Coaching Little League Baseball - Use a team motto to build team esteem.

Many coaches have a phrase or team motto that they use to "rally" their team. This motto is often said when the team breaks out of the huddle. This motto is often displayed on a team t-shirt.

Here are some suggested mottos or slogans. You can use them to help come up with your own original slogan.

Suggested Team Mottos:
• “Expect to work, Expect to Win!”
• “A Season with a Reason”
• “There is no “I” in TEAM”
• “Work More, Win More”
• “Work Like a Champion”

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Training Your Mind For Baseball

By Ray Peters

Baseball is a sport which requires the perfection of body mechanics. A baseball player who is in control of his mechanics dramatically increases the consistently of his performance. Practice is of course the most critical aspect, in baseball, to retaining control over your pitching or hitting mechanics. You can tune your body to perform the way it should through practice, but equally important is to train the mind. The difference between quality and average lies in the mind of the player. A baseball player with a strong mind dramatically increments his chances of performing to the peak of his potential. Here are a few tips to working the mind for better performance when it matters, on the field.

Tip1: Practice Silencing the Mind: This technique is a brainchild of zen. The mindless state. When the mind is still your focus on the present mind increases by hundred folds. A noisy mind is the biggest distraction to performance. It is easy said than done though, to silence the mind is not an easy task. Samurai's were known to silence their mind before they went to war to ensure that they were immune to the distractions of emotional interference. Meditation was their method of silencing the mind. In the modern age of coaching mediation is not a alien from warm-ups. In baseball players are taught to meditate to still their mind even before starting their physical warm-ups.

Tip2: Practice Visualization: Before the actual act should come the imagination of what you want the end result to be. This gives focus and clarity of purpose. In your own mind you might be sure of which pitching lane you want to concentrate on but unless you visualize the process of actually pitching the ball through the angle to go through the pitching lane, it may not succeed. Golfers like Tiger woods are known to visualize the entire shot to the end before going for the putt. Its like playing a picture in your mind about the entire sequence of events. This gives focus to your mind. A calm mind will develop a sense of purpose and execute it to perfection. Many baseball players practice this technique of visualization before taking their pitching or hitting stance.

Tip3: The Art Of Concentration: Silencing the mind is one part of enhancing your concentration the second part is to be aware of your body. When you are playing unconsciously you tend to repeat mistakes of the past. Your mind even if its still would work on subconscious control. When you become aware of your body and the immediate surroundings you create a sense of stillness and awareness at the same time. From the awareness comes the instinct to act. Have you ever seen baseball players who are in the zone, you can feel a force of awareness radiating through them. Baseball is as much a mind game as a physical game.

Tip4: Going For the Kill: Your mind should not be meek before entering the field. There should not be a feeling of dullness or lack of purpose. The sense of a hunter going for the hunt should be the vital feeling present inside your body. Baseball like any other sport is a test of character. There is no space for weakness. With such a mindset you will never succumb to pressure and no amount of distraction from the opposition will ever faze you.

Building mind semantics to conquer sports is like entering the zen in sports. Hope this article helps. If you are into baseball you can check out the wide range of baseball gear available at Sport Diamond

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

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BatAction Batting Trainer - Can double a kids batting average

If you are looking for the machine to give your team an advantage over the compeition, you can stop looking! You have found it! The BatAction Machine is 100% Guaranteed to improve skill and batspeed. We don't sell machines! We sell success!

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Do You Have a "Cheat Sheet" for Your Hitters?

By Chip Lemin

Hello Coaches,

I have posted three drills and a small cheat sheet for hitting. I find it very helpful to catalog all my drills on my computer,print them off and save them.When I want to spice up practice, I get them out and make a new practice planner.

Know the Count drill

Station a coach seated behind an L-screen approximately 30 feet away from the hitter (coach should wear helmet and stay well behind the screen.) The coach can pinpoint the corners and move the ball up and down throwing a high percentage of strikes from this distance. The hitter is forced to react quickly.

To further the effectiveness of the drill we have the coach shout a count just before delivering the ball (i.e. 3-0, or 1-2, etc.). This forces the hitter to think about the type of hitting situation that they are confronted with before offering. For example, in a 3 ball situation the hitter may decide to take a questionable pitch for ball 4 whereas in a 2 strike situation they must guard the dish. Also we will vary the situational hitting by having the coach shout out where runners are as well as out count. This further reinforces the concept of productive at bats while giving a mental focus to what can otherwise become a repetitive drill.

Be sure to have your coaches mix in off speed pitches at anytime in the count. Chang ups are off speed pitches. This helps your hitters to keep balanced so that they hit this pitch. Mix in bunting situations also to work on squeezes and sacrifice bunts.

Bunt Pepper

This is a great drill to develop bunting skills. The drill involves 5 players in each group. The players may use the pivot or square around bunt technique. The batter must bunt the ball to each of the four fielders.

The hitter bunts one to each and then takes the left fielders (facing the batter) place. The right fielder comes to bat and the other move over one place. The coach should emphasize that the batters bunt the ball softly to the fielders. The bat should be keep at a 45 degree angle and the batter should change height by bending the knees.

Fielders should catch the ground ball, bare-handed, out front, then square the feet around and throw the next strike to the hitter. This makes a great warm up drill for the beginning of practice. Defensive skills should also be stressed.

Full Count Game

This is a great game simulation drill that teaches hitters to be aggressive and to hit under pressure. Two teams face off in a 7 inning game with each batter coming into the box with a full count. Action is quick and players must be alert both offensively and defensively. The count may also be changed to 2-2 and each team can be given one out to start the inning.

This game can be done indoors also. Just have coaches determine whether or not it was a hit where the runners would have gone based on the hitter's skill level. It is a great change of pace drill. The kids will love it.

Hitting Cheat Sheet

Coach your players to learn the strike zone, so they don't swing at bad pitches. It sounds like common sense, but don't assume anything. Be sure players select a bat they can handle. It's better for bat to be on the light side than too heavy.

Keep your front shoulder and chin tucked in, and your hands back. Turn your head so that both eyes are on the pitcher - don't look around your nose. Stay on the balls of your feet - keep off your heels. Keep your head still.

In order to get the bat started, move your hands back slightly as the pitcher is getting ready to release the ball. This is known as the"trigger". If you like the pitch, go ahead and hit it. If you don't like the pitch, then hold up your swing.

Take a short step and stride - a long stride will only throw you off balance Use this small stride as a timing step. Many hitters widen their stances and take no stride at all.

Stay on top of the ball. A slight downward swing allows this and is a good way to keep from upper-cutting. Keeping the front shoulder in and down also allows a hitter to get the bat head out in front and prevents dropping the back shoulder.

Learn to hit your strength. Every hitter has strength, just as every hitter has a weakness. Instruct your hitters to look for their pitch to hit. When they get it, don't let it get away. Concentrate on solid, hard contact. Your players do not have to pull the ball if the pitch is middle out

There are many ways and drills to help your young hitters. Always be open to new ideas as a coach. That's one of the secrets that the elite coaches use. They never think that they know it all. I hope you find these quick hitter tips useful.

Coach Chip

Chip Lemin has been a promoter of youth baseball since they started using aluminum bats. That's a long time. I have witnessed many good people get into coaching without solid coaching skills and it is not fun for them or the kids.Today's newer coaches are also being shortchanged on sportsmanship, like there is none. Visit my site to sign up for a insightful, informational, free coaching e-course at http://www.baseballecourse.com

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

Baseball Hitting Drills: Using Small Baseballs to Improve Hitting Skill

By: Nick Dixon

Hitting a baseball has often been described as the most difficult task in all of sports. It certainly is a skill that requires a great amount of practice to master. Great hitters are not born, they are made. They have a love for the game, they live to hit, and they never grow tired of hearing the reaction of the fans when they drive one off the wall in left-center for a stand-up double. Players at every level including high school baseball, college baseball and major league baseball must commit themselves to a regiment of daily batting practice if they are to maintain their swing and stay at the top of their game. What gives the great hitters the ability to perform so well under pressure and to dominate their game? What is the one common trait of all great hitters other than a great swing? The answer can be found in their eyes. The great hitters have the ability to focus. They have the ability to see the ball better, to pick it up quicker out of the pitchers hand, and to track it into the zone and off the bat.

Batting practice with Small Baseballs is a proven method of improving the ability of a batter to see and focus on the baseball. The small ball concept has been around for decades. The theory is simple, if you practice hitting a ball much smaller than a baseball, then when you actually are hitting a real baseball, it will look bigger and easier to hit. I was skeptical about this movement when it first came about in the early to mid nineties. But, firsthand experience has made me a believer. I purchased 6 dozen small baseballs last season for my players to use in batting drills and the batting cages. I must admit, I had visions of the small baseballs flying through the netting of our batting cages. That concern proved to be unmerited. During months of use and thousands and thousands of batting practice swings, I never witnessed a single small baseball pass through the net.

Players are always receptive to new ideas and concepts. My players are always eager to see what I come up with next. As the inventor of the hitting stick, BatAction Machine, Hit2win Trainer, and ZipnHit, I often use my team practices to experiment with new ideas and concepts. The players loved the small baseball on first sight. I basically gave them access to them to use in our daily batting cage workouts.They quickly developed their own routine and drills. They quickly adopted a 3-stage progression during their daily batting cage workouts. They used the small baseball in two of our 6 mini-cages. When they hit the small baseball, they would take 12 swings with a Livewire brand training bat, a small barreled bamboo bat. Then they would take 12 swings with the Sweetspot brand training bat. Then they would finish with 12 swings with their regular metal batting cage practice bat. After hitting the small baseballs, they would use regular sized baseballs in the batting cages, taking 48 swings in 4 sets. So the small balls acted as a warm-up or prep work before their regular batting cage workout with regular batting cage balls. The small baseball performed great. Soon, all of our hitters used then on a daily basis. The use of the small baseball greatly improved eye focus, batter concentration, and most of all, it improved batter confidence. There was normal wear and tear on the small balls because they were sometimes used in cage with bare cement floors. If you are looking for a new twist to add to your daily practice routine, I highly recommend small baseballs. I am sure that you will see and experience the same benefits that I did with my team.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has SMALL BASEBALLS at discount prices. 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, the "Hit2win Company". Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon is widely recognized as an expert in the area of baseball training, practice and skill development. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of several of baseball and softball's most popular training products such as the Original BatAction Hitting Machine, SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, Original Hitting Stick, Hit2win Trainer, SKLZ Target Trainer, SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, Batting Cage Builder, the American Baseball Directory and the Hit2win Baseball Coaches Monthly Newsletter. Dixon has 5 blogs related to baseball training including the BaseballCoachingDigest Blog, CoachesBest Training Blog, Hurricane Machine Training Blog, Batting Cage Buyers Blog, and the Bat Action Training Blog

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

Understanding the Baseball Swing

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.

About the Author

Nate Barnett is owner of BMI Baseball http://bmibaseball.com and is based out of Washington State. His expertise is in the area of hitting, pitching, and mental training. Coach Barnett's passion is working with youth in helping expand their vision for their baseball future. After finishing a professional career in the Seattle Mariners Organization, Nate pursued his coaching and motivational training career. His instructional blog is located at http://bmibaseball.com/blog

His new FREE ebook, Toxic Baseball: Are you polluting your game? can be found on the main BMI Baseball website.

Hitting 101, an ebook on complete hitting mechanics will be released by June 1st, 2008. Features include numerous illustrations, video clips, and a special offer to discuss your hitting questions over live on the phone strategy sessions.


BaseballCoachingDigest.com

Baseball Coaching and the Importance of Goals For Team and Player Motivation

By Nick Dixon

There are very few volunteer jobs more challenging, time-consuming or rewarding than being a coach in your local league. There are many four letter words used by coaches that I can not use here. Here I want to discuss the 4 four-letter words that can and will determine the amount of success a coach has during the coming season. The four words are Goal, Plan, Work and Time.

Today the four letter word is G-O-A-L:

The Definition of the word Goal is a simple goal can do wonders to drive a baseball toward success. When you set a goal or goals, you accept the challenge to achieve the goal set. With that challenge comes a commitment and responsibility. Setting goals can improve the focus of the team, bring members and staff closer, and unite the groups in a common cause.

If you have a goal or goals to work for, your season will be like a journey to no where. You must set team goals. The setting of goals should be a team effort. It is suggested that team goals be set during a team function, away from the field. Have a team swim party, cookout, and party soon after the draft. Let the parents and players meet each other and the staff. Then let the players suggest what team goals they see as important for the approaching season. The goals should be set before a single practice or workout. The goals should be written down. It is always a great idea to make each player a printed list of the goals. Take a picture at that first team meeting. Use office publisher to make a sheet having the team name, logo, picture, team roster and the list of the team goals. You may also want to put a team motto on the bottom of the sheet.

The players should post the "Team Goal Sheet" in their bedroom. It is also recommended that a few team rules be included on that sheet.

It is suggested that you often mention your team goals during team practices and games. Use the team goals to motivate your players to focus on the practice activity being done at the present time.

It is always a great idea to have a post season meeting to discuss and review the team goal sheet with the team goals that the team set before the season began. You will briefly discuss the goals not met and why your team came up short on them. You will not single out players, plays, or games. You will briefly mention that if you had worked harder, these goals may have been reached.

In this post season meeting you will mostly discuss the great things done and the goals set and met. You should tell the team how proud you are for the team accomplishments. You may also discuss the hard work and great performance level that led to the achieving of these goals.

You may want to give the players a second Team Sheet with the goals achieved, team record, team photo, roster, and maybe a quote or motto you want them to remember in the off-season.

Suggested team goals:


Win the League Championship
Go Undefeated
Score at least 7 runs each game.
Hold the opponent to 3 runs or less each game
Have a team batting average of .375 or better.
Have perfect attendance at every practice.

Suggested team rules:


Never throw an object in disgust.
Never walk on the field.
Never be late for practice.
Answer the coach with a Yes, Sir or No Sir
Never question an umpires call.
Never sit or lay down on the field during timeouts.
Properly warm-up before every practice and game.

Suggested Team Slogans:


Expect to WORK...Expect to WIN!
A Season with a Reason
There is no I in TEAM
Work More, Win More
Work Like a Champion

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Check out the Bat Action 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, the "Hit2win Company". Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Dixon is widely recognized as an expert in the area of baseball training, practice and skill development. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of several of baseball and softball's most popular training products such as the Original BatAction Hitting Machine, SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, Original Hitting Stick, Hit2win Trainer, SKLZ Target Trainer, SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, Batting Cage Builder, the American Baseball Directory and the Hit2win Baseball Coaches Monthly Newsletter. Dixon has 5 blogs related to baseball training including the BaseballCoachingDigest Blog, CoachesBest Training Blog, Hurricane Machine Training Blog, Batting Cage Buyers Blog, and the Bat Action Training Blog

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

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Teaching Young Baseball Batters to Have Better Eye Focus and Visual Concentration

By Nick Dixon

The eyes of the batter are his greatest asset. The batter must "see and think" with the eyes. A batter can know the count, know the situation, know the pitcher, and know how to swing, but if their eyes are weak or fail them, they will more than like suffer defeat at the plate. How many times have we heard a successful batter say that "I am really seeing the ball right now" or an unsuccessful batter say "I am not picking the ball up. I am not seeing the ball". There are many factors that affect the ability of the batter ability to see the baseball.

Factors and conditions such as the pitchers motion, the amount of sunlight or field lighting, the angle of the sunlight as to the time of day and the background in center field all can hamper or affect the ability of the batter to see the baseball. These factors we have little ability to change. However, we can minimize their affects by improving the ability of the batter to focus or see the baseball.

How should a batter use the eyes during the batting process? Does a batter simply step in the batters box, tap the plate with the bat, and start looking for the ball? Or is there a recommended process or procedure of using the eyes during the batting process? What should the batter focus the eyes on prior to the pitch? If you ask 10 batters, most likely, you will receive 5 different answers. Batters can be taught a technique that can increase the effectiveness and sharpness of eyesight during the batting process.

Batters should use two types of eye focus when batting. Batters should start with a "soft eye focus" to ease tension on the eyes, and then go to a hard eye focus when the pitcher starts the pitching motion. The batter begins the soft focus by looking at an area around the pitchers head and shoulders. The batters may soft focus on the pitchers cap. As the pitcher begins the pitching motion, the batter when then converts to a hard eye focus on the pitching arm shoulder area and the pitchers release point. During this crucial segment of the swing, the batter uses an extreme hard eye focus technique to pick up the ball. Using the soft to hard focus technique, batters tend to not lose concentration, suffer eye strain, and get too up-tight.

Coaching point: good teams and players read and identify certain tendencies by pitchers. The opposing pitcher should be observed and studied to determine his "arm slot" and "ball release point". Players should be doing this "observation" from the dugout and in the on-deck circle. Knowing the delivery motion, timing, and release point of the opposing pitcher allows batters to "pick up" or see the ball much quicker out of the hand of the pitcher. The ability to see the ball earlier increases the chances for a successful at-bat.

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"Baseball Training With the Albert Pujols Sweetspot Batting Training Bat"

While watching the College Baseball Regionals, Super Regionals, and College World Series, last May and June, I witnessed great baseball power hitting displays by some of the best collegiate hitters in baseball. How do great college hitters exert so much power in their swing? How do they drive a 90%2B mph fastball 400%2B feet and perform with such grace under pressure. The answer to this question is simple, they practice, they practice, and they practice. Another simple explanation is that they "get-all-of-the-ball" more often than the average hitter. They use the "sweet spot" of the bat more often than the average player. What is an effective way to teach sweet spot hitting? Coach Dixon describes the benefits of this great new training bat.

Have you ever heard a player return to the dugout after a big hit and say "That felt so good" or "I hit that so perfectly on the sweet spot I didn't even feel it"? What does this mean? What causes this great sensation? It is a widely known that every bat has a sweet spot It is the spot on the bat that maximises the distance and power of a good swing. This is the spot on the bat where contact is made and very little jar or vibration to the hands is felt. There is no sting to the hands when a ball is hit with the bat's sweet spot Contact on the sweet spot provides maximum power contact to the ball and greatly increases the distance and speed of the ball hit. All balls hit below or above the sweet spot can and often do result in a distinct vibration to the hands and fingers. The more times a batter's able to hit the ball with the bat's "sweet spot", the more successful the batter will be. We would like all balls hit to be hit perfectly on the "sweet spot".

How can coaches better teach players to use the "sweet spot"? How can players train to use the "sweet spot"? "Sweet spot" swing training can be accomplished easily with a new training bat appropriately called the "Sweetspot" Trainer. This new training bat has a unique design that features a regular bat handle attached to a "sweet spot" only barrel. This unique design forces the player to get the barrel through the zone and to hit the ball on the "sweet spot" every time. This new trainer is great for soft-toss, live-arm BP, and cage work. It is also great for hitting off the tee.

If you have not incorporated the "Sweetspot" training bat into your teams or players daily practice routine, I highly recommend that you do so. You will be amazed at the increase in line drives and hard hit balls that you see during batting practice and games. Players gain a high level of confidence when they use this new training bat. The "Sweetspot" also adds an element of focus often absent in batting tee, soft-toss, and batting cage workouts. The players must keep their eyes on the ball more intensely and they must concentrate on every swing to insure the ball hits perfectly on the bat's sweet spot.

The CoachesBest Baseball Store has the BASEBALL SWEETSPOT BAT at dicount prices. 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.

Baseball Hitting Coach: Tips for correcting common hitting flaws

"Wrapping" The Bat
PROBLEM:
The batter has the bad habit of "wrapping" or cocking the bat behind the head. The batter's bat speed is decreased becuase the batter now has to bring the bat farther to get to the ball.
SOLUTION:
The bat should be held at a 45 degree angle to vertical. Refer to the perfect swing page of this site for more details on proper bat angle.

Looking At Your Nose
PROBLEM:
The batter does not have the head turned far enough toward the pitcher. This prevents both eyes from picking up the ball and the batter has difficulty seeing the ball. The back eye is blocked from seeing the ball by the batter's nose, thus the batter is "looking at his nose". The batter is basically hitting "one eyed". This is another reason for batter failure.
SOLUTION:
The batter simply turns the head toward the pitcher until the batters face is facing the pitcher and both eyes are seeing the pitcher fully. A good saying often used is "show the pitcher both of your ears". This will always make sure the head is in the correct position.


Poor Grip
PROBLEM:
Improper grip reduces bat speed and bat control. Two simple grip mistakes cause this problem. The batter's hands are slowed by a grip that is too "tense" or too tight or the batter is gripping the bat with the palms rather than the fingers.
SOLUTION:
The batter should strive to stay loose with the hands. Effort should be made to reduce tensions and use a relaxed grip. Slight movement of the fingers may serve to keep the "grip stress" down. The batter should hold the bat in the fingers away from the palms. This grip allows maximum hand speed and bat control.

Overstriding
PROBLEM:
Overstriding is a common mistake. Batters that often get "jammed" may be in fact causing their own problems by overstriding. Overstriding causes the batter's head and eyes to drop often causing the batter to "loose" the ball during the swing. Tracking the ball visually is made very difficult. The batter's overstriding can also cause the swing to be long. A batter's wide feet that are too wide tend to prevent hip involvement during the swing.
SOLUTION:
Batters should use a short or a "no stride" approach. A short stride of 3 to 6 inches is often enough. In fact simply picking the front foot up and putting it back down is all the stride that is needed.

"Hitch" In The Swing
PROBLEM:
Batters that have a "hitch" in their swing often have difficulty hitting the fastball. They often get "jammed" and are often late on medium speed pitches. The batter is not "triggering" correctly. The batter is dropping the hands before taking them to the "power position" or what is often called the "launch position". This lowering of the hands causes the batter to be late to the strike zone.
SOLUTION:
Take the hands slightly up and then back rather than dropping them.

"Locking" The Front Arm
PROBLEM:
The batter "locks" or straightens out the front arm when the hands and bat are taken back to the "power" or "trigger" position. This flaw causes the batter to be late starting the swing. It also cause the the bat speed to be too slow and increases the bat's distance to the ball. Locking the front arm also often causes premature wrist roll.
SOLUTION:
Keep a bend in the front elbow. Keep the hands together and working together. Keep the hands close to the body and do not take them back so far that front arm flex is lost.

AdvancedSkillsTee.com

Questions often asked about the BatAction Hitting Machine

Does it rotate in a complete circle?

Yes, the machine rotates in complete 360 degree circle. It rotates multiple times upon contact. When a high
school player hits it, it may rotate 3 times. When a 12 year-old hits it, it may rotate only 1 1/2 times. This
feature makes it a long-term investment that grows with a player. You can purchase a BatAction Machine when a player is in elementary school and continue to use it throughout that players career in
high school or even longer.

How big is the area required for set-up?

The machine rotates in a 8 1/2 ft. circle. You must allow eaxtra space for the batter to work.

Does it have a motor?

No it does not have a motor. It does not even require electricity. It is completely self-contained and can be
set-up almost anywhere. It has its own energy sorce or ball-return mechanism. It uses a set of powerbands
that stop the balls forward motion and bring it back toward the batter simular to a regular pitch. The batter
hits the balls as it passes. The hitter is allowed to hit a moving ball at any desired speed. This fast moving
ball makes this machine extremely fufilling, highly productive, and entertaining method of practice.


How fast a pitch can it simulate?

In determining speed, the more bands, the quicker the ball will return. However, too many powerbands tend
to make the return speed too fast for even advanced collegiate hitters. This machine can be set to challenge
all ages or skill levels. The best powerband setting is when a single powerband is used. With one powerband
the faster the hitters bat speed, the faster the ball returns. Therefore, advanced hitters are allowed faster
hitting speeds than younger players. The machine is self-adjusting to the level of the user. One band allows
the ball to easily rotate multiple times. This allows hitters to get in a rymthn that allows the hitter to have
time to reset and prepare for the next swing.

BatAction.com

Remembering the "Johnny Bench Baseball Batter-Up" Baseball Trainer

My son loved absolutely loved his Johnny Bench batting trainer. It was so simple and easy to use. He would hit that tiny rubber ball with the molded seams and it would wrap around the pole, return, and he would hit it again. Only God really knows, how many times he watched that ball circle that pole. It was the youth hit trainer that made him a great hitter. It made him a major leaguer in his own mind. He would imagine himself being Johnny Bench. With 2 outs, bases loaded, and the World Series on the line, he had a lot of pressure on him for a 12 year old. He would track that ball around the pole as if it was a 90+ miles per hour fastball. He learned to concentrate on the ball and to keep his head still during his swing.

It was tough be a big league hitter in those days. When that ball got to him, he would hit it so hard that he would almost come out of his shoes. Grand Slam, he would yell! Then he would trot around the backyard smiling and basking in the glory that only a World Series title could bring. It was so sweet to be named the MVP of the whole world. Baseball was fun and his Johnny Bench trainer was his pitcher. As an only child and with no neighbors living close by, it was his best friend and his way of having a great make believe baseball game in his own backyard. It was those backyard games that developed the hitting skills he needed to become a great little league all-star, high school standout, and college baseball player.

Back in those days training aid manufacturing technology was a bit behind the times. There were certain things about the JB trainer that were a bit frustrating. The major problem was those confounded rubber bands. They would dry-rot and break. Eventually most people made their own from cut pieces of old tire inner tubes. Eventually the ball broke off the rod and the JB trainer playing days at our house were over. And the big mass of concrete it was mounted in proved to be a major problem to move when wanted it gone.

Years ago I looked at young players and I realized just how much they too needed a good wholesome home trainer that was fun, practical, entertaining, and productive to hit. That need is the reason I invented the BatAction Hitting Machine and the Hurricane Hitting Machine. Both of these patented batting machines have similar ball motion paths, high speed ball movement, and both offer the same levels of fun and excitement. These popular machines feature adjustable ball speeds and height settings for all ages and ability levels. If you experienced the Johnny Bench trainer as a youngster and appreciate what it did for you, you will want your child or grandchild to have the same opportunities. If you are looking for a rotational hitting machine at a good price, I recommend the BatAction and Hurricane Hitting Machines. I know that you will love the results that you see from regular backyard workouts on these hitting trainers. Good luck till next time, Nick Dixon.

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BatAction Hitting Machines - Three Things that Impress Coaches the most

There are three things that are really impressive about this machine.

1)The first thing that you notice when you see the machine is the high speed ball movement. The machine has a moving ball that rotates in a 8 1/2 ft. circle. The height and speed of the ball's movement can be adjusted to match the age and skill level of the hitter. This moving ball makes practice a lot more challenging, productive and fun. It also accelerates skill and batspeed development.

2)The second thing that grabs your attention about the machine is that it gives the hitter instant high quality feedback. Just like with a real ball, the hitter can quickly see the quality and power of each swing. This instant feedback is vital for rapid skill development. This feedback is what makes this team or "practice alone" machine so effective in quality swing development.

3)The third thing you really notice is that players really love hitting the BatAction Machine. The machine offers a wide range of drills. Players especially love the "streak drill", which may be the best "machine drill" in all of baseball and softball today! The speed and movement of the ball make practicing more fun. Therefore players want to practice more often. That's where the machine has picked up it's nickname, "Backyard Basketball Goal For Hitters".


Attention Coaches and Parents!!! If you have been looking for the "edge" to give your favorite player or team an advantage over the competition, YOU CAN STOP LOOKING! YOU HAVE FOUND IT!

BatAction.com

The BatAction Hitting Machine's highly acclaimed 20 Minute Workout

The batter should make sure to spend at least two minutes stretching and warming up before this 20 minute workout begins.

Drill 1 - Top Hand Drill - 10 swings Batter should work fast taking his swings as quickly as possible. Each swing counts whether its a hit or miss.
Drill 2 - Bottom Hand Drill - 10 swings Batter should work fast taking his swings as quickly as possible. Take 10 swings only. If you hit or miss the ball it counts as a swing.
Drill 3 - Hip-Turner Drill - 10 swings Batter should make sure that the ball is directed at his front side back pocket. The batter should take a swing every 10 seconds.
Drill 4 - Inside Contact Drill - 15 swings The batter should make sure that the ball is directed at his back foot in the inside contact position. A swing should be taken every 10 seconds.
Drill 5 - Regular Contact Drill - 15 swings The batter should make sure that the ball is directed at his belly button. A swing should be taken every 10 seconds.
Drill 6 - Away Contact Drill - 15 swings The batter should make sure that the ball is directed at his back foot. A swing should be taken every 10 seconds.
(Note: The balance of the remaining time should be used to do the following three drills)

Drill 7 - Bataction BP
Drill 8 - Hitting Streak
Drill 9 - Rapid Fire

Order Now!
Don't Delay!
Every day you
delay is a
"missed"
practice day!

BatAction Machine Owners and Coaches - Customer Feedback

Coach,

Just wanted to let you know that we received our BatAction in December and my son has been hitting on it about 3 days a week since. WOW!!! What an improvement in his strength and focus. His favorite drill is to see how many times he can hit it without missing.
I bought it to improve his ability to track the ball.
With practice starting this week I wish I had about 3 more of these machines to get the whole team using it.
Thanks again for developing this awesome product!

P.A. Manteca, CA


I have to let you and your company know what a huge difference your BatAction Machine has made to our team. I coach a 16 and under girls fast pitch softball team. In February I ordered the BatAction and received it about 1 week later. Our practices started in late March and our season began June 1st. Your machine has helped a team that over the past few years has managed only 8 wins, this year I have 2 girls hitting over .600 and 5 girls hitting over .400. To make a bright picture even brighter, we're in first place currently at 5-1. Your machine is portable,easy to take apart and setup which makes it a great asset. I am so happy I found your website and purchased this machine. It was the single best investment I have made for our team.

D.I. Kutztown, PA


Hi Coach,

I just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know how happy I am with your Bataction Machine. My son's average went from about .300 to well over .700. His onbase % is over .900. He makes well over solid contact with every at bat. I know I'm being selfish by not taking it to the park, but I don't like giving my secrets away. My players come to my house to use it. Our team batting average is about .680 with OB % about .800. Let the other teams do their own homework! I know these numbers are great but we're talking about 6 year olds. My son disappeared the other night; I found him in his underwear, out in the driveway slugging away on his BatAction. I really enjoy your products.

Thanks Again,
B.H. Vienna, OH

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BatAction Hitting Machine - 3 Huge benefits that it offers players

(1) The BATACTION SELF-TRAINER™ HITTING MACHINE's patented design gives the batter instant feedback as to the power and quality of every swing. The player immediately knows if a line drive, ground ball or fly ball was hit. This instant feedback is vital for rapid skill and bat speed development! The BATACTION SELF-TRAINER™ is well known and respected for developing a powerful line-drive swing!

(2) BATACTION SELF-TRAINER™ closely simulates real hitting conditions. The ball's speed and large path of circular movement requires the hitter to really concentrate. The BATACTION SELF-TRAINER™ builds incredible levels of confidence, fast!

(3) The BATACTION SELF-TRAINER™ HITTING MACHINE offers a wide variety of hitting drills and workout options. There is a drill manual included with each machine purchased. Players can select the drills that will help them overcome their weaknesses if they have one. The drill manual also outlines the highly popular "20 Minute BatAction Workout" that was designed by the machine's inventor, Nick Dixon, to provide the future prospect with a total workout that improves every known fundamental needed for hitting success! Should you have a question about a drill our staff is eager to help you. Call toll free, 1-877-431-4487.

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Bat Speed: What It Is And How To Get It

Author: Jon Doyle

The term "bat speed" is all the rage these days among players, coaches, instructors and parents alike. Everyone is searching for the "Holy Grail" of hitting...bat speed.

But wait, not so fast. Bat Speed is important, but a VERY generalized term. Let's break it down so you understand it and how to develop it...

When most people say "bat speed" they picture Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield or any MLB with world-class bat speed putting a hurting on a baseball. This is obviously the goal every hitter has. But please understand this is the end result, the culmination of hard work, being a student of the game and yes, of course, great genetics.

It's not like you can take your average high school player, add 5-10 mph on their bat speed and all of a sudden they are Manny Ramirez. It simply doesn't work that way. While you can argue that player would be better, he still would have average mechanics and vision.

Now, I do believe if you increase your bat speed you have a better shot at raking than if you didn't. It certainly gives you a leg up on the competition and allows for a certain amount of error, which as you know will help any hitter.

What I'm worried is bat speed is becoming like the radar gun for pitchers. Now all someone cares about is how fast their bat speed is on the bat radar machine. One question…Who cares?

Swinging as hard as you can in a cage without having to make contact with a ball has absolutely zero carryover to hitting. Sure your "bat speed" may have increase, but your mechanics are now down the toilet. I've seen it happen over and over and over again. And despite my warning the players, coaches, instructors and parents are left shaking their heads why Johnny is barely hitting his weight.

Hard to believe, yes. But, sadly, also true.

I'll make this statement and some self-proclaimed "expert" will argue with me but "You don't need world-class bat speed to be a world-class hitter". It certainly helps, but is not mandatory...

However..."You do need world-class Game Bat Speed to be a world-class hitter"

That's right "game bat-speed". Or how quick you can dial it up when you actually have to see the ball, locate it, decide what pitch it is, figure out if it's in your zone and then pull the trigger. All in the matter of milliseconds. Some call it natural hitting ability. Others call it instinct. It's possible to have average, or even below average "bat speed" and have outstanding game bat speed.

And it's VERY common to see players with great bat speed during practice and batting practice and then be terrible hitters. These players are called 5 o'clock hitters because they mash at 5 o'clock (the time pro teams take BP before a 7pm game) and stink when game time rolls around.

You don't want to be a 5 o'clock hitter do you? Nobody likes that guy...

Here are 3 things you need to work on if you want to develop game bat speed, which is the REAL money-maker in hitting...

1. Baseball-Specific Vision

I don't care how fast your bat is, if you don't pick up the ball early you can forget about becoming a great hitter. Sadly, 99.9% of coaches and instructors get this ALL wrong. You can't get it by sitting in front of a computer screen, hitting different colored baseballs (did I miss something? Does a baseball change color?) or any of the gimmicks sold today.

2. Proper Dynamic Flexibility and Range of Motion

This one is so overlooked its ridiculous. Coaches and instructors spend hours upon hours trying to force hitters to do things their body simply cannot do. You can teach rotational hitting till you're blue in the face, if the hitter who you're teaching does not have proper dynamic range of motion throughout their hips, shoulder and lower body you can all but forget they will EVER pick up the mechanics. It's IMPOSSIBLE! Spend time developing dynamic flexibility and range of motion before you begin to engrain poor mechanics that will be impossible to break.

3. Ability to Generate Force

Here's another one that the greats do naturally and the coaches and instructors miss. If you can't generate force from WITHIN you won't be able to put a hurtin' on the ball. You'll simply be a "soft contact" hitter, unable to generate game bat speed and put the ball into play with authority.

Learn correct strength and conditioning drills to do with your players in order to develop this. Not machines, not stupid "balance" exercises or bodybuilding workouts. Specific methods that will develop world-class force generation.

Get these three aspects in order and you're well on your way to explosive game bat speed and huge triple-crown category numbers!

About the Author
Jon Doyle, MA, CSCS is considered the world's foremost authority of effective baseball training. Make sure to visit his website to discover the most effective baseball drills

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Baseball Coaching and the Importance of Goals For Team and Player Motivation

Baseball Coaching and the Importance of Goals For Team and Player Motivation

There are very few volunteer jobs more challenging, time-consuming or rewarding than being a coach in your local league. There are many four letter words used by coaches that I can not use here. Here I want to discuss the 4 four-letter words that can and will determine the amount of success a coach has during the coming season. The four words are Goal, Plan, Work and Time.

Read this article at BaseballCoachingDigest.com