Hitting Concepts and Techniques QUALITY AT BATS Trojan Baseball Simsbury High School Simsbury, CT

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (QAB) Making our own measurements of success to reinforce PROCESS – NOT RESULTS QAB grades – sac, two strike hitting, two-out RBI, hard contact, runner in from 3rd with less than two outs, etc. (rubric on page 9) QAB grades – sac, two strike hitting, two-out RBI, hard contact, runner in from 3rd with less than two outs, etc. (rubric on page 9) sticking with it – if you want them to embrace process, you can’t fake it sticking with it – if you want them to embrace process, 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 guarantee perfect result. Therefore, we seek perfect processes, and trust enough positive end results will follow. The process can be perfect, but that does not guarantee perfect result. Therefore, we seek perfect processes, and trust enough positive end results will follow. work to eliminate FEAR of results – focus on process work to eliminate FEAR of results – focus on process

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Controlling the Process - ELIMINATES FEAR having a plan - hitting with your head having 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 weaknesses zone vs. two-strike approach zone vs. two-strike approach body language body language positive self talk positive self talk visualization visualization flushing the negative flushing the negative one pitch at a time – slow game down – limiting stimuli one pitch at a time – slow game down – limiting stimuli making adjustments while trusting overall approach making adjustments while trusting overall approach

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Dealing with Failure 7 out of 10 times 7 out of 10 times learning from it to turn it into future success learning from it to turn it into future success WHY is the result not what you wanted WHY is the result not what you wanted WHAT can you do next time WHAT can you do next time

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Prepare in practice, perform in games game like swings – all the time in practice game like swings – all the time in practice quality preparation = high level of confidence = greater probability of successful outcomes quality preparation = high level of confidence = greater probability of successful outcomes Anxiety (FEAR) most often comes from a lack of quality preparation Anxiety (FEAR) most often comes from a lack of quality preparation hands off mechanics in games from coaches – FOCUS ON MENTAL APPROACH IN GAMES hands off mechanics in games from coaches – FOCUS ON MENTAL APPROACH IN GAMES no cloning – no two people alike, no two swings alike no cloning – no two people alike, no two swings alike game speed whenever striking baseball – get loose with dry swings game speed whenever striking baseball – get loose with dry swings ESTABLISH ROUTINE – STAY WITH IT ESTABLISH ROUTINE – STAY WITH IT

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Mechanical Freedom with Mental Rules must have plan must have plan must be smart must be smart must understand the influence of the count, score, situation, and expectations must understand the influence of the count, score, situation, and expectations

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Hitters make adjustments Year to year – better pitching = shorter swing or holes exposed as we progress in level Year to year – better pitching = shorter swing or holes exposed as we progress in level Day to day – pitcher (power guy vs. “junk”, sinker guy, etc.) Day to day – pitcher (power guy vs. “junk”, sinker guy, etc.) Pitch to pitch – understand the count, sequences, tendencies Pitch to pitch – understand the count, sequences, tendencies

The Quality At-Bat Philosophy (cont.) Each hitter’s first at-bat begins with the first pitch of the game tipping pitches – p, c, coach, middle infielders tipping pitches – p, c, coach, middle infielders pick-offs pick-offs release point release point runners on vs. no runners on runners on vs. no runners on

Quantifying a QAB 4 Understood situation Positive/Proper Approach Communicated Execution of plan 3 Understood Situation Positive/Proper Approach Communicated 2 Understood Situation Positive/Proper Approach 1 Understood Situation

Trojan QAB Game AB’s = 4 Possible QAB Points = 16 Player point total = 11 Game QAB = 11/16 =.688 Who is giving you QAB’s?

Mechanics before pitch Stance comfortable comfortable relaxed relaxed balanced and wide balanced and wide preferably squared preferably squared weight on balls of feet weight on balls of feet

Set-up hands up hands up grip – firm but relaxed with bat in fingers –NEVER in palms grip – firm but relaxed with bat in fingers –NEVER in palms V – wrists and forearms without tension V – wrists and forearms without tension high hands at top of zone high hands at top of zone eyes level – both looking at pitcher eyes level – both looking at pitcher HAVE A ROUTINE…KEEPS FOCUS ON PLAN…NOT FEAR HAVE A ROUTINE…KEEPS FOCUS ON PLAN…NOT FEAR Mechanics before pitch (cont.)

Mechanics during delivery Trigger/Stride/Load – all the same Trigger/Stride/Load – all the samething - lower body hips load without turning, knee can turn slightly in hips load without turning, knee can turn slightly in weight back for pitch identification without eyes moving weight back for pitch identification without eyes moving stride - quiet and short – stepping on thin ice stride - quiet and short – stepping on thin ice weight load on back leg weight load on back leg - 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 elbow quiet shoulders quiet shoulders hands get to top zone without a bat wrap hands get to top zone without a bat wrap Getting to ready position to Getting to ready position to let hands work –what is “staying back”

Mechanics at pitch Pitch identification as early as possible as early as possible be aware of count, situation, etc., but trust eyes (they are less likely to lie) be aware of count, situation, etc., but trust eyes (they are less likely to lie) Delivering bat head to hitting zone short and quick – “TO IT” short and quick – “TO IT” backside fires from knee to chest backside fires from knee to chest heel plant heel plant bottom hand – knob to ball bottom hand – knob to ball tall backside – no collapse tall backside – no collapse top of back hip down top of back hip down hands inside / front of sternum – no hands inside / front of sternum – no casting or arm bar barrel above hands until contact barrel above hands until contact

At contact eyes see bat hit ball and are still level eyes see bat hit ball and are still level karate chop/punch hand position – karate chop/punch hand position – palm up/palm down tall backside tall backside not fully extended – ELBOW LOCKED not fully extended – ELBOW LOCKED firm front side is axis of rotation firm 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 – no squishing bug contact inside and top half of ball contact 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 right?) Mechanics at pitch (cont.)

Mechanics After Contact Maintain balance head down & between knees knees between feet Low Finish stay on the plane full extension – TOP EXTENDS THRU… UNLOCKS ELBOW Getting out of box

Drill Work TEE Top Hand (Short Bat) Top Hand (Short Bat) Bottom Hand (Short Bat) Bottom Hand (Short Bat) Low Tee Low Tee Net Drill Net Drill High Tee High Tee Low & Away Low & Away Middle Middle 2 Tee (Inside/Outside) 2 Tee (Inside/Outside) 2 Tee (Front/Back) 2 Tee (Front/Back)

Drill Work (cont.) Soft 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 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 toss Back Side soft toss Self-Bounce Drill Self-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.) Front 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 Coverage Plate Coverage –In-Down –In-Up –Out-Up –Out-Down –Mid-Up –Mid-Down –FAT

Practice & Pre Game “Run Scoring” Practice Practice Three groups (cage, dome, tee) Three groups (cage, dome, tee) Tee work CAN/WILL be done on field and cage Tee work CAN/WILL be done on field and cage All three will have specific workout All three will have specific workout Workouts will change (see attached) Workouts will change (see attached)Games Two groups Two groups –One group on field divided into shaggers, runners & hitters –One group in cage divided into tees, soft toss & front toss

Batting Practice Round (DOME example) Round 1: Bunting: everyone not in cage is on grass in front of cage retrieving bunts Round 1: Bunting: everyone not in cage is on grass in front of cage retrieving bunts –sacrifice bunt to 3rd –sacrifice bunt to 1st –sacrifice bunt to 3rd –conceal bunt for hit to 1st –conceal bunt for hit to 3rd and get out of box Round 2: Execution round : everyone is behind or on side of cage with on deck hitter close to 3rd base side entrance Round 2: Execution round : everyone is behind or on side of cage with on deck hitter close to 3rd base side entrance –hit and run (runner goes on pitch, hitter must swing, hits it on ground) –right side and down (runner gets read, but does not go) –right side and down (runner goes after read) –drive him in (hitter drives ball to outfield, runner tags, reads, gets start) –drive him in (hitter drives ball to o.f., runner tags, reads, runs)

Batting Practice Round (cont.) Round 3: Opposite Round: Round 3: Opposite Round: –hitter drives pitch opposite field or middle (if hit pull-side, round is ended) X 5 Round 4: Zone Round: Round 4: Zone Round: –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 5 Round 5: Two Strike Round: Round 5: Two Strike Round: –hitter makes physical adjustment, and changes mental plan to become a defensive hitter and simply make contact (hitter’s round ends on fifth pitch, or if he takes borderline strike) X 5 Round 6: See It and Hit It Round: Round 6: See It and Hit It Round: –hitter ahead or even in count with less than two strikes and runners in scoring position X 5

HAVE NO FEAR… Focus on the process Accept failure as part of the game…LEARN from FAILURE Prepare, prepare, prepare 100 % Effort & Focus = SUCCESS