If someone were to ask me how to hit a baseball, below would be my response. I break the swing down into four categories: 1. Stance 2. Load 3. Launch 4. Follow Through Let's explore each of these. Feel free to add to these if you see something I've missed. No coach is perfect, and … Continue reading How to Hit a Baseball
Preventing Injuries in Youth Baseball Pitchers
This topic is becoming more prevalent as kids become year-round baseball players at an earlier age. Off-seasons are either shrinking or going away all together as kids play on multiple teams in multiple leagues 365 days a year. Injuries are on the rise as well as the amount of kids who get "burned out". I … Continue reading Preventing Injuries in Youth Baseball Pitchers
5 Tips to Being a Great Baseball Parent
Good luck to all of the kids, coaches and parents this spring! It is important that the kids are enjoying the game, their teammates and the fans, especially their parents! As a refresher for the upcoming season, listed below are a few tips for the parents before taking their seats in the bleachers. 5 Tips … Continue reading 5 Tips to Being a Great Baseball Parent
Is It Too Early to Specialize in Only One Sport?
After playing in Little League as a kid, I hadn't returned to that level of baseball until well after my college career had ended. After a 20 year gap or so, I returned as a coach and private instructor. Now that I've spent a few years on the fields of youth baseball, I have noticed … Continue reading Is It Too Early to Specialize in Only One Sport?
Is Your Swing Correct? Double-check Using These Three Tips
Just like a math problem in school, there are ways to double-check your baseball swing for accuracy. When batting during practice, I highly recommend taking your time between swings to double-check your work. It's too often that players and coaches are in a rush to get to the next swing. Unfortunately, both are missing out … Continue reading Is Your Swing Correct? Double-check Using These Three Tips
Starting Your Swing: The Perfect Match
When you start your swing, there are two things that must move towards the pitch. Consider these two things to be married and must move together during every swing! The two things are the knob of the bat and the back knee. Why are they a perfect match? Well, the knob provides your swing the … Continue reading Starting Your Swing: The Perfect Match
Two Strike Hitting
Hitting with two strikes is much more difficult that hitting with 0 or 1 strike. When hitting with 0 or 1 strike, you are guaranteed another pitch if you take a strike, swing through a pitch or foul one off. With two strikes, the batter must be aware that two of the three scenarios mentioned … Continue reading Two Strike Hitting
Duck Footed or Pigeon Toed?
Kids have a tendency to point their toes away from each other while in their batting stance, which is what I call “duck footed”. It is a very comfortable way to stand and many of us stand like that in everyday life. Being “duck footed” while batting can slow down the lower half of your … Continue reading Duck Footed or Pigeon Toed?
Two-Seam or Four-Seam, That is the Question…
Many kids aren’t sure how to grip the baseball in certain situations, so let’s talk about it… A two-seam grip is mainly used when pitching, while a four-seam grip is used at all times by all position players and sometimes as a pitcher. The reason a pitcher uses a two-seam grip is to create more … Continue reading Two-Seam or Four-Seam, That is the Question…
Load Up and Improve Your Hitting
Loading up just before the swing is something that many kids struggle with doing properly. Many kids will actually load “up”; meaning that as they shift their weight back they also lift their body up. When they lift their body, it lifts their head. This causes their eyes to lift as well (go figure!). You … Continue reading Load Up and Improve Your Hitting