Tulane Hall of Fame Coach reveals baseball hitting tips/drills

Coach reveals baseball hitting tips/drills



http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com/lcp. Tulane Hall of Fame Coach reveals baseball hitting secrets for youth baseball instruction. Free baseball hitting tips articles, videos, to increase bat speed. Call 1-800-727-5940 for baseball batting tips and techniques.

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Atlanta Braves Hitting Coach Terry Pendleton Talks Hitting

Hitting Coach Terry Pendleton Talks Hitting



On http://ClubHouseGAS.com, former MLB MVP and Atlanta Braves hitting coach talks with Casey Bass about the fundamentals of hitting. Also check-out http://YouthSportTravel.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.

Are You a Baseball Player and Need Hitting Instructions?

Are You a Baseball Player and Need Hitting Instructions?
By Guest Author Ray Alarcon

Are you a baseball player looking to for hitting instructions? At one point or another and at all levels, all baseball players need hitting instructions.

Many players cannot run fast, field or throw well, HITTING however is so important, that the game developed a position for those players who could do only one thing HIT. This position as we all know is the designated hitter of DH. The addition of the designated hitter position in 1972 confirmed one thing. In baseball, at every level if you can hit, they will find a way for you to play it's as simple as that.

This article will show you why proper hitting instructions will help you succeed at every level of your baseball career. If you are a coach, want to be one, or if you are a parent trying to to teach his/her child to hit, you want to make sure that your instructions are not doing more harm than good.

There are many intangibles that make a good hitter; the proper stance, the mental and physical approach, the size of the bat you use, and others.

Hitting instructions are important all levels. The young players usually get instructions from coaches (or parents) that often have no or little knowledge of the art of hitting or how to properly teach it. As the young player develops, they can often get by with natural ability. As players get older however, (middle and high school level) and the casual players drop out of the sport in his mid teens, the players that continue to play are often the better athletes or those who have received proper instructions at an early age and therefore the competition gets tougher. Improving your skills with proper hitting instructions will help you succeed at that next level against those players.

Hitting instructions don't end there however. If you continue your career as a college player or beyond, there will always be a need for hitting instructions. Throughout your baseball career there will be times when you struggle and maybe slump and you may begin to doubt your abilities. Reviewing the hitting instructions that you have learned from in the past will be a way to "getting back on track".

As I have previously mentioned hitting instructions are very important at all levels of the sport and at all ages. They help develop a proper foundation for young and developing players, and at the same time help older and more experienced players to remain consistently good hitters

If you want to become a better and more consistent hitter, look into the fabulous hitting system developed by a Division 1 coach who has sent many players to the majors and is endorsed by many NCAA champion coaches visit- http://www.squidoo.com/hitting_a_baseball

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

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Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
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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.


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The Mental Game of Hitting - Former Major Leaguer's Baseball Hitting Advice

Major Leaguer's Baseball Hitting Advice
By Guest Author Jack Perconte

The great Ted Williams summed up the mental game of hitting very easily when he said "Get a good pitch to hit." Of course, there is much more that can be advised about the mental game of hitting but, ultimately, that is the best advice when a batter is in the batter's box. All the analysis, preparation and visualization should end when a batter is facing the pitcher and getting a good pitch to hit is all that there is left to focus on.

I often ask my hitting students, "What makes a great hitter - those that are good two strike hitters or those that are not?" Most answer, "Those with two strikes." Of course, that is better than the alternative but I reply, "Not necessarily." When a hitter has two strikes on them, especially when this happens often, hitters are in a defensive mode and are at the mercy of the pitch. I try to convince them that great hitters are the ones who make good decisions before they get two strikes on them

With this in mind, following are things that will help the mental game of hitting for baseball players:

1. Prepare for and expect the first pitch to be in the middle of the plate. When the pitch is located there, hitters should swing at it. A hitter's odds of hitting the ball solidly go up greatly when balls are in the middle of the plate, regardless if it is high or low. When it is not in the middle, hitters should lay of it.

2. When batters are ahead in the count, they should think of the pitch they hit the very best - inside, outside, high, low. Whatever it is, that is the pitch they should look for with a 1 & 0 count. As above, if that pitch comes, they should swing at it and lay off all other pitches, ball or strike.

3. When the batter falls behind in the count before two strikes, hitters should know the two-thirds of the plate that they handle best and only swing if the ball is in that zone. It is worth risking going to a two strike count when the first two strikes are in an area that the hitter does not hit well.

4. With two strikes, all hitters are the same. When a pitch is a strike or very close to a strike, the batter must swing to avoid being called out on strikes. The pitcher definitely has the advantage when the hitter has two strikes because the batter must be prepared to handle every inch of the plate, from low to high.

To help with this total plate coverage, hitters should learn to look for pitches on the outer part of the plate and adjust to pitches that are on the inner half of the plate. This philosophy better protects the hitter from outside and off-speed pitches because it will help them from opening up to soon on those pitches.

As players get to the higher level of balls and pitchers are more consistent, they can change this approach some to take advantage of their strengths and the pitcher's weaknesses. Also, the best hitters remain confident because they have a good fundamental swing, have prepared in practice and believe in that swing to be able to make good contact, no matter the count. Finally, hitting coaches should help young hitters to learn about their individual strengths and weaknesses to help their "mental game of hitting."

Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte gives baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for ballplayers of all ages. His baseball playing lessons, books and advice can be found at http://www.baseballhittinglessons.com/baseball. Jack is the author of two books, The Making of a Hitter and Raising an Athlete - his positive parenting advice and books can be found at http://positiveparentinginsports.com.

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




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.

Little League Digest - Proper Baseball Swing Mechanics and the "Belly Button" Rule of Hip Turn

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By Nick Dixon

Little league Digest: Baseball Batting Coaching Tips: Teaching Hip Turn Mechanics and Using the "Belly Button" Rule to Improve Baseball Swing Quality

The hips play an important part in the baseball swing process. The turn of the hips helps to generate power and bat speed. There are several important coaching points about the involvement of the hips in the swing. The "B B" rule is one good way to teach young players the degree of hip turn on various pitch locations. This article presents several coaching points and explains the "B B" rule.

Here are 10 Coaching Points related to Hip Movement Mechanics:

1. The degree of hip movement is determined by the location of the pitch.

2. The hips must turn more when hitting an inside pitch.

3. The hips will turn less when hitting a pitch away.

4. The hips should not move before the hands and bat.

5. To free the hips, the back foot must spin, rotate or turn onto the toe.

6. The hips follow the barrel. The hips should open behind the barrel, not before it.

7. Premature front side or hip movement will cause a batter to pull the head and to pull of pitches.

8. The correct hip movement is a spin. Lunging or sliding the hips forward is not acceptable.

9. The hip movement should be a thrust or fast rotation. The faster the rotation of the hips, the faster the bats speed.

10. The degree of hip rotation can be taught by teaching the "Belly Button" rule as explained below.

The "Belly Button Rule" is explained as the following:

The Belly Button should follow the barrel of the bat through the baseball swing process. The location of a pitch determines hip turn. The degree of hip turn determines where the belly button is pointing when the batter finishes the baseball swing. The belly button should always finish in a position that points toward the direction in which the baseball was hit.

For example, when a ball is hit to the opposite field, the batters "Button" should point or be directed toward the opposite field when the swing is completed. If a batter pulls an inside pitch, the belly button should follow the ball and point toward the direction in which the ball was hit.

Coaching Point: For right and left handed batters, if the ball is hit through the box, up the middle, the belly button should "shine" or point toward second base when the swing is complete. For right handed batter, is a ball is pulled, the belly button should finish pointing toward third base. If a right handed batter hits the baseball down the right field line, the button should point toward first base when the swing is completed. If a left handed batter pulls the baseball, the hips should turn completely and the button should finish pointing at first base. If a left handed batter hits the ball to left field, the hips should turn less and the belly button should finish the swing pointing the 5-6 hole or between 3rd and 2nd base.

I hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I wish you and your team good luck this season! 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 Little League Digest the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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


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The Basics of Swing Building in Baseball

The Basics of Swing Building in Baseball
By Guest Author: John Peter Pero

Build a house or build a swing.it all starts with a good foundation.

You will play as good as you practice!

Writing a single article on something so complex that it causes sleepless nights for the best trained and paid talents in the world is daunting.at least to this coach.

Styles vs. Absolutes

First - I cannot and will not debate hitting styles, though I certainly have my opinion. The reality is that half of the Hall of Fame has an unconventional swing. I will leave this area to you in hopes that you will stay on the straight and narrow and will continue gaining the knowledge it takes to help ALL your players season after season.

Here's a hint

Anything resembling the teachings of Ted Williams or The Mike Schmidt Hitting Study will keep you on the right road.

For every bad swing a hitter practices...it may take three swings to correct!

Here's where I've chosen to start.by making one assumption.

(Be brutally honest with yourself before incorporating the steps below!)

I will assume that your player(s) have a basic working knowledge of good swing mechanics. Players who practice incorrectly not only waste time, but tend to go backwards to the point that it can affect their future success and love of the game. The baseball road is littered with talented players who have been eliminated from the game prematurely when poor youth baseball swing mechanics become overmatched by superior pitching and the improvement of their own teammates.

Let's Get to the Point.And to the Progression

The following are six (6) areas that can simplify this building block process.

many which can be incorporated into a basement, garage or your own backyard.

Mirror Station - Simply put.if a player visually sees what he's doing incorrectly, he will make the adjustments necessary to improve.

I recommend swinging in front of a full-length mirror beginning at 50% power, then 75%, progressing to game speed and maybe even a few swings beyond 100% power.

Be logical about the number of swings depending on the player's age and strength.taking breaks in between. Focus on fewer great swings.less is more!

(yes. take extra precautions when working indoors)

Tee Station - Simply put, you never grow out of hitting off the tee. It is the one station where players can focus on every aspect of the swing.without having to track a moving object. This is critical! Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn said something like, "I do nothing but tee work until January." I wish I could remember the exact quote, but you get the point.

Toss Station - Also known as soft toss or flip drills, this is a basic drill generally done with two players. Balls are hit into a net after being tossed underhand in a short arc and at a 45° angle on the open side of the hitter from a distance of around 6 feet. These consistent tosses (aimed at the hitter's front thigh or hip for straight-away hitting and adjusted for hitting to various areas of the field) incorporate the lessons learned from tee work, adding the skill it takes to hit a moving ball.

This important station allows players to get tons of swings in a short period of time and in a small area.

Hitters get tired quickly when the tosser doesn't allow time between swings. Be patient!

Front Toss & Short Toss - This is another important building block in the progression. A coach or player will sit on a bucket behind a screen and toss pitches from directly in front of the player; usually in a cage or on a baseball field. This can be done from a distance of 15 to 20 feet and then from a 35 foot distance. Pitches should be thrown consistently and to particular zones, allowing the player to duplicate each swing as precisely as possible.

Note #1

Make sure your screen is in place and not in need of repair! Players and coaches should all be cautioned and taught to focus on staying completely behind the protective screen during every pitch.

Note #2

When utilizing short toss drills from shorter distances of 15 to 20 feet, balls should be tossed underhand so that the pitch will come in to the hitter at an angle more resembling that of a live pitch. This eliminates the "loopy" throws which encourage the poor mechanics of an uppercut swing.

Dead BP - (Batting Practice) - Dead batting practice is simply the batting practice you see on every field and at every level. You will see great examples of this when you go to a college or pro game two hours before the first pitch. It is thrown from 55 feet (not the official pitcher-to-hitter distance of 60' 6"), generally from a platform or portable mound. Pitches are thrown straight at around 55 to 65 mph.into particular hitting zones. These consistent pitches are designed for the hitter to repeat his swings over and over with consistency; hitting balls hard and to particular areas of the field.

A ball field and a batting cage with or without a pitching machine is all that is needed.

Live BP - (Batting Practice) - Take dead BP and add the battle of pitcher (coaches or pitchers doing the throwing) versus hitter, preferably in game conditions. In a team practice, I find maximum benefit when all defenders are also playing this as a real game.

The backyard version of live BP incorporates a pitching machine and pitching machine with an autofeeder for single player practices or a batting cage with a live pitcher behind a protective L-Screen.

http://www.baseballtips.com

Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction!It's all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school.

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

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Bunting Success In Little League Baseball

Bunt Young, Bunt Often In Little League
By Guest Author: Marty Schupak

Bunting is a very big part of baseball. And, when a bunt is laid down the right way, it is very difficult to defend. I have always been big on bunting, and feel it can be taught at a young age. There are basically two types of bunts: the square bunt and the pivot bunt. My preference is the pivot bunt because the players just pivot on their toes and do not have to lift their feet. Once in a playoff game, I had a player perform a square bunt, and he put down a perfect bunt, and beat it out...we all thought. The only problem was, when he lifted his leg and put it down in a different position, it was right on home plate and he was called out. The best way to teach bunting for the first time is to practice with a soft covered ball or a rag ball, which is described in The 59 Minute Baseball Practice video. With the rag balls or a soft covered ball, there is very little danger of getting hurt, and the players can actually pitch to each other. Once they seem confident, coaches can pitch a hard ball to his team.

There are many bunting strategies that can be used in a game. My favorite is with less than two out and a runner on third. In this situation, the batter can bunt to the third baseman as the base runner bounces toward home. When the third baseman releases the ball to first base, the player on third runs home, and must slide. If it is a good bunt, and the base runner breaks to home when he should, this is almost unstoppable. Remember that youth baseball players can practice bunting at a very young age. Seek out your high school coach to teach the proper technique. Also, make sure your best bunters get a chance to swing away.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

http://www.VideosForCoaches.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the video creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills", "Winning Baseball Strategies", "Hitting Drills & Techniques", “Pitching Drills & Techniques”, and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is a principle with Videos For Coaches and is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

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

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

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.


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Baseball Training Aids Can Be Costly

Baseball Training Aids Can Be Costly
By Guest Author: Joseph Harrison Jr

Baseball training aids can be costly and not assist the player being taught the game. This is because a lot of people attempt to make money off America's game because it is so popular. Everyone involved in the game should remember that a lot coaches and training aids are there to make money and do not have enough experience to teach the game of baseball.

The most important part of coaching is to know the basics of throwing, pitching, catching and hitting. When these basics are overlooked, the performance of the player suffers and a lot of money is wasted on inappropriate instruction. Each position on the field has different techniques that have to be considered and taught.

Beginning players need to know the basic techniques and master those techniques before moving on to advanced skills. Spending a lot of money on personal coaching or training aids that does not improve the performance of the player on the field will only frustrate the player.

Even if the coach has played on the highest levels of baseball, it does not mean that they have mastered the art of teaching the game to others. When someone spends a lot of money on something, then they expect to see the results. This includes personnel coaching.

It is important for the coach or training equipment to be qualified to teach baseball. This is easily done with research or inquiring from others who have used the coach or equipment before. When it comes to money for lessons, then individuals should pay attention to the value they will get from the expense.

Many non-experienced coaches are out there to just make a few bucks and are not passionate about the performance of their students. No one performs better when being taught by someone or something that does not have the experience, knowledge and proven results.

Each league that decides on who will coach each team will have to consider the experience of the coach. This is not a simple task and should be taken seriously by the board of the league. If the wrong coach is found for a team the players will be disheartened or become frustrated.

The baseball training aids involved in teaching young players should always be the most experienced and qualified individuals found and not just people who are willing to volunteer. The league should teach the coaches as much as instruct the players to make the game of baseball enjoyable for everyone involved.

I am Joseph Harrison, a baseball coach since 20 years ago. I love baseball since I am young, especially the feeling when you know you will absolutely crush the ball. Training your kid to gain interest in baseball will benefit him from both mentally and physically. In with he will gain team spirit, learn how to cope with teammates, and at the same time train up his physical, and concentration (to have good eye and hand coordination and the ability to use both at once). Go through my article and you will know all the benefits of baseball.

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

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Everything You Need to Know About Batting Cages

Batting Cages Tips and Information
By Andy Brock

If you want to practice your hitting skills or if you just want your children to have a safe and protected space where they can play baseball, then you should get yourself a batting cage. Batting cages come in different styles and sizes. That is why you should know more about them before you purchase one for yourself or your family because there are so many choices available in the market. Here are some basic information that you need to know:


As the word implies, batting cages are made especially for hitters to improve their skills in hitting the ball. They could have an installed machine that throws a ball to the batter. Due to the consistent nature of the pitching machine, this could build confidence which would help the batter enhance his skills.
Batting cages are often protected with nets to keep the ball safely within the limits of the cage. This could prevent unfortunate accidents, especially if you want to use your cage in your backyard.
You can choose from three kinds of batting cages. First is the even-floored, non-automated type. If it is okay with you to retrieve balls from different places, then this type of cage is just fine for you. However, there are also batting cages that have uneven floors so that the balls that have been thrown by the machine will roll back easily to that side of the cage and can easily be picked up. The last type is the most convenient but probably the most expensive. This is the automated and mechanical type of cage. it has conveyors in which balls could be placed to be put back into the machines for yet another round of pitching.
The usual dimension of a batting cage is 55(l)x16(w)x13(h) feet. You should also know that you can maximize the function by installing several batting cages right next to each other, which means more space. If you can accommodate such space, then buy several cages. If not, just make do with the few cages that your space allows you to put up.
Make sure that you are wearing complete protection for playing baseball before you go inside the cage. Do not come close or put your face on the fencing or netting when somebody is using the cage right next to you. Not doing these precautions can cause serious injuries. Always keep the batting cage entrance close and never enter a cage that is currently being used by another batter.

Find more information on building batting cages at the website: batting cages.

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

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Baseball Coaching Vs Having Talent - What's More Important?

Coaching Vs Having Talent - What's More Important?
By Stephen K Reynolds

My son and I just came off a tournament this past weekend where by we were beaten pretty soundly in all 3 games that we played. Sean is on a 12u travel team and he is the youngest at 10, 11 in April.

We probably have 6 travel level players and the rest are not! The manager and I were discussing the level of play on the way home and the topic came up as to whether we could make some of boys play better?

Coaches in competitive travel ball always are looking for better players and it is easy to assume that they are willing to take credit for the level of play of their team... Question is how much is coaching versus the quality of the ball players?

The big question is can you get kids with marginal ability to play like All-Stars? A lot of are kids can't hit and probably wont hit travel pitching no matter how much time you put in the cages, or throwing to them not to mention instruction. Players who struggling with the mental game and are marginal fielders probably are always going to be limited in their abilities.

It is frustrating because you want them to succeed and you feel responsible when they don't! I would say You want kids with above average ability and then you need to get them to play to the best of their ability. We don't like to hear it as coaches but quality players make us look good period!

Stephen K Reynolds and his wife LuAnne are publishers of the LSR Unlimited "Free" newsletter which focuses on helping newcomers & seasoned pros learn the secrets to marketing in the ever changing world of the internet! He is also a youth baseball coach in Western Montana Working on the Internet allows him the freedom to coach little league baseball. For more information on this e-mail coachsteve56@gmail.com

(800)758-1282
http://www.mindsetiswealth.com

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

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Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
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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.


Hurricane Video

The Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine Reviewed

Here are 5 Reviews of the Hurricane Hitting Machine. If you own it, you know what they are saying. If you do not own it, you are wasting valuable practice time by not having it. What could 25,000 more practice swings a year, in your own backyard, do to help you hit more linedrives for doubles? Alot!!!

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The Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Trainer is an excellent batting practice/training aid and has really been great to use. One of the great aspects of the product is that it is totally portable, very easy set up so you can take it to tournaments, practice fields and games. It has adjustable swing speeds and convenient for the team to use. We have been wanting one of these for our baseball team but really could not pay what other vendors were asking. To find this at Amazon.com at such an affordable price was awesome. Amazon.com has great shipping which is fast, inexpensive, and reliable.

T. Johnson
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I bought this product used from someone who has two teenage sons in little league. While i can't verify how much they used it, from the looks of the batting head, it looks like they gave it a pretty good beating. I've had it myself for over a week now, and I've put it through my own personal torture test (i'm 26 and i'm going for the fences here on every swing), and it's held up remarkably well. I initially had complaints with the fact that the power bands do get snagged on one of the knobs occasionally (as resonated in some of the other reviews here), but I figured out that you can eliminate that problem just by having the knob fact the same direction as the batting head, so i guess now I don't have any complaints anymore. Great machine!

Wailun Yeung
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Let me start off by saying that this is the exact same product as the Nedco Bat Action Pro 360. The only difference is that this Derek Jeter version is targeted toward younger players due to the shorten hitting shaft.

I purchased this with the intention of both myself and young nephew using it. Well, it works flawless. Built very solid and durable, takes my huge hacks very well. My nephew can't stop using the thing. The fact that someone can use it without the need of another person holding a hitting stick is huge. You will know if your not hitting the ball true as the shaft will wobble all over the place. Don't worry folks, thats a good thing as it makes people notice where they are striking the ball. You will actually work up a sweat! No kiddie gimmick here.

I like and prefer the Derek Jeter version because it fits better indoors due to the shorten shaft. One buyer posted that it had a flawed design but so far so good for us. I only wish I purchased this sooner.

The only con I have noticed is the carry bag. Well, it's crap and I defiantly see breaking in the future, in particular the carry handles due to the weight. I'm going to have to make new arrangements in this area. The equipment is heavy thats for sure, I'm not complaining about that though as the unit is built well but hauling it around for a long distance will have your shoulder barking. I actually carry it to parks but if you won't or will only do so every so often then I would not worry too much about it. To those that will haul it constantly, I would say it's worth dealing with a possible minor problem due to the positive end result.

A. M.
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I rarely right reviews and Im not righting a review about the design or quality of the product. I am writing to say my 8 year old his hitting wonders now that he uses the hurricane. He hits ever ball first pitch now (from the couch pitched games). I put it away for 2 weeks and he started striking out. I brought it out again, and now he is smashing it again.

S.S.
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GREAT product! My son and I use it to warm up before little league and softball games. Excellent to tune your timing for a moving ball.Hitting skills improve dramatically with this training device.
The hurricane can be used indoors if you have enough turning radius . We have good father son times taking turns hitting in our yard or driveway. This product is very well made.

M. Fantozzi
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Order your Hurricane Machine Now! Click Here.

Good Hitters Hit, Great Hitters Hit More

By Mike Posey

Recently, I was talking to a friend that works in Major League Baseball. We were having a discussion about hitting and agreed many instructors say things to hitters that do not actually happen. Here are a few examples:

1. Stay Back - The hitter does not have their weight all the way back when swinging the bat. What should be said is stay centered. Do not let your weight come forward too soon.
2. Line Up Your Knocking Knuckles - The knuckles are usually off centered with the knocking knuckles on one hand and the big knuckles on the other hand lining up.
3. Rotate on Your Back Foot - On hitting contact the back foot is usually toe down and in some cases off the ground.
4. Hit It Out Front - If the pitch is away, you will actually hit it farther back on the plate. Out front would be for a pitch on the inside half of the plate.
5. Extend Your Arms - Extension only occurs after contact has been made with the ball.
6. Roll Your Wrist Over - On contact the top hand is under the bat. Wrist roll happens after contact.

With all the instruction being given today, one has to wonder why some of the same mechanical flaws still occur over and over in youth players. Too many expect paid lessons to be the answer to develop their players hitting abilities.

It might be better to let a hitter develop naturally and not put a lot of extra ideas in their heads to confuse them. Good hitters will hit alot and develop a feel for their swing as they grow. Proper instruction can help a good hitter become better. Many have an expectation that paying for a lesson will somehow cause magic to occur and the good swing appears, "poof", before the next game. Without hours of hitting practice on their own (outside of instruction) a good swing will never be developed.

Hitting is rhythm and timing, this can only be developed through live swings. Good hitters hit, Great hitters hit more.

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

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Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting machine by SKLZ

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

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

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Baseball Hitting Drills - Teaching Plate Discipline

Baseball Hitting Plate Discipline


By Hunter Sendefer

Hitting drills are very important for young players and one of the best hitting drills that a coach can utilize teach plate discipline. It is very important that a hitter learns to have an approach at the plate, rather than simply swinging away at every pitch, so this drill is vital to the hitter's overall makeup.

This drill starts with the screen close enough to the plate that the batting coach pitcher can have excellent control. Each hitter then gets up to ten pitches, although only three strikes will be permitted. Before the hitter steps up to the plate, he or she will be told how many strikes he or she currently has, as this will directly influence how the hitter handles the pitches.

If the hitter is stepping up to the plate with a fresh count, he or she will begin by showing the pitching coach where he or she likes the ball. If the pitch is in the hitter's hitting zone and he or she takes a swing, the pitch count is reduced by one. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone, but the player still swings, the hitter not only loses that pitch, but one additional pitch. If the pitch is outside of this hitting zone and the player does not swing, the pitch does not count at all. If the pitch is outside of the strike zone altogether and the player swings, however, he or she will lose half of his or her swings remaining.

If there is one strike, the penalty for swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone is less strict, as the player will only lose that pitch plus one more. This is because when there is one strike, pitchers will tend to come after the hitter a little more, which makes these pitches a little harder to lay off.

Finally, when there are two strikes, the hitter's goal is to be as tough an out as possible. If the player swings at a pitch that is in the strike zone, he or she only loses that pitch plus one more. If a pitch that is around the strike zone is taken, it is an additional pitch penalty because umpires tend to call borderline pitches strikes when there are already two strikes. If an obvious strike is taken, that player is done completely because it is never a good idea to take a third strike.

The goal of each hitter turning this drill is to make sure that he or she gets through all ten pitches without striking out. Also make sure that your players know that each strike that you call will be a judgment call, which is exactly how an umpire will make the call. By teaching your players to have an approach at the plate based on the strike count, you can turn them into smarter hitters. You will also be giving them a better idea of where the strike zone is, so they will know which pitches to take and when to take a cut.

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

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

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7 Tips on How to Become a Better Baseball Player

How to Become a Better Baseball Player


7 Tips on How to Become a Better Baseball Player
By Jack D. Elliott

Baseball players everywhere want to know how they can get better. The best way to do this is to look at it your training from a comprehensive perspective. Here, are some pointers to help you up your game.

1. Read and Watch Everything Baseball. Scan books, look over hitting and pitching lessons videos, see games, ask for help from coaches and good players.

2. Practice makes perfect. Do your drills daily for at least 5 to 6 days a week. Feel free to mix up your routine; however, make sure you are developing muscle memory with enough reps of your swing and pitching motion.

3. Pick up something else when the season ends. To avoid burnout, choose another sport or physical exercise in the off-season. It is preferable to pick something you are not familiar with. This will allow you to stay fit and appease any creativity interests you have because of the novelty of the new sport. By the time the next baseball season rolls around, you will find yourself avidly looking forward to playing.

4. Strength Train Before It Is Too Late. Do not make the mistake of waiting to build strength until your junior and senior years of high school. Do yourself a favor and start working out in the summer after your 8th grade year and work out each summer thereafter. This will allow you to build a base, plateau, and then, build up to yet another plateau. In this way, by the time you are senior, you will be very physically strong and ready to have a great senior season.

5. Get Lessons. A great instructor will save you time, wasted energy, and ultimately give you better results. By learning from a great instructor from the start, you can develop the best techniques from the start and avoid bad habits. Once you learn the lessons, you can practice them and go back only occasionally when you feel a refresher course is needed.

6. Practice with a tee. The basic hitting tee has improve the swing and hitting consistency of many major league players. Learn from their example and use this tee to perfect your ability to hit to the opposite field and fine tune your swing. This along with some waffle ball toss are great for removing holes in your swing.

7. Maximize your speed and power. Plyometric exercises can help develop your speed and explosiveness. Learn from a trained instructor who can give you a regimen that you can practice several days a week. If practiced sufficiently, you will see your speed and power improve. This added boost will carry over into other parts of your game as you have a new found confidence in your baseball abilities.

All these pointers are geared towards making you a top flight athlete by your final year of high school. By using each of these pointers you can expect to maximize your potential for baseball success.

Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/ or Baseball Strategy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott

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

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.


Hurricane Video

Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Trainer

Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Trainer

By Leny J

You've heard coaches preach practice, practice, practice. Work hard and good things will happen. But what I find interesting with this concept is that most of the players do work hard and practice practice and practice - but that's all they do - they work hard at practice at practice - which is great. But in my opinion, in order to improve on your game, particularly hitting a baseball, you not only need to work hard at practice but you need to also work hard after practice - on your own time. At home in the back yard, or at the park, or even in your garage. You need to spend time out of practice to work on your skills. There is not enough time during regular practice to fine tune your craft. Taking time for yourself to refine your skill is a must in this day and age of competitive athletics. I've found a great baseball hitting aid to help accomplish this.

Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Trainer. This machine will help you to improve hitting a baseball. This solo swing training tool is ideal baseball swing trainer for the beginning Little League player to the high school all-star.

This durable machine with its integrated ball and stick means you can practice on your own anytime anywhere -- no more running after balls! It provides you with immediate feedback on bat speed, power and eye hand coordination. It is easy to set-up and transport. Workout in your garage or the backyard. Take it with you to the park and warm-up before the game. Have fun with it.

I'm a husband and a father of two. I enjoy watching all types of sports and spending quality time with my family. I'm also a former youth baseball coach and former president of a local Little League organization.

Practice hard and learn to be a better hitter.

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

Understanding the Baseball Swing

Bat Action Hitting Machine - BatAction.com
By Nate Barnett

If I asked you to give a five minute lecture on hitting mechanics start to finish, could you do it? If the answer is yes, then you've undoubtedly done some research on the baseball swing. If the answer is no, then there is some work to be done, and you'll want to read on, especially if you're in a role where you provide any type of baseball instruction.

Coaches must be continual learners if they are going to stay in this game for long and attract some success. The most dangerous attitude anyone of influence can obtain is an attitude of arrival. Therefore, be a constant learner.

The baseball swing can be broken down into various parts and movements. The key for any good coach or athlete is to understand first what these parts are, and secondly, to understand the sequence of these moving parts throughout the swing. Without getting into depth on the specific parts in this article, my purpose in writing this is to introduce how energy is created within the baseball swing.

Much like other athletic activities the energy created to produce a quick swing comes from the back side of the body. The lower half of the back side of the hitter's body is responsible for generating momentum directed toward the pitch. This movement does not happen automatically, unfortunately. Most hitters begin their swing with the front side of the body or their hands which greatly reduces the speed of the baseball swing.

The two most common and incorrect swing starters are the hands and the front hip. Here are the drawbacks for using those parts to begin the energy creation process.

Hands: The baseball swing is a movement where energy is created from the ground up. The back knee turns first, back hip second, and hands third. While this sequence happens very quickly, it's important that it remain consistent. The reason is because this process creates torque. It is a core body movement that creates a whip action and propels the bat into the zone. If the hitter's hands are responsible for generating power, little power can be generated comparatively.

Front Hip: As explained above, the back side of the body creates energy. Therefore, if the front hip of the hitter begins to rotate at the same time of the back side of the body, momentum begins to move away from the play instead of being directed at hitting the baseball.

Consistent drill work should be focused on minimizing the above two movements. While Little Leaguers can get away with some of these mistakes and have relative success, athletes in high school cannot. Therefore, the best time to correct these incorrect movements is between the ages of 10 and 15.

Nate Barnett is owner of BMI Baseball designed to improve the mental game of baseball in athletes. Learn how to help your game by improving the skill of mental baseball

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

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Baseball Tips on Hitting - How to Focus on Three Things to Improve Your Hitting!

By Larry Cicchiello

Work On Your Weaknesses

Human nature can be very funny at times. When a lot of hitters practice, they have a bad habit of practicing what they do well and NOT practice on their weaknesses. It probably has something to do with the fact that hitting the ball well, whether it's during a game or at practice, makes us feel better. Now you can decide. Do you want to temporarily feel better and have your ego massaged or do you want to improve as a player? It is a very simple fact of life that real good hitters do NOT have glaring weaknesses! They may be able to handle some pitches better than others, but the differences are not that great. The reason they don't have any glaring weaknesses is quite simple. They work on their weaknesses to eliminate them as soon as possible! They don't practice and spend time working on their strengths. That's why they are real good hitters.

Keep The Bat In The Hitting Zone

One of the baseball hitting problems that many hitters encounter is they do NOT keep the bat in the hitting zone long enough. On the other side of the coin, the one thing that all great hitters have in common is that they DO keep the barrel of the bat in the hitting zone longer than other hitters.

An outstanding baseball hitting drill is to visualize four baseballs being pitched to you when you are batting, instead of just one. They are one after another, and maybe two inches apart. The batter who keeps his bat in the hitting zone longer, will have a better chance to hit all four of the baseballs. A batter that does NOT keep the bat in the hitting zone long enough would probably only be able to hit the first ball and not the next three. Getting back to one baseball, the LONGER you keep the bat in the hitting zone, the BETTER chance you have to make solid contact.

Line Drives Are The Goal

Try to hit line drives and the doubles, triples and home runs will come, as well as the good batting average to go along with the extra base hits! If you hit it squarely, you have a very good chance for a hit. If you slightly top the ball, it may be a hard grounder for a hit. If you are slightly under the ball, it just might be an extra base hit. Many great power hitters say over and over again that the home runs almost happen "by accident." The reason is that they simply try to hit a line drive. If they are a hair "under" the ball, it may very well leave the yard. It may seem a little ironic, but it's true. They truly try to hit line drives and yet they are tremendous power hitters!

I'm well aware that some power hitters try strictly for the home run, and in almost all their cases, they have lower batting averages that reflect just that. Why not try to have both a high batting average as well as some power to go along with it?

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

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


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

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.


Hurricane Video


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.

Hurricane Batting Machine - Training Tip of the Day

The Derek Jeter Hurricane Machine is a high speed batting practice device. It can allows a batter to take up to 15 swings a minute. When doing high speed drills, always remember these improtant points:

(1) The batter should not work so fast that he or she get sloppy with hitting mechanics. It is better to take 5 good swings than to take 20 sloppy swings that can lead to the development of bad hitting habits. The batter should simply take the time to reset between swings. The batter should practice his or her pre-pitch routine so often that it becomes naturala and instinctive.

(2) The batter should make sure to read the contact the bat makes on each swing. Was the ball hit a linedrive, pop-up or ground ball. This feedback should be used to perfect a strong linedrive swing that generates maxiumum power.

(3) The batter must remember that the Hurricane Machine operates on a wrap-and-unwrap action. The batter must allow the machine to unwrap between swings or the powerbands will become stressed and break. The batter simply should allow the machine to pass at least 2 times between swings and on every 5th swing the batter should aloow the machine to unwrap or unwind completely. This will protect the powerbands and extend their life expectancy. A set of powerbands should last months if the batter or batters using the machine remember this tip.

The Hurricane Machine is unmatched when it comes to helping a batter increase his or her batting average. It is one of the most productive batting trainers that money can buy. It is 100% Guaranteed to Improve Bat Speed and Skill. Good Luck to You and Your Team! Have a great day, Nick