I was recently invited to the Professional Baseball Instructional Showcase. This showcase is actually more of a camp that is put on by high school, college, and professional coaches, professional scouts and cross checkers, and coaches that have worked with U.S.A. 18-U Baseball.
My view looking in as a past player and current promoter of the game of baseball is that these players do not understand how fortunate they are to have the opportunity to work with baseball guys that have impressive credentials like these. Here are some examples. The staff included a scout from the Texas Rangers, a scout from the San Diego Padres, and a cross checker from the San Diego Padres. The staff also included a coach from Cleveland State Community College, Carson Newman College and a coach from Lee University (NAIA world series the last 2 years). Last but certainly not least, the players had the opportunity to work with a coach pitching coach in the Texas Rangers organization and a coach that helps choose players for the U.S.A 18-U team.
This is one of the most impressive camps I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. I have been to quite a few (10-15 in the last year alone). The knowledge of the staff was unbelievable. Something I have never seen before is these guys would meet with the group of players and parents for about 30 minutes to discuss different aspects of baseball and high school baseball recruiting. Usually during the "discussion time" the staff would tell stories of their recruiting days as coaches and discuss the do's and do not's of being recruited. They would also allow the players and parents to ask questions.
It truly was an incredible experience to see these guys promote the game baseball and help kids become better baseball players and better human beings. Most showcases are conducted to make the program money, but these guys actually care about the players. It included some of the best instruction I have ever witnessed.
Showing posts with label hitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hitting. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Basic Hitting Drills
Here are some basic drills that can improve your game that can be indoor or out, as long as you have a cage. If you don't have a cage indoors, use whiffle balls, they are safe and cheap.
1. Live Hitting - Have someone throw batting practice, but do not take more than 20 swings in a row. Too many swings can cause the hitter to get tired and lose concentration. Quality swings is key.
2. Front Toss - Have someone sit in chair and soft toss balls to you from behind an "L" screen. By doing this you can maximize the amount of strikes you get in a little amount of time.
3. Top Hand / Bottom Hand drill - Use a smaller bat and one hand. Drive through the ball that is front tossed to you. Use your top hand first and take cuts then repeat exercise with bottom hand.
4. High Tee - Take two tees, raise the one in the back higher than the tee in the front. Put baseballs on both tees, swing over top of the higher tee, and hit the ball on the front tee (great drill to help develop backspin).
5. Regular Tee - Place the tee in different locations of the strike zone. A great thing to do is place the tee in the zone where your swing could use improvement.
1. Live Hitting - Have someone throw batting practice, but do not take more than 20 swings in a row. Too many swings can cause the hitter to get tired and lose concentration. Quality swings is key.
2. Front Toss - Have someone sit in chair and soft toss balls to you from behind an "L" screen. By doing this you can maximize the amount of strikes you get in a little amount of time.
3. Top Hand / Bottom Hand drill - Use a smaller bat and one hand. Drive through the ball that is front tossed to you. Use your top hand first and take cuts then repeat exercise with bottom hand.
4. High Tee - Take two tees, raise the one in the back higher than the tee in the front. Put baseballs on both tees, swing over top of the higher tee, and hit the ball on the front tee (great drill to help develop backspin).
5. Regular Tee - Place the tee in different locations of the strike zone. A great thing to do is place the tee in the zone where your swing could use improvement.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Dry Swings
Let's discuss a simple drill that can help vastly improve hitting. It is an underrated exercise that my coach(now a professional scout/crosschecker with the Padres) preached when I played college baseball. Dry Swings.
One of the most beneficial drills in hitting that is rarely used is "dry swings." When I see kids doing dry swings it is usually on deck and they are taking an entirely different swing than they take in a game. The best thing you could do for your swing, is to concentrate when taking dry swings to make them as game like as possible. Muscle memory will eventually take over and that good swing you are taking will bleed over into the game. A few checkpoints that can help.
1. relaxed athletic position
2. soft stride
3. balance at contact
4. extension after contact
Break your swing into these checkpoints. Like I said before, muscle memory will begin to take over and it will become second nature.
One of the most beneficial drills in hitting that is rarely used is "dry swings." When I see kids doing dry swings it is usually on deck and they are taking an entirely different swing than they take in a game. The best thing you could do for your swing, is to concentrate when taking dry swings to make them as game like as possible. Muscle memory will eventually take over and that good swing you are taking will bleed over into the game. A few checkpoints that can help.
1. relaxed athletic position
2. soft stride
3. balance at contact
4. extension after contact
Break your swing into these checkpoints. Like I said before, muscle memory will begin to take over and it will become second nature.
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