HITTING 101 BY JOE MAGNO (MISTERBASEBALL)
What it takes to become a great hitter?
CONFIDENCE
It’s been said that hitting a baseball with a bat is one of the most difficult things in sports.
Unfortunately, that mind-set will create a negative impact on a player and especially a
young child. The experience of hitting a ball will become a positive thing when we begin
training the students mind that hitting is easy and fun. Coaching our children should be
strength based, this concept in coaching, although simple, can be hard administer.
It simply means that no matter how difficult a time a student may be having hitting a ball,
it is our job to encourage and build his/her confidence and spirit. The number one
quality that a good hitter will possess is confidence.
Tools to use: A big Heart
What can I do to make my players great hitters?
BALANCE
To help build confidence, I like to begin with the basics. Over many years of training
players I’ve found that it will always begin with balance. I remember working alongside
a great Dodger player named Tommy Davis. He told me that it is his belief that, without
superior balance it will be a struggle to hit a ball. I will tell you he is absolutely correct
in his assessment of hitting! The number two quality of a great hitter is balance.
Tools to use: Balance beams, Karaoke running, side to sides, and jump ropes
What can I do achieve maximum Balance?
THE STANCE
The STANCE is by far the most important part of hitting as it’s very similar to the
foundation of a building. If a building is erected with a faulty foundation the building
will collapse. A hitter with an imperfect stance will also have his/her fundamentals
collapse. A poor stance will shift weight improperly and cause the player to pull off the
ball, lunge for the ball, be late on their swing, not get to the plane of the ball efficiently,
and not see the ball properly.
Players should have their feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Once they have
their feet in the proper position they need to bend their knees and lean slightly over the
plate with their tush up in the air. This stance will give our player the balance to succeed.
So remember the feet will be slightly wider than shoulder width apart, knees bent
and tush up.
Tools and Drill #1: Utilize the Two Beam drill! Place two beams shoulder width apart
and place student’s feet on both beams, then get into the knee bent and tush up position
and begin the drill.
THE HANDS
Where should they be and how should my players hold the bat?
A hitter must be comfortable holding the bat and hand position will vary amongst
different hitters. The key to successful hitting is that the hitters’ hands and back elbow
must get into the slot quickly! The slot is where the hands get into a Frisbee throw
position, which will force the back push arm into a slight power tuck position.
TUCK
A good starting point is to line up a students knocking knuckles (knuckles that hit the
door) before they even begin. You’ll notice that there are many variations of this grip in
professional ball but one thing is constant, when the back elbow drops into the slot, the
hands will automatically align to knocking knuckle position. Children should start in the
aligned position or they risk not getting their hands palm up palm down at contact. This
will cause a rollover and will take the bat off the plane of the ball.
The hands can be ear level to start, which helps the hitter keep the front arm V longer.
KEEP YOUR V
What is a stride and trigger?
THE STRIDE AND TRIGGER
The STRIDE is a mechanism that is fairly simple, as it allows the hitter to load (as in
pulling back a gun trigger) the upper and lower body, to release a thrust of power into the
swing toward the ball. Now when we teach a hitter to maintain balance throughout the
swing, it will be necessary to limit the stride or step to one to three inches. A short stride
will keep the hitters body balance in a position to rotate his power into the ball. The
TRIGGER is the upper body of the stance that will pull back slightly towards the catcher
as the hitters’ body steps slightly forward. The trigger has been called a load, a trigger, a
pull back, a gather, and more. Just know that it’s all the same, and is designed to get the
hitter into an attack and powerful position leading up to the release of the swing.
What type of swing should I develop in my hitters?
The swing has been convoluted and misdiagnosed over the years. Most qualified hitting
coaches will agree that the swing must stay on the same plane of the ball, the exact
opposite of teaching a student to swing down. These are simple angles and physics. If
your bat path stays in the projected path of the ball longer, your chances for success has
been increased dramatically. Now think about it, if the ball is approaching the strike zone
that ball will naturally drop down at an angle to the ground due to the forces of gravity.
If we can get the bat to the angle of the ball then we have succeeded.
So a level swing is actually level to the path of the ball which, if you examine it, it is a
slightly upward swing.
A great way to understand this is to learn to throw a Frisbee with the lead arm and
transfer that form to the swing motion.
Drill #2: Frisbee Drill is to throw a Frisbee with lead arm with an upward angle and a
high finish with hand. Take a mini Frisbee and throw it with your normal batting stance.
You will find that this drill will simulate the swing path and train the hitter to get to the
plane of the ball properly. The drill also teaches the hitter to release high.
How can I teach my student to shift his weight but not lunge forward with their head?
I like to train my students to Stride, Trigger and Swing Toe. I am not a proponent of
squish the bug rotational hitting. I want to see my students’ weight transfer into the field
of play and not spin into the dugout. Now remember this type of hitting will require that
the players head stay behind their belly button (see below) over the back hip. As they
stride and trigger they will then throw their hips violently into the ball, and release the
back foot to a toe to china position (see below) at contact. This will allow the maximum
thrust into the ball during the swing.
Drill #3: The slap toe drill, where the student will simulate the swing by striding,
triggering, and releasing the back hand into the front hand in an upward position and
driving their body to a toe up position, with a head over the back hip finish and hands
high.
FINISH HANDS HIGH & LEAN BACK
What other Drills can I do in practice to work on all parts of my students swing?
Drill # 4: Inside Pitch tee & toss drills: I use the tee or toss hip drill! Place a tee in
front of the player on the inside corner of the plate. Have the student stride and trigger
and then fire their hands to the inside part of the ball. The front arm will be in a V
position, as the hands go to the inside part of the ball thereby releasing the bat head to
ball. This drill will teach the player to be quick to the ball and achieve a compact swing.
Drill # 5: Down the middle tee or toss drills: Place tee or toss ball from the side in front
of plate which simulates a pitch down the middle of the plate. Please note that with all
hitting drills the batters front arm is in a standard V position.
Drill # 6: Outside pitch recognition soft toss and tees drill. This drill will teach the
mental concept and muscle memory to hitting an outside pitch.
Drill # 7 Frisbee hit drill: Take a mini plastic Frisbee and substitute the Frisbee for the
ball. Complete soft toss drills and pitch a Frisbee in place of ball for a fun and
challenging form of batting practice.
Drill # 8 Whiffle ball small and large ball drill. Repeat all above angles and batting
practice.
Drill # 9 Substitute bat with lightning stick for all Frisbee and whiffle drills.
Drill # 10 Short & long screen Batting practice. This is a great drill to teach our
hitters how to time the ball. I like to pitch from different distances behind an Lscreen to teach the hitter the concept of timing. Remember, we have a limited
window to teach timing and this drill will train their minds to react, and time the
distance, and speed of a pitch.
Note: In all hitting drills we will stress the importance of separating the stride and
trigger. We will make sure that the hitter is in a balanced, slight lean back position
at contact thereby preserving the slightly upward angle to the ball.
CATCH PLAY 101
Catching a ball seems like an easy enough thing to do, but over all of the years I’ve
trained players, I’ve learned that it’s one of the most difficult things for a child to do.
Fear is the # 1 deterrent of proper catch play. Most children will turn their body and head
away from the ball due to the fear of being hit in the face with the ball. So our dilemma
is: how do we eliminate the fear and anxiety?
The Start Slow Drill
This drill utilizes a tennis or sponge type of ball tossing it at the player with no glove and
two hand catch play. Once a student has mastered this with limited flinching, then
proceed to the next drill.
The Glove up hands up deflect drill
This drill will teach the concept of fingers up to the sky. Allow the glove to deflect the
ball softly down to the ground; do not attempt to squeeze the glove.
The Glove up beam drill
The key to our students’ success in catch play will be to keep them conscious of the
glove and the position of the hands. I like to compare the glove to a battle shield and all
kids know what happens when you drop your shield. Yep you got it! And so do they. So
they keep their shield up and use two hands. As you may or may not know, I am a gadget
guy and I like training tools. I like them so much I had to invent my own tools to teach
my students quickly and efficiently.
Place the glove in a 12 o’clock high position with fingers, along with your bare hands at
the heel area of the glove and promote deflect catch play.
As you will see, I like to utilize the deflector glove because it forces the players to use
two hands and pocket deflection. Most children will instinctively try to catch with one
hand. This tool will only allow two hands. If you can achieve two hand catch play, your
player will start to accelerate his or her defensive development.
Shuffle feet beam drill
The short hop knee scoop deflect drill
The short hop scoop, deflect, and transfer drill (two hands) with out a glove glove.
PITCHING AND THROWING
The Grip
The best grip to utilize is the four seam grip where the fingers are placed across the
horseshoe of the ball. By griping the ball in this manner you will find that the ball will
fly through the air straighter. The four seams will rotate horizontally through the air
assist in lifting the ball and stabilizing it through it flight.
The Wrist Snap
The wrist snap is very important for a player to achieve when throwing the ball. A
simple drill called the wrist snap drill will help the player achieve their goal.
TEETER TOTTER
The TEETER TOTTER is a mechanism designed to create leverage and thrust the
players throwing arm over the top. NOTE: this over the top technique will not only
increase velocity but it will also reduce shoulder and elbow injuries.
BALANCE BEAM DRILLS
Step onto a beam with one foot on and one foot off. Lift the Dangle foot and arms at the
same time. Then lift dangle leg up and down creating momentum and rhythm. Next,
stride to home plate.
Tuck and Throw
Once the TEETER TOTTER, TUCK and THROW drills are complete, allow the player
to play catch with a fluid motion.
Remember Lift the glove side step and lean back and pull the glove down to the chest and
hip which will catapult the arm over the top. Once you have achieved good form in you
players proceed to lengthen the throwing distance to strengthen the players arm.
SETTING UP YOUR PRACTICE
When organizing your practice you should take into consideration the skill level of the
group. Separate your team into groups by skill level so you can work on similar drills
and techniques within the practice lesson plan. Try not to hold back the more talented
players while bring the less talented players up to speed.
Here is a typical practice out line:
Group 1 - Soft Toss Hitting
Group 2 - Lightning Stick Soft Toss
Group 3 – Multiple Batting Practice
Rotate Groups
Bring all three groups together and work on defense! Catch Play drills, Throwing,
Grounders, Backhands and forehands. At this time you can pull your pitcher and catcher
combinations for instruction in pitching and catcher drill work.
Remember, the practice should be fun and you are as good as your weakest player. Work
hard in helping the least talented player but don’t forget to advance you more talented
players.
Should you have any questions, feel free to call me at 562-879-8665 or e-mail me at
[email protected] or visit my web-sites at www.misterbaseball.com ,
www.familysportscamps.com , www.powerbatting.com
Thank you for attending the clinic.
Sincerely,
Coach Joe Magno