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GETTING INTO THE PROPER BATTING STANCE
Getting into the proper batting stance
This month's tip is written by a great friend of The Batter's Box - Chris Carter, Owner of the Coastal Baseball Academy in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
843-236-9993
chriscarter@coastalbaseballacademy.com
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There is no such thing as one correct batting stance. There are things, however, that we all must do to get to a good contact position. We all watch major league baseball and see a different batting stance with every player. There is one stance that every major leaguer does get to, and that is at the contact position. This is the moment of the swing at which a player will make contact with the ball. The main points of being in the proper body position at contact are head down, balanced body, front foot down and locked out, weight behind the front knee, and bottom hand staying inside the baseball enabling the hands to get to the palm-up/palm-down position. Having the best batting stance for each athlete will help in getting to all the main points at contact.
The ideal batting stance for all players must be comfortable. Many young athletes play other sports; these sports can help teach a correct batting stance. Every athlete has his/her ideal athletic position or stance. How do you guard someone in basketball? How does a linebacker setup in football? These are good athletic positions. Baseball is no different.
Getting into your batting stance begins with the feet. Think of building a batting stance the same way you would build a house, we begin with the foundation. As a hitter our foundation is our feet. The feet should be a little wider than shoulder width apart and the toes in a straight line to the pitcher. The knees should be slightly bent enabling the hitter to get closer to a good athletic stance. The second place that needs to be bent is at the waist. This will help the eyes move over the toes The head positioning is key, the eyes need to be level and squared up to the pitcher in order to see the ball easily. The body is now in a good athletic stance.
The bat should feel comfortable to the hitter. A bat too heavy or light will affect the way you hit. Pick out one that feels good. A common misconception is a heavier bat will make the ball go farther. The truth is bat speed makes the ball go farther. A bat too heavy will drag through the hitting zone and decrease the chance of hitting it solid. Grip the bat in your fingers, not your hands, this will help loosen your wrists and help control the bat better. Take your stance with a good grip and keep your elbows down! The back elbow is a big key to a good swing, if it is too high it will affect your swing in a negative way.
Now that the hitter is in a good stance, remind them to be confident. Confidence is huge when trying to hit. When a hitter is in the batter's box with many different thoughts going through his/her mind, the chance for success decreases. There is one thing that a hitter should be thinking when in the batter's box, and that is 'see the ball.' Be loose, have fun, and see the ball...good things will happen!
Remember there are many different philosophies in hitting, as coaches and parents, keep it simple. Baseball is a great game, let's keep it simple and fun for younger players and it will always be a great game!
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Running All Year is a Key to Speed
Professional Advice from Professional Trainer Martin Rooney
Thursday, April 10, 2006
Every day, I receive questions from coaches and athletes asking what I think are some key ingredients to becoming a faster, more successful athlete. I always start my answers with one word: consistency.
Consistency must be a principle underlying your speed work if you are ever to reach your athletic potential. Without consistency in your training, there will be periods of time during the year where you are actually getting slower. Even though you may be lifting weights and think that is enough, you can’t neglect running and speed work.
The most successful athletes that I have encountered at the Parisi Speed School adopted the principle of consistency when it concerns speed training. Even if they are performing only one or two speed workouts per week throughout the year, they are still going to improve performance. Each workout that you perform throughout the year is another small step toward your goals. Think about it, every little thing you do or do not do is either getting you closer, or further away, from the prize.
When an athlete stops speed work for portions of the year, that athlete’s nervous and muscular systems lose the ability to produce fast, powerful contractions and the coordination that is required for perfect technique. Science has shown that as little as one week without speed work can start to slow performance and make the road back to peak performance a more difficult one. In addition to this, athletes that are not training at all, or are solely working on strength training without speed, are at greater risk for injury. Their muscles are simply not prepared for the velocity of the contractions during eventual practices and games.
As with anything you want to achieve in life, nothing can replace consistent work toward that goal. We all know that speed is a skill, and to master any skill, there must be continuous practice. Now get to work!
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