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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

More Effective Baseball Hitting by Better Training Techniques

More Effective Baseball Hitting by Better Training Techniques
By Chris Moheno

Baseball is one of the most popular sports on the planet. People flock to the stadiums and pile around their televisions to watch the games. Beyond that, however, hundreds of people want to become more successful as baseball players. But their ability to succeed requires working on their skills. Just because you don't have a personal trainer, that doesn't mean you can learn how to make the most of your baseball training.

Baseball: What is Considered as Effective Hitting?

Effective hitting, in a nutshell, is hitting that results in the bat connecting with the ball. While this may sound simple, most experts agree that hitting the ball is the hardest skill to master. Even some professional players strike out or end up having to walk the bases during a game. The key to being successful in learning how to improve your baseball hitting is obviously practice but you have to practice the right way.

Here's where trouble often comes from. When you're on a team, everyone receives the same training. If you're learning the rules of the game or how to catch the ball, there's nothing wrong with using a standard method of baseball training. Baseball hitting is different. Each player is going to come to the game with a different level of skill and with different techniques that are going to hurt or help their performance. Good training finds ways to work with these existing skills and to maximize them for an overall positive performance. In many cases, that's not going to be possible without one-on-one training.

How Do You Train for It?

If baseball training is important to you but you can't afford to hire a personal trainer, there are other ways to improve your game. As mentioned above, practice is definitely going to be the key to ongoing success. The most effective approach to improving baseball hitting is to practice the individual components of good hitting, including the grip, the stance, and the approach.

Approach, for example, is something that is essential for good baseball training. However, most people have real trouble learning this information because it conflicts with their earlier training. For example, most players are taught from an early age that when they see a pitch coming they need to swing. They are not asked to judge the effectiveness of the baseball pitching. When the people doing the baseball pitching aren't very skilled either, this technique can work. As they improve, however, the will stop pitching strikes when they know the hitter is going to be swinging at every potential shot.

Instead, good hitters need to be able to determine which of the pitches have potential and which do not. Only then will they be able to get those doing the baseball pitching to send them balls with the potential to be great hits.

Another part of training to be a good hitter is practicing the swing. Even a good pitch for the hitter can not connect if that hitter does not have a good swing. Hitters need to realize that more than their arm movements are playing a role in the connection of the bat to the ball. The process actually involves the legs, the hands, the hips, and even the head. One main difference between good hitters and exceptional hitters is their ability to keep their eyes on the ball all the way through contact.

Additional Advice

Professional baseball players who have spent a good portion of their lives and their careers perfecting their ability to make that connection can provide some good advice for newer players, too. One of the most common pieces of advice involves bat selection. Again, no one recommendation is going to work for all players, except the recommendation to find a bat that feels comfortable in your hands. Try out a few and find one that delivers results.

Some pros also suggest that you have someone else watch your performance to provide feedback. That's a benefit of having a trainer but you can get around that problem if you can't afford a trainer. Instead, have someone record your actions so you can watch them later yourself and tweak your performance. You might also be able to watch the recording of your hitting performance with a coach who can evaluate your performance.

The pros also know that good baseball hitting training includes lots of practice. You'll need to complete countless numbers of drills if you want to start seeing an improvement in how often your bat makes that connection with the ball.

Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically.

His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game. Discover more about baseball training secrets on baseballtrainingsecrets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Moheno

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Griffey Cleats Are Game Winners

Griffey Cleats Are Game Winners
By guest author: Jacob Akshire

Ken Griffey, Jr. Is one of today's leading sports figures, considered by many to be a great baseball player. The house that Griffey built is a popular title for the Mariner's baseball stadium. Many think it couldn't have been built without the boost from his reputation. Along with a number of other top athletes, he is affiliated with Nike. Griffey cleats, his line of baseball shoes, have been a very popular product.

Usage of the word cleat can be confusing. Originally a cleat was a stud, sort of a spike, that was attached to the sole of a shoe for better performance on quick stops and turns. It still means this, but it can also refer to a shoe with cleats. Baseball shoes can be had with or without cleats. This article is about both kinds of baseball shoes associated with Ken Griffey, Jr.

Griffey's association with Nike goes back around ten years. The shoes they produce are lightweight and surprisingly comfortable to wear. The soles have Nike Air technology built in. This gives them improved cushioning capability.

Nike's current product line includes the Nike Swingman Remix RB Boys' Baseball Cleat. The shoe has improved lockdown thanks to its integrated ankle strap. The upper portion is synthetic leather. Its ride is softened by the full length Phylone midsole. They also sell a number of other Griffey shoes.

Beyond the current Nike product line, there is a huge Griffey baseball shoe marketplace. eBay is an example of a place where many Griffey shoes can be found. New and used are both for sale, for a much larger number of choices than is currently for sale by Nike. If you have the money and the inclination, you can even find shoes with Ken Griffey, Jr.'s autograph. Those are not cheap!

Of course with auctions on eBay and other online purchasing, the rule has to be caveat emptor, let the buyer beware. Be sure to order a size that fits the intended wearer. Carefully read any information about shipping costs, condition of the shoes, and so forth.

Griffey shoes have great presence on the web. There are fan sites that discuss the quality and usefulness of the shoes. Some also provide links to places where they are for sale.

One can speculate as to why these shoes have so much popularity. They do seem to be both comfortable and very suitable for playing baseball. Is this also a fashion phenomenon? Saying that they are fashionable is not a criticism. Fashionable things can be high quality. The catch here, which probably doesn't apply to Griffey shoes, is that fashion does not guarantee quality.

The Griffey name is certainly a sales booster. After all, when we see a celebrated athlete pitching a brand of sugar water on television, we note that the sales of that brand of sugar water tend to go up. Ken Griffey, Jr. Is a talented athlete and a person to be admired. What's more, he just retired. That will certainly give his reputation a boost.

If you play baseball, some Griffey cleats or other baseball shoes might be a good thing for you to own. Even if you don't, the shoes are still worth trying on. It's hard to beat the combination of comfort and fashion statement.

I have even more reviews and information about Griffey shoes and Griffey cleats at my website. I will also let you in on a little secret: Where to get them cheaper than anyplace else on the web;) Many thanks for reading, and good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Akshire

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Baseball Party Games - Pleasing the Crowd

Baseball Party Games - Pleasing the Crowd
By guest author: Gail Leino

If your son or daughter is a mad-keen fan, it can be great fun to plan their next birthday party around the theme of baseball. Here are a few ideas:

"Baseball Pinata" Baseball Party Game

When it comes to baseball party games, it's hard to go past a good old piñata. A week or so prior to the party, prepare the piñata by covering a large balloon with glue-soaked newspaper strips layer by layer, leaving a small hole near the neck of the balloon. To keep the inner layers from staying wet, let the piñata dry out every 5 layers. Try and make the shape as close to a circle as possible. Fill the piñata with candy through the hole, cover the hole and paint the dried piñata to resemble a baseball. Guests take turns to put on a blindfold (which can be left off for younger players) and try to break open the piñata with the baseball bat. This baseball party game ends when everyone gets showered with candy.

"Pitcher, Pitcher, Batter" Baseball Party Game

When you're working with a theme like baseball, party games can easily be adapted to suit. This baseball party game, a variant of "Duck, Duck, Goose", is one example. All the children except the birthday boy/girl sit in a circle. The birthday boy/girl walks around the outside of the circle, tapping each person on the head and saying "batter". When they say "pitcher" instead of "batter", the child who was just tapped must jump up, chasing the other child around the circle. The birthday boy/girl has to run all the way around the circle to the empty spot without being tagged; if they make it back, they stay in spot and the person they tapped becomes the 'tapper'. If they get tagged, they must sit in the centre of the circle for the remainder of this baseball party game.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for baseball party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

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Saturday, November 6, 2010

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Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Short Toss Hitting Drill



Short Toss Hitting Drill
BaseballExcellence
From the Baseball Excellence DVD, "The Complete Baseball Practice."

www.baseball-excellence.com

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Baseball Hitting Tips - Handling Bad Calls


Baseball Hitting Tips - Handling Bad Calls
By Jeffery A Wise

Baseball is an emotional sport. If you're a player, it's easy to get upset at a bad call or a strike out. You may feel cheated. So what is the best way to handle such a situation?

Of course, there are several options. You've probably seen lots of negative behavior, including players yelling, throwing their helmet and giving the umpire nasty looks. In my opinion, you shouldn't do or say anything negative to the umpires, even if it is an obvious bad call. Showing your frustration won't help the situation and it may cause them to treat you unfairly at your next bat.

Instead, the best response to have is to accept the call and jog back to the dugout if you've been struck out. Quickly vent your frustrations to the coach or other players but don't let it go any farther.

A response like this is not only a display of good sportsmanship. It also benefits your game. If you can't stay mentally focused it will affect the rest of your game. You are a needed player and you can't let one bad call cause you to lose your mental focus. Use any pent up aggression on the field to make a great play and help your team win.

Stay in the game and stay focused. Let your coaches handle any arguing over a bad call. That's their job anyway and they will have your back if they think it's necessary.

Don't let the umpire get the best of you. Just do your best and work hard to help your team win.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn the proven system of baseball hitting tips so that you can learn how to hit a baseball better. Start learning today at our batting tips blog and by reading our information and watching our videos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise


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Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine Demo Video


Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine

The Coaches Best Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Rawlings Glove Busters - Glove vs. Microwave



Rawlings Glove Busters - Glove vs. Microwave
apawlowski34 Rawlings tells you why NOT to microwave your baseball glove. (It really dries out the laces!)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Quick Feet for Catchers



Quick Feet for Catchers
baseballstrength http://www.BaseballStrengthBlog.com - Check out this ladder drill that will improve the foot speed of any catcher behind the plate.

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Improved Baseball Hitting Techniques

Improved Baseball Hitting Techniques
By guest author: Chris Moheno

When it comes to baseball training many players will focus on either baseball hitting or baseball pitching. In many cases, you are either a hitter or a pitcher and on the rare occasion, you will succeed at both. When it comes to hitting, you will need to focus on becoming an effective hitter as opposed to what some may call a rusty gate. You will need to be able to train both your eyes and your wrists to work together and allow you to hit the ball.

Effective hitting is the ability to hit the ball to all fields for average and power. This is a rare combination even for those players in the major leagues. You have of course those that can hit for average and possess a lot of speed and will be in the top of the lineup. Then there are the players who will hit more for power and be able to drive the ball, these are your middle of the line-up or 4, 5 and 6 hitters. These are the players who are responsible for driving in runs. The most important thing that any player can have when at the plate is patience. Be willing to wait for the pitch you want and know it when you see it. However, knowing what pitch you want and actually hitting are two different things. Developing strong hand eye coordination as well as quick reflexes are things that will aid in your ability to hit the ball better. Remember in baseball, hitting is lot more than baseball pitching. The ability to hit the ball will always outweigh the ability to throw simply because the hitter plays every day.

To better train for baseball hitting you will need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to conditioning as well as be able to spend a lot of time at batting cages. The best way to be able to hit a ball consistently and effectively is through repetition. By doing this you will develop muscle memory which will aid you in being able to go up and just watch the ball and let your body take over as it will know what to do. Know where to stand in the batter's box and what angle to hold the bat at. You will want to develop a smooth level swing to hit primarily line drives. A batter whose swing rises as he follows through will get more lift than drive on the ball and is more likely to hit fly balls and pop ups. A hitter whose bat drops as he swings through will hit more ground balls and will have rely primarily on speed to get on base. Consistency, practice, and repetition are the three main items to improve your hitting ability. However, being physically fit and well conditioned will contribute to your success as well.

As you work towards becoming a better hitter, make sure that you understand that there is no true off-season. You must constantly work to improve your baseball hitting much like a pitcher will work to improve their baseball pitching. It is all about consistency.

Make sure to study the pitchers and their tendencies so you know which pitch is coming and where it is likely to end up to better prepare yourself when you face them. Always prepare yourself and condition at all times. Know how you will be approach each at bat and what your routine will be when you are at the plate.

It is important to be consistent and have the same approach in order to achieve success. Never take your eye off the ball and follow through on every swing. This way you will be able to drive the ball better and develop a smoother stroke.

Try to find exercises and activities that will improve hand eye coordination as well as wrist speed. These two things will help tremendously as well as practice.

Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically. His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game. Discover more about baseball training on baseballtrainingsecrets.

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Three Tips on How To Hit Baseball Good


Three Tips on How To Hit Baseball Good
By Jeffery A Wise

Most ball players who love the game of baseball have a desire to learn how to hit a baseball good. They don't want to just be mediocre hitters. They have a drive to excel at what they love. Seeing players with this drive makes me happy to be a fan of the sport.

There are several tips you need in order to be a better hitter. First, you need to know the strike zone. It is usually from the armpits to the middle of the knees. Some umpires measure it differently but those areas are where you need to protect yourself the most. Make sure you swing at balls coming in this area.

As you become a more experienced player, you will automatically recognize whether or not a pitch is a strike. Having that knowledge combined with being ready to attack the ball and hit it is going to put you in good standing for hitting the ball cleanly.

Another tip you must follow is to be selective and hit your right pitch. You don't want to chase pitches outside of the strike zone. You get three strikes in baseball, so even if a pitch is on the far outside corner of the plate, you can still wait for your pitch. If you like what you see coming then get ready to attack the ball and drive it somewhere.

As you strategize a pitch, remember that the pitcher is working on his strategy too. He will try to trick you with curve balls, change ups and sliders. If a pitcher is having a great day and hitting the corners of the plate for strikes, be ready for that. If the pitcher is constantly throwing the ball away from you on the outside corner of the plate, make the correct adjustment and hit the ball to the opposite field.

The final tip I want to bring you is about confidence. Some players say they are afraid of striking out and that fear is causing them to not fully extend their arms when they swing. They either hit a dribbler to an infielder or actually strike out.

Hitting a baseball is partially mental so you need to be prepared before you even get into the batter's box. What I mean is that you need to feel as confident as possible. Visualize yourself getting a hit while you're sitting on the bench or taking practice swings in the on-deck circle.

That doesn't mean you have to be arrogant. I'm talking about a quiet confidence. Be confident that you are going to be aggressive and hit the right pitch at the right time. You can do it and don't let anyone or anything get you down. If you begin to doubt yourself, just take a step back, breathe and get back in there.

Knowing these three tips will help you become a better baseball hitter, which is what every player wants.

Jeffery A Wise invites you to learn more about how to hit baseball good so that you can help your team win. Start learning today at our site by reading our baseball articles, watching our videos and participating in our blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffery_A_Wise

=====================

Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine Demo Video


Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine

The Coaches Best Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Baseball Drill: Hitting the 3 Basic Strike Locations - Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine



Baseball Drill: Hitting the 3 Basic Strike Locations - Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
Coach2winVideos
Video shows how to practice hitting all three of the basic strike locations. Batters can practice hitting the inside, middle and away strike location. Video shows a college player hitting the Derek Jeter Hurricane Baseball Trainer. For free tips, drills, and coaching articles, visit the Derek Jeter Hurricane Training Blog at http://hurricanebaseballtrainingmachi... For more product information visit http://www.HurricaneMachine.com Available at http://www.baseball2u.com/husotrmajes...

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Speed Training - Push Off Versus Landing Strength

Speed Training - Push Off Versus Landing Strength
By guest author: Thurman Hendrix

When it comes to sprinting, many athletes understand that they must forcefully push into the ground in order to thrust their body forward. Therefore, they work tirelessly in the weight room to improve their push-off (often called concentric) strength. Many use exercises such as squats and leg presses to accomplish this goal, usually focusing on the portion of the exercise in which they push or straighten out their legs. While this type of strength is extremely valuable for sprinting, many athletes often underestimate the type and amount of strength that is required in order to simply absorb their bodyweight and land upon each foot strike (often called eccentric strength).

When sprinting, runners usually hit the ground with force much greater than 4 times their body weight. In other words, a 200 hundred pound athlete will need to decelerate well over 800 pounds of force (landing strength) before they can then explode (push-off strength) back into the ground to move forward. Keep in mind that this force deceleration occurs on every stride they take during the sprint. Think about it, if their muscles were not activated during the landing portion of the stride their body would simply crumble to the ground under the force of gravity.

Many of the athletes that I train, including professionals, often wonder why I teach them landing techniques (eccentric) prior to teaching them jumping or explosive techniques (concentric). I then explain that in order to get full benefit out of doing something explosively (push-off strength), they must first be able to absorb and control all of their forces (landing strength).

Most exercises done in a weight room involve both a concentric and eccentric portion. Therefore, athletes are most likely already training this landing strength component. For example, in the first paragraph, I mentioned that they often use squats and leg presses and focus on the part of the exercise in which they straighten out their legs. This is the concentric (push) part and is usually perceived as the "hard" portion of the exercise. However, the lowering, eccentric part is equally important and should also be emphasized. Rather than just lowering the weight aimlessly, the athlete needs to focus on their form and technique so that they are in a safe and strong position when transitioning into the push-off phase. Again, if the muscles were not activated during the lowering portion of the lift, the athlete's body would get crushed!

Training eccentric (landing) strength can sometimes get complicated and should originally be taught under the guidance of a qualified professional. Exercises, such as depth jumps that involve falling from a distance before jumping may seem easy to understand, but due to the extreme forces involved and the demands that it places on the nervous system, one must respect this type of training and always start out slow.

To learn how to improve your 60 yard dash and baseball specific speed visit: http://www.60yarddash.com

Thurman Hendrix is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and specializes in training athletes. As a former pro baseball player he will help you increase speed in a very short amount of time.

This article may be published on your web sites or other electronic publications assuming it is used in its entirety. The resource box, copyright info, and all references must also be included and all hyperlinks must be HTML clickable.

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Backyard Baseball Drills



Backyard Baseball Drills
LNersesian
The Youth Sports Club is a leading producer of sports instructional videos and DVDs. Produced by Coach Marty Schupak, This video has been called "the most creative sports instructional video ever made." Coach Schupak takes household items and puts them to use as props for baseball drills. Instead of spending $200.00 for a baseball hitting net, coach Schupak shows how to make something equivalent for under $20.00. Other items such as cinder blocks, bricks, a bathroom plunger and believe or not, a dozen eggs make "Backyard Baseball Drills" a true baseball lover's delight. Great practice ideas that kids and adults will love. For more information on how to purchase any of these titles, visit: www.youthsportsclub.com

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HurricaneMachine.com - Links

---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips

Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds

Friday, October 1, 2010

The Basics of Rotational Hitting

The Basics of Rotational Hitting
By guest author: Hunter Sendefer

Most of us that played baseball or softball as children were taught how to play like children do. We were generally taught linear hitting and/or extension hitting. This leaves the swing the majors use out of the equation. Very rarely as children are we taught how to swing like the pros, with the use of rotational hitting.

When we are talking about linear hitting, this is mostly just used to make contact with the ball, and pray that it makes it into the infield. This is usually only effective until the 4th or 5th grade, or until point infielders can pretty much make all the plays. Nowadays, there are very few players that use anything like linear hitting, since the turf has changed so much since the 80's.

Extensional hitting is what the majority of children are taught, and it involves learning how to make a V at the contact point. For the most part it has been misinterpreted to mean something else, so it is not as effective as intended.

Rotational hitting, on the other hand, whether in the field or with the help of a batting trainer, means using the whole body to power the swing- specifically the core muscles, not only the arms, wrists and hands. The main concept behind a rotational swing, is that the ball is struck firm and hard, since it is much more difficult to make a play on a ball that is moving with lightning speed.

For the greatest part, major league players are rotational hitters. Even for the few that use a different method as well, there best plays are generally made with rotational hitting. In this type of hitting, the hips move first and lead the hands and shoulders, and the hands rotate with the back shoulder and create the Power L Position at the point of contact, and the arms go into the Power V position only after the point of contact.

Rotational hitting can also be applied in fast pitch softball. This is due to the fact that each swing is essentially the same, even though there can be tremendous size differences in the hitters. Since rotational hitting allows you to use core muscles for strength, it is the best, and is almost always used in the highest levels of baseball and fast pitch softball as well.

To make rotational hitting work for you, whether you are in the field, or practicing with a batting trainer, there are some things that have to be in place. Every hitter has to get into an athletic stance before they hit the ball. This means that feet are apart, knees are bent, and the butt is sticking out slightly. This is to make certain that you can make contact with the ball. Connection occurs when a hitter's hands rotate with the back shoulder through the point of contact. Their hands and arms only extend after the point of contact. With a good hitter, their back elbow and back knee will be in the power L position, and bent around 90 degrees.

To get really good at rotational hitting, it is a smart idea to try out your swing with the assistance of a batting trainer before bringing it into your game, so that you can get a feel for the swing.

Hunter Sendefer is a former player and current youth baseball coach who consistently coaches his teams to the winners column including an active 26 game winning streak. He frequently contributes to http://www.Batting-Trainer.com where you can sign up for free baseball batting videos and hitting tips or learn about the revolutionary new Insider Bat batting trainer. http://www.Batting-Trainer.com/features

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---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Baseball Hitting Tips - The Coil Drill

Baseball Hitting Tips - The Coil Drill
By guest author: Hunter Sendefer

When teaching young ball players the art of hitting, it is very important to start at the beginning. This is because you can confuse these young players very easily if you give them too much to think about too quickly, so taking an extremely cautious approach is the best way to go. The coil is a drill that can give these players a very good base to learn from, which will help them develop other hitting skills in the future.

The basic purpose of this drill is to help these players develop a routine when they first step into the batter's box. Without this routine, players might start getting fidgety and forgetting important parts of their hitting technique, so keeping a routine is a vital part of developing consistency at the plate.

This drill starts with each player gripping the bat properly and stepping into the batter's box. Each player should then take his or her normal batting stance while the coach simulates throwing a pitch. The hitter will then work on his or her coil and then freeze when the process has been completed. The coach, in turn, will have a few things to watch for throughout this process, which will help determine whether or not the player has gone through this process properly.

The first thing that that coach needs to watch for is the player's grip, as an improper grip can not only force the player to have an awkward swing, but it can also cause an injury in some cases. The player should also be completely relaxed, as more relaxed players are generally less likely to swing at bad pitched. The weight shift is another important part of this process, as too much of a weight shift can leave the player off balance, while too little can force the player to pop the ball up.

Other things to watch for include where the players' hands end up and whether or not they are hindering their own line of vision. There are many players out there who will turn their shoulders to the point where they can no longer see the ball. When the player freezes after the coil, the coach should check to make sure that both eyes can still be seen because this player will never be able to hit the ball if he or she cannot see it.

Older players should practice getting a sign from the third base coach before stepping into the batter's box, just to make this part of the routine. Once the players have gotten the hang of the drill, the coach can begin using them situations before setting foot in the batter's box and have them inform you on what their approach will be in this situation. In a game situation, the players will have to consider all of these things before setting foot in the batter's box, so make sure that they know what to do in every situation and make all of this part of the routine.

Hunter Sendefer is a former player and current youth baseball coach who consistently coaches his teams to the winners column including an active 26 game winning streak. He frequently contributes to http://www.Batting-Trainer.com where you can sign up for free baseball batting videos and hitting tips or learn about the revolutionary new Insider Bat batting trainer. http://www.Batting-Trainer.com/features

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HurricaneMachine.com - Links

---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips

Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds

Monday, September 27, 2010

Derek Jeter Hurricane Baseball Softball Trainer - How it Works - HurricaneMachine.com



Derek Jeter Hurricane Baseball Softball Trainer - How it Works - HurricaneMachine.com
Coach2winVideos
Video shows the correct way to use a Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine from a differnt perspective, duirectly over the machine. The powerbands of the Hurricane Batting Machine should never tangle during use and the powerbands should last at least a full season or longer. Visit the official Hurricane Hitting Machine Baseball Training Blog for free baseball training tips, baseball batting drills, and free baseball coaching articles.
http://hurricanebaseballtrainingmachi...
http://www.HurricaneHittingMachine.com/ Available for under $200 at http://www.baseball2u.com/husotrmajes...


=================
Thanks to our sponsors:

=======================================
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
=======================================

Derek Jeter Hurricane Machine Training Blog

HurricaneMachine.com - Links

---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips

Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds

Friday, September 24, 2010

Youth Baseball Hitting: "Squish the Bug"?!?!?!



Youth Baseball Hitting: "Squish the Bug"?!?!?!
ebaseballtips
http://www.baseballsmith.com is another great resource for players, coaches and parents involved in youth baseball.


Coaching youth baseball is often challenging especially as it relates to hitting. This video provides an easy explanation of "squish the bug". A term used by youth baseball coaches.
www.ebaseballtips.com

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=======================================
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
=======================================

Derek Jeter Hurricane Machine Training Blog

HurricaneMachine.com - Links

---15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
---6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
---Message to Parents From Coach Nick
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Drills
---20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
---Hurricane Hitting Machine Video Demo Clips

Baseball2u.com has a one of the internet's largest selections of baseball coaching and training dvds

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The 4 Things That Make a Great Hitter

The 4 Things That Make a Great Hitter
By guest author: Todd Thomas

There are 4 things that make a can make a GREAT baseball or softball hitter. FOUR CRITICAL THINGS. Leave just one thing out and you can forget about greatness. Be absent of two or three or all four and your going from Good, to Average, to Poor, to finding another easier athletic endeavor.

These 4 things are...Potential, Technique, Work Ethic, and Mental Approach. Let's discuss each and their importance in being a great hitter.

1. Potential: This one a coach has no real control over. If a hitter does not have the potential to hit like Alex Rodriguez, then I dont' care who their instructor is they cannot make him/her hit like Alex no matter what they are taught nor no matter how bad they or their parents want that. No more than Hank Haney (Tiger Woods swing coach) can teach any given golfer the same stuff he teaches Tiger and turn that golfer into Tiger Woods. It can't be done. The only real control an Instructor has is to help a hitter to hit to their own potential whatever that is. It may be an outstanding Rec player. Maybe that's your potential. OR Maybe a really good select player or a top high school player, a top College prospect, or maybe a pro prospect. Potential does come in varying degrees that is for sure. Some may even seem to have the ability to stretch their potential, but I would submit to you that the potential they reach was always within their own God given potential. Part of a player's natural ability to fulfill their own potential shows in their ability or lack thereof to "take it between the lines". Some players are great batting practice hitters but when they step into the batters box, they just can't seem to hit(consistently or at all) like they do in the cage or at practice. It's a frustrating and perplexing phenomenon, but it's real. The bottom line fact, and it's hard for most if not all players and their parents to accept this, is that some players just don't have it "built in" to their natural ablility/potential to perform between the lines to a high level or to the level they expect they should. Some players have the desire to be great and I'll talk more about desire later in this article. However, if the potential is not there then I'm sorry neither will be greatness.

2. Technique: When good technique is put together with good potential, good things definitely will happen for a hitter. Some players with tremendous potential and natural ability can have horrible technique and still do very well. However, in my opinion, even though they may be good they are NOT reaching their true potential without good technique. Players with average to below average potential with bad technique certainly shouldn't expect much. Conversely, players with average to below average potential can expect to be much better and have the ability to make great strides toward their own personal potential with good technique. So what technique can help hitters reach their personal potential? It is the technique used by the best Major League and Collegiate hitters. What technique is that? That depends of what you call it. Mike Epstein calls it Rotational Hitting. Some people have a problem with that term for whatever reason. Mostly because they haven't a clue of what it really means or what we specifically teach from the beginning of the swing to the end. But they "assume" and are wrong. Okay, so call the technique what you want if it makes you or someone else feel better. Call it The Big League Swing. Call it a Hybrid Swing. Call it whatever you want, but it simply is the technique of the best Big Leaguers and Collegiate players. It should be noted that some current and former players from these categories have no clue what their true technique is/was and have no clue how to actually teach it either. For you or any hitter to reach their potential, a hitter must have good technique/mechanics.

3. Work Ethic: Along side work ethic is something I mentioned earlier and that is desire. Without desire, there is no sustainable work ethic within a player. A hitter MUST have the desire to be great and because of that they MUST work hard at reaching their potential. I have seen many players with loads of potential. They have learned the best technique and yet they don't work at it. They wonder what's wrong with them, or the technique, or maybe even with their teacher. I say this to every hitter... There is no SHORTCUT to being good(and certainly not great). It takes work and it takes it for an extended period of time. In fact, it takes work until the day they stop playing the game. The best hitters in the world are Major League ball players and the top college softball players. My question to you is... How often do they take batting practice? If you answered "Every Day", you are pretty much right on. Is there a day off here and there? Sure. But for all intents and purposes, they take BP EVERY DAY! Why do they do this? They are already great. What do they need to work on it for? I'll tell you. Because hitting is a lifelong pursuit. One never has "it" figured out permanently. If the best players practice every day, then why do some hitters want to take a "lesson" and then just show up for games and expect to be good?!? It's inexplicable. Yet I see it all the time. I believe that the One Who Works The Hardest, HITS The Hardest! Work, work, work. Take a break and then work some more. Only then should a hitter expect to be their best.

4. Mental Approach: Without a solid mental approach going to and at the plate, a player can only ever expect to be good, but not great. How a player thinks in the batter's box and prior to getting there is what can make a good hitter a great hitter. There are several schools of thought on this. I say subscribe to one and APPLY IT! One side of the mental game is confidence and focus. The other side of the mental game is being prepared and thinking along with the pitcher. Mike Epstein believes the best mental approach lies in anticipating pitches. Having a plan, using acquired information (either from observation or from teammates), and anticipating pitches. Now I am not going to get into the specifics here on this. There is much more to it and to cover than I want to go into here. Mike Epstein's book "The Mental Side Of Hitting" is a good resource. I know one young hitter who has read this book SIX times and guess what, IT SHOWS! There are others resources out there on having a quality at-bat or being a thinking hitter. There really is some good information on this and those hitters that want to reach their potential are the ones who will seek it out, dive into it, and apply it. Many hitters short change themselves by selling short how important it is to have a solid mental approach at the plate. They hear it and it goes in one ear and out the other. Meanwhile, they want their instructor to just help them to perfect their technique to make them better and to reach their potential. They won't and their coach can't if their technique is already solid. Get into the mental side of hitting if you DESIRE to be GREAT.

In closing... As the title to this article would indicate, in order to be a great hitter and/or to reach YOUR maximum potential, you must have all 4 of these things. Think about it. What good is any one of these things without AT LEAST one other element? Without one, you can only expect to be good. Absent of two, a hitter will be average AT BEST. With only one element, it's all but hopeless. Do we even need to consider none? Not really. The good news is that 3 of the 4 are simply a decision. All any player has to do is to decide to have good technique, a good work ethic, and a good mental approach. Only potential/natural ability is out of your control. If God has blessed you with natural ability, then fulfill you're potential by deciding to apply yourself in the other areas. Finally... if you DECIDE to leave out one of the 3 areas that are under your control, now you'll understand the results you'll get.

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Monday, September 20, 2010

The Five Elements of the Major League Little League Baseball Swing

The Five Elements of the Major League Little League Baseball Swing
By guest author: Nick Dixon

There is nothing more beautiful in sports than when a "major league" swing whether it be at the tee ball, little league, high school, college or Major League Baseball level of play. A "major league" swing is what I consider to be a perfectly executed swing. There is nothing more beautiful in sports than when you see a baseball batter, at any level, executes the perfect swing, and drive a line drive into one of the outfield gaps.

What makes a little league baseball swing become a "major league" swing? What are the 5 elements of the perfect baseball swing? The answer to that question is simple. The batter must have batting skill, good bat speed, a good eye for the baseball, perfect timing and a proper approach to hitting. Here I discuss all five of these basic elements and how each is improved:

The five basic elements of the "Major League" Little League Swing are:

1. Batting Skill - There is only one way to improve batting skill. That is making sure that the batter takes a high number of practice swings daily or at least 3 times a week year round. The younger the batter begins this practice routine, the batter. It is crucial to batting skill development that the batter receives proper instruction as to proper hitting mechanics.

2. Bat Speed - The grip must be perfect with the fingers aligned and the bat handle gripped in the fingers and not deep in the palm. The batter must have adequate strength to get the bat speed generated. The absolute best way to improve hand and arm strength is do finger pushups, weight roll ups with the arms extended and wrist curls with the arms on a bench.

3. Good Eye for the Ball - There are two things involved in having a good batting eye at the plate. First the batter must learn the strike zone and be able to determine quickly whether a pitch is a in the strike zone or out of it. The other thing that makes the eyes of the batter an asset at the plate, is when the batter has the ability to pitch the ball up very quickly as it is released from the hand of the pitcher. The batter must learn to identify pitches, the spin on the ball, the pitchers arm slot, and the pitchers release point. There are many drills that can help a better have a better eye. One such drill is a "tracking" drill in which the batter stands in while a pitcher throws his bull pen. The batter verbally calls out the type of pitch and its location. The batter will call the pitch in this order...strike, fastball, in or ball, curve ball, off the plate away.

4. Proper Timing - Good timing is something that all great hitters possess. They know when to load and when to launch. They are never late on the fastball. They are never early on the off speed pitch. They know exactly when to attack the pitch based on where the pitch is located. The always attack the inside fastball early. They always attack the fastball down the middle when it gets over the plate. And most important of all, they attack the off-speed pitch late when it gets just inside the back foot. One of the best drills to develop timing is the do a front long toss drill. The pitcher should vary locations, speed and pitch types.

5. Proper Approach - Having a good approach at the plate is a process that involves two aspects of mental concentration.

One part of having an approach is to know what your team needs from your at bat.This is known before the batter walks up to the plate. For example, if the team needs a deep fly ball, the batter looks for a pitch up. If the team needs a ball hit behind a runner, the batter will look for a pitch to hit the other way.

The other part of having an approach is the batter executing the perfect timed swing for the pitch thrown. The batter turns on the fastball in or the batter stays back and hits the curve ball to the opposite field.

The best way to develop a good approach at the plate is to have situational batting practice sessions. The batter takes batting practice swings under simulated situations specified by the coach. The batter practices hitting with the coach calling different numbers of out, different base runner locations or different offensive plays be run.

I hope that you found this article to be interesting and informative. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it. Have a great day. Nick

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has a great selection of 1400 Baseball Products. Check out the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball pitching simulator. This high speed training machine is 100% Guaranteed to raise Batting Averages and has a full year warranty.

Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Leaf Blower Pitching Machine



Leaf Blower Pitching Machine
russm313
This is a pitching machine I made for the kids. I used an electric leaf blower and some pieces of 3" PVC pipe. It works really well with wiffle balls.

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Baseball Coaching Digest - Pitcher Fielding Practice Drills - Double Play Feeds and Covering First

Baseball Coaching Digest - Pitcher Fielding Practice Drills - Double Play Feeds and Covering First
By guest author: Nick Dixon

Pitcher fielding practice should be an important part of every team's regular practice routine. Pitcher fielding practice is an activity that allows pitchers to practice fielding and making good throws to the different bases in different situations.

Our Pitcher Fielding Practice or PFP, as it is called, requires all infielders and all pitchers. The activity takes only 7 minutes. Therefore we do PFP drills every day in practice. This practice activity requires two coaches to fungo or hit the ground balls, 6 baseballs, and 4 catchers alternating and catching up.

First Set - Pitcher Covering First and Bunt throw to 2nd Base

We begin the activity by having 2 middle infielders report to their position. We will then divide the pitchers into two groups. One line will be getting over to first on a ball hit to the right side. The other line will be fielding bunts and making the throw to second. This is the first segment of the drill and we do this for 3.5 minutes without a beak. The pitchers will rotate lines after each throw.

The "cover first group" works on the right side of the diamond. The bunt cover to 2nd base group works on the left side of the diamond. The line will run out toward 2nd base. The pitchers will set up even with the pitching rubber but will shade to their respective side to allow enough space for both groups to work at the side time without delays or stopping.

Coaching Points: Covering First

The pitcher will must take a good angle toward the line and work up the line toward the bag. The catcher will yell, "get over" each time a ball is hit. The first baseman will communicate with the pitcher to let him know if he will take to the bag himself. If the first baseman bobbles or is slower getting to a ball, the pitcher will setup and stretch on the throw. It is important that the pitcher avoid shading over into the base path in order to avoid a collision with the runner. The pitchers will work out of the windup.

Coaching Point: Bunt throw to 2nd base

The pitchers and catchers will make a call. If the catcher can field it, he will. If the pitcher fields it, the catcher will make a "2 call". Communication and verbal calls by the catcher is an important part of this drill. The pitcher must make a perfect throw every time. Make sure that the pitcher has the right approach to the ball and sets the feet before picking it up, if he can. Good footwork will save time and make execution of the throw easier. The pitchers will work out of the stretch.

Set 2 - "Squeeze Play and Throwing to Second Baseball to Double Play"

During the second half of PFP's we will have the "right" side group field a "come backer" ground ball and make a throw to 1st or 2nd. The "left" side group will may a "do-or-die" play on a squeeze play for 1 minute and then cover home on a passed ball for the remaining 2 minutes. Read more.

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Jugs Small Ball Pitching Machine

Friday, September 10, 2010

Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer



Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer
Coach2winVideos
Video shows the Advanced Skills Tee baseball trainer and how it improves a baseball baters swing during baseball batting drills. The patented swing guides serve to keep the batters swing compcat and short to the baseball. The Advanced Skills Tee is considered by many to be the World's Most Advanced and Productive Baseball Batting Tee. For more information, visit, http://www.AdvancedSkillsTee.com. Also available from www.baseball2u.com at http://www.baseball2u.com/adsktee1.html

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Thanks to our Sponsor: Advanced Skills Tee

AdvancedSkillsTee.com
Advanced Skills Tee at Baseball2u.com
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Used By Over 1,200 High Schools and Colleges!