Become a Better Hitter - Have a Hitting Philosophy

Baseball Batting Tips

By Guest Author: Scott M. Thompson

The best way to increase your average happens before you even step in the batters box. I am not talking about your swing either. It would be way to difficult to teach somebody to swing over the internet, so this article is assuming that your coach has taught you the fundamentals of a good swing.

What I am talking about are things you can do before the game. Watch the opposing pitcher warm up. How many pitches does he throw? How hard is his fastball, curve ball, etc? Is he around the plate, up or down? Is his curve ball a 12 to 6 or more like a slider? These are the things that will help you prepare for your upcoming at bat.

The game has started, watch how the pitcher holds his glove, moves his fingers, changes his arm speed. Does he dig in his glove every time he throws a curve? Look for the slight differences between his motion and demeanor depending on the pitch he is about to throw.

Be aware of the other players in the field also, especially the catcher. Do infielders move over a step or two on off speed pitches? Does the catcher change his stance when a curve ball is coming? Do not turn your head and look where the catcher is. You can though sneak a quick peek through your peripheral vision to see if he is set up inside or outside. If the catcher is giving away the off speed pitch, come up with verbal code words with your on deck batter. First name, last name, number, something not to obvious.

Pick out the tendencies of the pitcher. Pitchers and catchers have patterns. Notice what his go to pitch is when he needs a strike, when he is going for a strikeout, when he is ahead in the count. Does he like to throw inside, outside, high, low, all these things you can pick up before you even step into the batters box.

The bottom line is, if you want to be a better hitter pay attention to details that may give you an advantage. There will be plenty of time to catch up with your buddies or play grab ass with your buddies after the game.

It's your turn to bat, you know how hard he throws, the shape of his curve, when he likes to throw the curve, and what he likes to throw on the first pitch to a new batter. The exception to this situation is if you are the lead off hitter. If you are lead off, you have a job to do. Get the pitcher to throw as many pitches as you can. Hopefully you can get him to throw them all. But at least the fastball and curve. This method should not only help you, but your teammates as well, if they pay attention.

Another key is not to think too much, but know the situation. Is there a runner on first, no outs. Look for something to hit to the right side to advance your teammate into scoring position. I can't go over every situation, but I think you get the picture. Do what works best for your coach and team philosophy.

So how do you increase your average? I believe you look for the situation that gives you the best chance for success. You have studied the pitcher, but do you know yourself?

What pitches do you hit the best? Do you like the ball inside, outside, up a little, down in the zone? Do you hit fastballs better than curve balls? I hope 95% of you said yes with the other 5% lying. Well that is the pitch you are waiting for until you have a strike. Let's say you hit the outside fastball the best. The pitcher throws a curve ball, don't swing. If it is a ball you are still looking for the outside fastball on the next pitch. The pitcher throws a fastball inside, don't swing. Cut the plate into thirds and make the ball be in your favorite third before you swing.

Something to avoid is what I call players pride. Players pride is when a batter wants to show the pitcher he can hit the pitchers best pitch. For what reason you ask, stupid pride. Yes a hitter will make contact with the ball, but is it solid contact, usually not. Along the same lines are the hitters that are so afraid to strike out they swing at anything they can reach with their bat. If you are a coach, nip both of these problems in the bud as soon as you can.

Let's say that the second pitch the pitcher threw, the fastball inside, was a strike. The count is now 1-1. Expand the zone you are going to swing at to 2/3 to 3/4 of the plate, the outside part since that was where we hit the best according to our scenario. Now you can add the hanging curve to swing at. It must be in the zone and you must be in a position to put a good swing on it, otherwise let it go. Never guess curve ball, always be ready for the fastball and adjust to the off speed stuff. Use this mentality whenever you have 1 strike and 2 balls or less. This is also the perfect time to go back to studying his tendencies. What does he usually throw with a 0-1, 1-1, or 2-1 count. Did I mention to always be ready for the fastball.

With a 3-1 count, a hitters dream count because of the percentages of knowing a fastball is coming, you are in the drivers seat. Go back to the 0 strike approach, maybe increasing the zone to half because of the probability of getting a fastball. Do NOT over swing. Do NOT be late. Put a good aggressive swing on the pitch, one that is in your ability. When you over swing you get long, slow, and probably jammed on the best pitch in baseball.

Just because it is 3-1 don't assume it is automatic you are getting a fastball. Go back to knowing the situation. What point of the game are you in, the score, runners on base, a base open, and how is the hitter behind you hitting today. The pitcher may want to avoid pitching to you and take his chances with the next batter. The opposite holds true, are there base runners on? Does the pitcher have to throw a strike? What are the tendencies?

With two strikes, your job is to put the ball in play. Do not swing at anything and everything. Stay calm, you hopefully have prepared yourself in practice. All those swings off the tee, all the batting practice swings, you know where the head of your bat is. Have confidence in your abilities. You can put the bat on the ball.

Always be ready for the fastball, I don't know how many times I have said that already, but if you only go away with one thing, you guessed it, always be ready for the fastball. What are the tendencies with 0-2. Does he waste a pitch to see if you will chase? Does he set you up with up and in before he goes low and away? You should already know these things and expect them.

With 2 strikes we go to a defensive mode. We expand the plate 2-3 inches on each side as well as up and down. Cut your swing down to a more controllable swing. Whatever it takes to foul off pitches or put the ball in play. It is a good idea to practice this zone in batting practice for about 8-10 pitches. The idea is to protect the plate. Anything close to the plate, you need to swing. Do not leave it up to the umpire, he gets paid by the out not the hour.

That is a good point to bring up when we talk about umpires. You need to know the umpire's zone that day. Does he love to ring people up? Does he reward the pitcher for making good pitches just off the plate but not in the strike zone? Is he consistent? If any of these answers give you doubt, swing at anything close.

Don't give in. Be what they call a tough out. Somebody that battles and wears a pitcher down. Take pride in not striking out. Anything can happen when the ball is in play. At the very least make the pitcher throw as many pitches as you can.

In the event the pitcher does get the better of you and strikes you out. Tip your hat and say you got me this time. I may not have won the battle but I am going to win the war. I know how you pitch, I've seen you before, you got me once it won't happen again. Keep your confidence. Don't let 1 at bat change your philosophy or your approach to hitting.

In closing I would just like to stress the importance of self evaluation. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Look for opportunities to use your strengths. Know the situation you are in at all times. Have a keen sense for details. Anything that may give you an edge. Prepare yourself in practice. Challenge yourself, don't just go through the motions and think you are going to get better. The harder you work the more confidence you acquire. The more confidence you acquire, the better player you will become. The saying goes baseball is 90% mental.

Have faith in your philosophy. And last but not least be ready for the fastball !!!
Good Luck
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Baseball Hitting Instruction - Top Hand Progression

I hop you find these baseball batting instruction video informative and useful. I viewed it and found quality instruction, Its a bit short but it makes some great coaching points that I wanted to share. Thanks for dropping it. Have a great day! Nick



Joe Francisco, former baseball player in the Atlanta Braves organization and Head Performance Specialist at Performance Factory Baseball, in Long Island NY, with Cam Maron, New York Mets catcher, using hitting drills to get the barrel into the strike zone more efficiently and drive the baseball with more power. The Francisco Hitting System improves technique, strength, power and dynamic movement to transform your swing and take your game to the next level. www.PerformanceFactoryBaseball.com

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Everything You Need to Know About Baseball Conditioning

By Guest Author: Nathan E Gotch

Most players do not really understand baseball conditioning training because of the misinformation given by their respective coaches. One of the biggest mistakes that players make is utilizing aerobic conditioning. The most famous examples are poles and long distance running.

There problem with these conditioning techniques is that they train the wrong energy system. Baseball is one of the most explosive sports there is, and should be trained that way. Hitting, pitching, sprinting to first, or sprinting towards a fly ball are all examples of anaerobic movements. In fact, baseball is one of the least aerobic sports there is.

The game of baseball is designed as a constant stop-and-go routine. Players need to the ability to explosively spring into action. It doesn't take 30 minutes to swing a bat or deliver a pitch.

Baseball conditioning training must be structured to increase anaerobic levels. Anaerobic activities will increase explosion, strengthen fast twitch muscle fibers, build lean muscle mass, and reduce excess body fat. These results occur because most anaerobic exercises are high intensity.

Some of the best conditioning training techniques for baseball are sprints, hill sprints, plyometrics, agility's, Indian runs, suicides, pole intervals, and body weight circuits.

By utilizing these methods in combination, a player will be able to reach peak conditioning levels. Most of these exercises can be performed before or following a weightlifting routine. This is purely preferential, and you must decide what's right for your particular body and conditioning advancement.

Sprints are among the most effective conditioning exercises for baseball. These high intensity runs are baseball-specific and prepare players for the explosive movements involved within the sport. In addition, sprints will increase anaerobic conditioning, lean muscle mass, and overall running speed. Simply examine any professional baseball player and you will see their incredible sprinting speed. They achieved such great athleticism by utilizing methods like sprints because they are specific to baseball.

If you're a more advanced player, then you might see more benefits by utilizing hill sprints. Hill sprints are simply a more advanced version of the traditional sprints. Incorporating hill sprints in your conditioning routine will greatly increase your anaerobic capacity.

What every player must take out of this, is that baseball conditioning training is much more complex than just running some poles. Running long distance will never make you a better player. Always focus on high intensity conditioning through explosive movements, and interval training. This will ensure that every technique you use, is specific to the sport.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you read Baseball Conditioning: The Correct Way for a more in-depth look at this highly debated topic.

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Baseball Training Aids - Finding the Best Ones

Baseball Training Aids

By Guest Author: Jack D. Elliott

All baseball players want to have a quicker bat, throw harder, or run faster. Many Baseball Training Aids sell this vision to baseball players tempting them to by their new product. However, the training aids do not always deliver what they promise. This can not only be frustrating to the young baseball players, but it can also be counterproductive. In some cases, it can even hurt the performance of an aspiring ball player. For this reason, to help combat the proliferation of bad products and to promote the good baseball training aids, I have put together this list of things you should review before buying:

Reputation of the Company or Sponsor

If the company is an established company in the baseball world that has been selling products for a number of years, they are far more likely to put out legitimate and solid products. The reason for this is their reputation as a company is dependent on how customers feel about their product offerings. If they have been in the competitive baseball equipment market for a number of years, odds are they have done this the right way. This essentially means you can be more trusting of their products and you should give a more critical review to new companies offering unproven products.

Look at the performance information that is included

Most baseball training aids will include some type of empirical evidence to show why their training aid is such a great product. If the product fails to include this type of information, this is a sign right away that something may be amiss. Another thing you should look at is to think critically over the source and meaning of the information provided. Essentially, you are trying to determine if the study or numbers are valid. Questions you should think about are what other factors might have caused this spike in performance that is unrelated to the product or who is putting their name behind this product. Often times, the best products will be getting a vote of confidence from former baseball players and coaches. Just a general endorsement by some guy in some town is not enough. What you are looking for is "recognized experts" who are giving their approval. Don't settle for anything less.

Does the baseball training aid have a track record?

Do not be fooled into believing the best things are those that are brand new. The best baseball training aids will be those that have been on the market for a few years and have been field tested by plenty of different people. These are the training aids you should seek out because there will be a number of reviews and comments made about them that you can look over to see if it delivers what it promises. In fact, it is almost always best to let others be the guinea pigs for new products. You reap the benefit by letting them deal with poorly performing products and get to use the products that everyone endorses. In this way, you significantly cut down on the risk that you will get a bad product.

Using this advice, will help you find some quality baseball training aids. One of the biggest lessons in life is to be happy with what you have. By being content with established baseball training aids and not always looking out for the next great thing, you increase your odds off having better practices through using quality baseball training aids and reduce the risk of getting either frustrated or picking up bad habits with poor training aids.

For more information on the best Baseball Training Aids, try visiting http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com - it is a website offering solid tips and information on baseball training aids and baseball instruction.

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Baseball Pitching Changeup Tips: How to throw a changeup

How to Throw a Baseball Changeup Pitch



In this ProTips4U baseball instructional training video, Tim Collins, relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals shows you How to Throw a Changeup. Learn the different types of changeup grips such as the "Palm Ball" and the "Circle Change," plus Tim shows demonstrates the changeup showing you arm motion and proper speed.

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Tim Collins is a hard throwing left-handed relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals baseball team. Collins began his professional career in 2007 with the Toronto Blue Jay's minor league baseball affiliate the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. In 2010, Baseball America magazine rated Collins as having the best curveball in the Blue Jays organization.

In 2010, Collins was traded, to the Kansas City Royals. To check the most recent stats for Tim Collins, visit his player page on MLB.com.

This up-and-coming left-handed baseball pitcher shared a number of critical tips and drills with Pro Tips 4U, including "How to Throw a Changeupl," "Baseball Pitching Drills" and "Rotator Cuff Exercises." These educational videos were filmed at Eric Cressey's Cressey Performance in Hudson, MA.

Tim's ProTips4U page: http://www.protips4u.com/featured-con...

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3 Idiotic Weight Training Myths in Baseball

Baseball Weight Training Tips

By Guest Author: Thomas E Wilson

There are many myths out there pertaining to weight training for baseball players. Some of them were created a while ago while others were started not too long ago with the aid of the internet. Through the years, several players have been held back in their baseball workouts as a result of these common myths. We hope that by knowing the actual facts you will know how to adapt your baseball workouts so that you can reach your full potential in the game. Please be aware that I am in no way a doctor and you should seek the advice of your doctor before starting any training plans.

Myth 1: Weight training will probably mess up a great swing.

Facts: Absolutely nothing could be more incorrect! Weight training is vital to become a better hitter! Specific things should be taken into consideration while weight training though. Make sure you're stretching before and after you train, and balance your workouts with cardiovascular training too. Another point to bear in mind is that you're a baseball player and your main training priority is to become better at baseball. This means that while you ought to be exercising, you have to dedicate the majority of your time on the baseball field practicing your baseball fundamentals.

Myth 2: Pitchers should not lift weights.

Facts: Like myth one, not much could be more wrong. If you are a pitcher who doesn't weight train, then you are going to be beaten more often than not by hitters who do lift weights! Several individuals claim that you will get hurt by lifting weights if you are a pitcher. The fact is though, that weight lifting actually keeps you from getting hurt! This is the reason why most major league pitchers commit to a year-round training program, to keep themselves conditioned for the 200+ innings they will be throwing each year.

Myth 3: Weight training is going to make an athlete a better hitter or a better pitcher.

Facts: You are probably saying to yourself "you just told me that both hitters and pitchers should lift weights but now you're telling me it will not make me a better player?" Yes, I am telling you that lifting weights will not make you a better hitter or a better pitcher...alone. While it is extremely important to incorporate a great weight training program into your workouts, you ought to be practicing your swing or your pitching motion to actually make you a better hitter or pitcher. What I'm trying to say is that you need to be spending at least as much time on the field as you are in the gym. It is all about sticking to a well-balanced workout plan.

Now that we've debunked these common baseball training myths, I hope you will find a way to fine-tune your baseball workouts and training plan to help you become the greatest player you can be!

Are you interested in improving your game and being the best baseball player you can be? If so, check out www.BestBaseballWorkouts.com to find more helpful information as well as baseball workouts and training programs for sale that will take your game to the next level!

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Top baseball coaching tip: good or bad idea to keep the back elbow up when hitting?

Several years ago while traveling in Missouri with my son, we stopped off, as we often do, to take advantage of a commercial batting cage to get in some strokes. We soon learned the entire facility was rented to a youth baseball team so we sat to watch them in action, comparing notes on what was and wasn't working for the hitters. Meanwhile, the youth coach busily walked from one end of the cages to the other shouting baseball hitting tips and instructions to his players. We were in our glory watching from the bleachers.

"Get that back elbow up!" was the coach's main cry—a very common batting instruction heralded by coaches around the globe. But just exactly what does it do for the hitters? And why do coaches feel it is so important? We stuck around to found out.

Later, I asked the coach directly, "Are you getting ready to play a game?"

He answered, "Yes, when they finish practice."

Then I asked, "Coach, why do you tell your players to get the back elbow up?"

And he answered honestly, "I really don't know why. But everyone teaches it. So it must be right."

Okay, this was definitely going to be a teaching moment.

Let's explore some basic baseball hitting mechanics. What happens when the back elbow is up as the hitter goes to the ball? Many students who come to me will have their elbow up, and we will immediately adjust it to a position about 45 degrees from touching the backside.

By raising the elbow to 90 degrees, we change the grip on the top hand (making the knuckles over-rotated) and unless the hitter makes an adjustment prior to contact, this grip will cause him to roll his hands, losing club head accuracy to the ball.

What about the pros? Why do some of them have the back elbow up? Pros who start with the back elbow up in stance make an adjustment as they go to the ball. What should be the responsibility of the back elbow? It is to support the top hand on the bat. The elbow cannot do this if it is as high as the hand. It gives much better support to the grip and to the top hand by being under it—not equal to it.

When checking a hitter as he approaches the ball the elbow should be under the bat in the formation of a "V"—which we call a "Power-V". This keeps the grip correct and the hands in a state of strength.

Coach's Extra Tip: The role of the top elbow is to support the bat. When it is up, this support is lost, and the grip is changed. This is not what we want. "Get the Back Elbow Up" is one of the worst things that you can tell your players.

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Coach Joe Brockoff

Coach Joe Brockoff, a Division I Head Baseball Coach for Tulane University for more than 19 years, and former minor league player for the New York Yankees, has sent 45 baseball players to the pros and coached thousands of college level and youth players using his proven Super 8 Hitting System. Coach Brockoff's unique drills, tips, and techniques have increased many players' batting average by more than 200 points.

To learn more about our proven baseball hitting system, complete with instructional videos, visit http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com. Our unique approach to increasing bat speed and power, improving batting averages, and improving overall performance has sent 45 baseball players to the professional leagues, and inducted Coach Joe Brockoff into the baseball Hall of Fame.

To learn more visit the Super 8 Baseball Hitting System web site at http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com and then check out our free baseball instructional videos here.

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