I am your constant companion.I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.I am completely at your command.Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,And I will be able to do them quickly and...
Bunting is a very big part of the game 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...
You’ve reasonably heard someone say, “hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult things to do in sports.” They weren’t exaggerating. Hitting a baseball is not an easy task, and it gets harder and harder the older you get. By the period you...
Swinging late is often a problem with young players. One reason for swinging late involves the hitter not knowing where he is supposed to make contact with the ball. Many want to make contact over the plate instead of in front of it. Carrying the ball to the plate and...
Stepping out generally begins because of a fear of the ball and may continue later simply because of habit. To help correct this habit, place a ball glove or something flat to the left of the hitter’s stride area (for right-handers), so they know when they are...
There is a lot of controversy concerning the angle of the bat when hitting a pitched ball. Based on watching film of great hitters and what has proved successful for the kids I work with (and in line with Ted Williams’ approach to hitting), a level swing is not...
Young players need to practice their stride (or the little step taken before they swing the bat). The stride should be: 1.Straight.Unless they are using an open or closed stance, the stride should be at the pitcher. When opened or closed, the stride should put them in...
One of the most important areas of offensive baseball is the ability to make good contact with two strikes. The most successful pitchers have the ability to “turn it up a notch” when they have the hitter in a two-strike situation. Unfortunately, many...
Coaches always look for any edge to win a game, and one way to do that is to control the inside part of home plate. Whoever controls the inside part of the plate wins the game, not only for the pitcher, but also for the hitter, and this philosophy makes better...
In starting these drills, it is assumed that no one has had formal instruction in sliding, that the players are poor sliders, amateur sliders and even “afraid” to slide. Basic to beginning instruction is finding a comfortable side for sliding, knowing how...
