach2winVideos The Joe Mauer Quick Swing Batting Trainer is one of the best batting trainers in baseball. This portable, lightweight, and inexpensie baseball batting trainer makes the perfect backyard batting station or team batting pratice drill. For more info visit http://www.QuickSwingTrainer.com Product available with shipping within one business day at http://www.baseball2u.com/joemaquswba...
