How to Improve on Your Baseball Pitching Velocity

How to Improve on Your Baseball Pitching Velocity

By Nisha Sabbik

If you want to increase your speed you need to know your present level of fitness. You need to prepare a fitness program. The fitness program should include exercises for explosive power work, flexibility, stability and endurance. Ask a trainer to access you're throwing procedure so that you can improve on inefficiency and energy leaks. Set up a principle centered program. Principle centered is a program that works on all disciples of pitching. Ask your trainer to keep a test for you on both the conditioning side and throwing mechanics side. Break your throwing division into 4 segments like off season, pre-season, in-season and post-season. When you're setting up goals for velocity do work on principal centered and physical conditioning.

Try to change your speed. If you want to improve on your velocity you should change speed of your pitches. By changing the speed a 70 mph fastball may appear as 90 mph fastball. From a very young age we use only arm and shoulders to throw a baseball. Because of this, you face a lot of shoulder injuries. You should change your perspective. When the throw needs more velocity try using bigger muscle groups. Learn to pitch from the ground up. Velocity comes from forces added to the ball. These forces come from momentum in your lift leg and your push off the ground. You must try to transfer these forces into the ball.

If young pitchers lift their leg they fall towards the target. This causes poor velocity and arm injury. Timing and efficiency of weigh transfer, during delivery, is the essence of velocity. This is where the velocity lives. The most important thing to increase velocity is to work on torque in the core. The core is the area above the knees to below the chest. This area has the strongest muscles in the body. So you should use this part to increase velocity. If you do not work on this area, then shoulder and elbow will be forced to hold the torque needed to generate velocity.

Try using pull perspective instead of throwing. Pull perspective is the amount of weight you are pulling. The more the better. The best way to work on pull perspective is by thinking that you are not holding the ball but a towel or resistance tubing. Proper momentum is very important to transfer good velocity. If you leave any momentum in your body, then you have left some velocity behind. If you face any injury while playing it can be recovered quickly if you follow a balanced alkaline based diet. These are green vegetables which help restore the PH levels in your system. Diet is very important to recovery. These are just some of the tips for developing efficient and effective velocity, without sacrificing the body in return.

Nisha is a Copywriter of baseball pitching target, fast pitch softball bats. She written many articles in various topics.For more information visit: softball pitching techniques, baseball pitching training.contact she at malar.article@gmail.com

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

Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible abt speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

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To Swing Or Not To Swing

To Swing Or Not To Swing

By Joe Brockhoff

Visualize a bat swinging. The club head is moving and arcing as it approaches the ball for contact. This is what most people visualize when they think about "swinging". However, swinging is just not a good idea. It doesn't allow for the hitter to have the best chance for maximum contact.

So, whether coaching youth baseball or older, here's one of our baseball coaching tips: A better idea to teach would be-no arcing or swinging the bat to make contact with the ball. But rather, DRIVE the bat in a straight line to make contact.

In simple words, we do not swing the bat to hit the ball! We should DRIVE the bat to the ball in a straight line to get contact with the ball. We get contact, and then the bat swings! The bat should never arc until after contact. So a better explanation of a pro-type action is that the batter doesn't swing the bat, HE STROKES IT.

The hitter who uses this stroke, which we refer to as the "pro-stroke", sends the bat in a straight line to contact the ball producing better contact and distance.

You might say..."I've seen major leaguers start with their hands away from their bodies. So it must be good".

And the answer to that is -"Major leaguers make an adjustment. Before they direct the bat towards the pitch, they will pull their hands back to their bodies in the shoulder area. We usually don't see this, because it happens so quickly. But research shows that is exactly what they do."

This is what we call the "PRO STROKE" It is outlined in 8 Hitting steps, which we call The Super 8 Hitting System. Those 8 steps are: Stance, Coil, Stride, Drive, Contact, Extend, Extend Again, and Finish.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his baseball hitting drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting drills to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average. http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com/lcp.

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



Shop CoachesBest.com for your baseball coaching needs including baseball training aids, training videos, and other coaching supplies. Check out the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting machine by SKLZ at HurricaneTrainer.com.

See the “Original” Rotational Hitting Machine at BatAction.com. Are you looking for the perfect trainer to teach proper timing and swing mechanics? You can stop looking and go to HandsBackHitter.com.

Players develop incredible abt speed and confidence when they regularly use the Quick Swing Trainer. See it at QuickSwingTrainer.com. See the world’s most advanced batting tee at AdvancedSkillsTee.com.

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!

Little League Baseball Coaching

Little League Baseball Coaching

By Joe Brockhoff

If we hold our hands up and pop our wrists, we can do that over and over again very quickly. If someone were to throw a punch at us, our hands would quickly and automatically pop up in defense.

As an infielder, we don't have to think about a ball thrown to us. Our hands will react to the direction of the ball and make the catch without having to think about it.

Think of the catcher after he gives the sign. He is taught to frame the pitch. His hands automatically go to the pitch without any thought or direction.

So the hands are auto reactors. Is this good for the hitter? The answer is: No! The hitter who allows his hands to react automatically as his first movement towards the pitch will never have full body support.

When the hands go too early, this is when we hear the coach yell out, "Wait on the pitch!"
Now, let's apply this to our baseball hitting mechanics.

These are the steps:

1. Coil (Load): The hitter collects his weight on the backside
2. Stride: a linear step towards the pitched ball (30-40% of weight transfer)
3. Body Rotation: Hips rotate toward the ball
4. Hands will then, and only then, execute the stroke

Here is one of our best little league baseball coaching tips: "HIPS TAKE US TO THE BALL. HANDS TAKE US THROUGH THE BALL."

So, when we are leaning how to hit a baseball, do we trust the hands? The answer is:

Don't trust the hands. Then, trust the hands. In other words, discipline the hands to wait until we get into the launch position, which is with the hands inside the ball and the hips rotated.

Our hands do not initiate the stroke until we rotate to the pitch. They travel in rotation with the pivot, but they do not commit to the pitch until the rotation is complete. This rotated position with the hands still back is what we call the DRIVE position. It is at this time that the hands will launch.

NOW we can trust them. Let them explode the bat to the ball.

One final note. Remember that when we hit, the hands are in a double lever system. That is, they don't personally go to the ball. They are holding the bat, which goes to the ball. The hands always end up in front of the body. They are responsible for directing the bat to the proper cut line on the pitch.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his baseball hitting drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting drills to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average. http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafMM8J.html.

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

College Baseball Recruiting - Ten Tips to Getting a Scholarship

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College Baseball Recruiting - Ten Tips to Getting a Scholarship

By Gary V Hawkins

Are you dreaming of playing baseball at the college level? College baseball recruiting is very competitive. If you want to make it to the college level, you will have to compete with thousands of other high school baseball players from around the country to get a scholarship.

To make it to the college level, you need to make sure college coaches know about you and your talents. If you are a blue-chip player, that will happen automatically. Let's face it, a kid throwing a 95 mile per hour fastball doesn't need to make sure coaches know about him. Believe me, they will know his name!

For everyone else, you need to do a little work to make sure your name gets out there among college coaches. Here are ten tips you will want to keep in mind when it comes to college baseball recruiting:

1- Start contacting coaches early (sophomore season)
2- Don't rely on your high school coach to make contact with college coaches
3- Decide what geographic location of colleges you are interested in playing for
4- Develop your athletic resume
5- Attend the best baseball showcase camps
6- Play AAU Baseball and/or Legion Ball
7- Attend games at various division levels (Division I, Division II, etc.) and see what level is right for you
8- Check on colleges that offer "select camps" to get even more exposure
9- Check on the requirements to attend a pro try-out camp
10- Market and Promote yourself the right way to college coaches

All of these tips are certainly important and can help you with your goal of reaching the college level. However, the most critical college baseball recruiting tip is by far tip #10. Why? College coaches at all levels need talented baseball players. Most of these coaches don't have huge recruiting budgets, so they have to rely on other ways of finding talented baseball players. Therefore, marketing and promoting your talents to college baseball coaches is not only good for you, it's a great deal for college coaches.

College baseball recruiting is very competitive, but you can come out on top. If you are not currently being recruited, or if you are receiving just a little recruiting attention, you need to spend some time marketing and promoting yourself to college coaches. It will take some effort on your part, but it will pay off richly by allowing you to play the sport you love at the college level.

Gary Hawkins is a well known recruiting and athletic scholarship expert and the author of a popular 17-page free report titled:

"Five Secrets You Must Know To Get Recruited For Athletic Scholarships"

Head over to http://www.recruitedforscholarships.com/freereport.html to get your FREE copy now!

To learn even more about the recruiting and scholarship process and how you can finally start being noticed by college coaches just visit http://www.recruitedforscholarships.com where we provide all of this and much more!

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

Baseball Training – Technology Enhances Equipment

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Baseball Training – Technology Enhances Equipment

Baseball training has made tremendous strides in recent years due to the technological advances of baseball softball training equipment. As an adjunct to coaching and mentoring, softball baseball training equipment can produce amazing results for hitters and pitchers through repetition and feedback. The Batters Edge™ and the VLM Pitchtracker are the most advanced hitting and pitching products available on the market today.

Baseball Training – Repetition Keys Performance

Muscle memory and skills training are the two major ingredients in successful performance outcomes. We perform functions daily that have been engrained through repetition. For example, piano players utilize skills training and muscle memory acquired through repetitive actions in order to achieve high performance levels. In much the same way, baseball hitting drills and softball hitting drills can effect superb results based on muscle memory and skills training.

Baseball Training – Good Practice Habits Buoy Outcome

As youngsters we are taught by our parents and coaches the basic techniques of baseball training. Parents often engage in hitting drills in baseball with their youngsters, or they may participate in softball hitting drills. In softball/baseball training, repetition keys muscle memory, which is the memory used by the muscle sets involved in a particular activity. In the same way that we adopt a particular penmanship through muscle memory, hitters can develop good technique through repetitive skills training.

Baseball Training – Technology Advances Muscle Memory

Through technological advancement, players of all ages can develop the muscle memory and skills training necessary to excel. Historically, Mom may have been able to provide some softball batting training for her daughter, while Dad worked on softball stride training at the plate. Mentors, however, can assist just so much.

Today, there are baseball training equipment supports that will facilitate softball/baseball training. A-Game Technology has recently developed two baseball training supports that are revolutionizing the way the game is taught.

Baseball Training – The Batter’s Edge™

The Batter’s Edge™ is a revolutionary baseball training product designed to reinforce the proper balance and hip rotation needed to perfect the swing. The Batter’s Edge™ is a platform that embraces the body’s muscle memory to enable hitters to maintain a balanced swing.

Through repetitions, the balanced swing becomes second nature to hitters and, as a result of the augmentation of their muscle memory; the adjustment to live pitching in a game is seamless. The Batter’s Edge™ is a baseball training device that is suitable for players age 8 years and up.

The product is ideal for use in dirt, grass, or artificial surfaces. It can be used in hitting drills in softball and baseball off a tee, from a pitching machine, or in soft toss.


Baseball Training – VLM Pitchtracker

A-Game Technology has brought the art and science of pitching into the 21st Century with the VLM Pitchtracker. Now, pitchers are able to refine their skills through the marriage of modern technology with the development of muscle memory and proper skills training.

Through this cutting edge development designed to enhance pitcher training, pitchers can perfect their release points in order to achieve incredible results. This device tracks the movement, velocity and location of a pitch and it presents the results for coaches, parents, mentors and players for review in a user-friendly visual format.

Pitchers are able to perfect their mechanics and see immediate and remarkable improvements in their ability to throw a pitch where it’s meant to go. Coaches can use the VLM Pitchtracker to analyze multiple pitching factors and to chart progress over a period of time.

Both the Batter’s Edge and the VLM Pitchtracker are available at www.agametechnology.com , and further information on both these amazing baseball training aids can be obtained at the website.

For more information regarding baseball training, Technology enhance Equipment, VLM Pitchtracker and BATTER'S EDGE please visit: www.agametechnology.com

The BatAction Batting machine - "Step-in-and-hit Drill" Video Demo

Where Does Power Come From For A Youth Baseball Hitter?

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Where Does Power Come From For A Youth Baseball Hitter?

By Chip Lemin

Greetings to all coaches,

To help your players develop more power in their swings, you must instruct them to have balance throughout the entire swing. In the previous article,on 2-14-08, I discussed the stance of the hitter. This includes even weight distribution right from the trigger of the swing. In order to generate power, the swing must be compact and short. Yes players with long swings will generate power also, but they generally will not make as much consistent contact.

Many youth baseball players will have far too much hand and foot movement to achieve balance throughout the entire swing. These players could get away with these flaws when pitchers are just trying to throw strikes in younger leagues. As pitchers develop velocity and location these flaws will be exposed.Some young players will resist keeping their hands held up high. They resist keeping their shoulders stacked up over their feet. They may not have a wide enough base in their stance. These players like to stride out at the ball. A small controlled stride is acceptable. Many newer coaches are unaware that a long stride will hamper the player's power base.Many of the top youth baseball hitters will no stride at all. They may use some front foot movement as a timing trigger to begin to "load up' their swing.

I became a student of the baseball swing to learn all I could. When your gets professional instruction (which I encourage) pay close attention,and take notes.Many of the instructors are great sources of knowledge who are willing to help you too. After all, it is in their best interest for your players to improve. It is a reflection on his talent as an instructor.It may mean more business for him.It is the player's responsibility to work on their swing. You can give them the tools and information. You can attempt to inspire them to work harder. Don't feel any guilt about a player's swing if they are not putting in extra work to improve.

Players must look at the pitcher with both eyes. Too often the player's shoulder position will be turned so that both eyes are not on the ball. These batters may have hit the ball well at lower even with these flaws,it may take some strikeouts or weakly hit balls to get their attention. Just be a patient instructive leader. Focus on what the batter is doing right first, then move on to correcting mistakes. Most young players don't get proper extension and follow through on their swings.They may be trying too hard to pull all pitches. This is a common mistake. When players wrap the bat around on their follow through, and it ends up below the front shoulder, it is a sign that they are "pulling off "of the ball. The finish should be up high, with the bat and the hands up near or above the front shoulder.

Power is not always generated just by size. It is a function of bat speed.The quicker the bat head can get into the hitting zone the better. The batter's hands must lead into the zone, and the hips and torso will follow. The player must focus on extension through the entire hitting zone. This will help the player to finish the swing with a nice high follow through. Then the hips and torso will come along also. Professional instruction with a qualified instructor is worth every cent. I believe the coaching staff will get just as much help from it as the players. There will be more articles on hitting for youth baseball players coming up soon. Thanks 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

Youth Baseball Drills - "Shine the Light Drill"

Youth Baseball Drills - "Shine the Light Drill"

By Joe Brockhoff

One great word picture that we use to help hitters get short to the ball is what we call "Shine the Light". In our youth baseball drills, If we can help the hitter to visualize the knob of the bat as a flashlight, it will help him to get inside the pitch and achieve the short, compact stroke.

Most hitters will initially drive the knob of the bat towards the ground and they begin their stroke. This causes the bat to flip behind them, causing a long stroke, and taking the hands out of position.

Also, if the hitter lifts the front shoulder just one inch, this will also invite the bat knob to drop down.

Here's one of our best youth baseball hitting tips. Imagine a laser beam coming from the flashlight directly to the ball. Ask the hitter to immediately "shine the light" on the ball, driving the knob in the direction of the pitch. This will help to correct the long stroke and get the bat head into the proper contact position.

This is easy. "Shine the Light". From that point the short stroke and proper contact will follow.

We have experienced immediate improvement in our instruction with this simple concept...."Shine the Light". Some of our hitters have seen results in as little as 7 days.

Here is a very important point to make this effective for you. Your stride will not be vital to hit the ball. It simply will allow the hitter to be in a better position to meet the baseball. In other words, the hands are still in the lock position at the end of the stride. Your stride will overcome inertia and give a level of support that will enable you hit the fastball.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his youth baseball drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting tips to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average. http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com/lcp .

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

Baseball Equipment Starts With a Good Baseball Bat

Baseball Equipment Starts With a Good Baseball Bat

By Jack D. Elliott

When it comes to a Baseball Bat, not any old equipment will do. You know this if you have ever been practicing using an unfamiliar bat. Besides adversely affecting your game, using a poor bat can cause a number of aches and pains long after you have used them. Also, if you are concentrating on making up for the poor fit of a baseball bat; then, you probably aren't going to be able to play at your best.

The good news is you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of cash on the most expensive baseball bat to get good one. Instead of going with the most expensive baseball bat possible, you can probably find what you are looking for at most sporting goods stores. But there are some things to consider.

Let's start with the length of the bat. Though the length of the baseball bat is important, it's not all you need to consider. Professionals say that you should also take into account the weight of the bat and how it feels in your hands. This will vary for different people. Some people prefer the lightest bat that they can find whereas there are some like Babe Ruth who used to swing a bat weighing anywhere from 40 to 55 ounces.

Regardless of the weight, a proper baseball bat should be tailored so the way you swing the bat is considered. If the bat feels more natural than others while you swing it, you are on the right track.

Some other tips to take into consideration are:


Tapering of the batting handle at the end of the bat. If the handle rubs up against the bottom of your hand, it would be wise to choose another bat. Over time, this minor irritation will impact your batting swing and focus.
Choose a bat with a large sweet spot. A large number of aluminum bats now offer good-sized sweet spots. We recommend purchasing a bat with such a sweet spot as it will give you a little extra help in games. Although in practice, we recommend using a bat with a smaller sweet spot to train you into hitting the ball with the right spot on the bat.
Avoid any bats with concave ends. Bats with concave ends end up depriving you of a few extra base hits a season because eventually you will hit the ball a few times off the end of the bat. With a concave-ended bat, the ball will trail off and make an easy out. However, with a convex-ended or round-ended bat, the ball will more strongly careen of the end of the bat. This should lead to a few more of these hits leaving the infield and resulting in a "Texas leaguer", "ground ball with eyes", or a "dying quail" instead of an easy out.
Ensure the Bat End is Secure: Double check to make sure the end of the bat is securely tied to the barrel of the bat. There are a number of aluminum bats out there that will have the bat head easily come off. Do yourself a favor and pick a bat that has a strongly secured bat end from the start. One way of checking this is to see if any of the bat end material is already coming apart or showing some uneven separation from the barrel end.

There are a wide variety of different types of baseball bats and companies to choose from. Choose the bat that feels the most comfortable to you regardless of price. Also, once you settle on a baseball bat, strongly consider purchasing a second identical one. If you do so, you can use one bat in practice and one in the games. This will ensure that you have a "live" bat for the games that is not deadened by too much batting practice.

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/Baseball-Equipment/

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

Baseball Training - The BatAction Machine Makes Learning to Hit Easy and Efficient!

The BatAction Hitting Machine is the Original Rotational Hitting Machine. The BatAction Machine is a great baseball training device for baseball players of all ages and ability levels. The BatAction Machine has an innovative patented design that has a ball suspended horizontally. This simple design makes learning to hit easy, simple and safe. When a player hits the BatAction Ball, the ball is driven forward and around the machine. The machine then stops the ball and returns it to the player. The horizontal patented design of the machine suspends the ball in mid-air allowing the ball to react to bat contact like a real baseball or softball. The player can hit the ball moving or wait until the ball stops. The batter has ample time between swings to reset and prepare for the next swing. The Bat Action Machine allows the batter work at a comfortable speed and pace. There is no need for another person. The batter has to do nothing but swing the bat. The Bat Action Machine does everything else. These are no balls to gather, no balls to chase and no balls to pick up. There are no levers to press, balls to toss, or pedals to step on. The Bat Action is absolutely 100% energy efficient and it is so much fun to hit! It's no wonder; the Bat Action Machine is one of the most popular and best selling baseball training machines ever!

The BatAction Baseball Training Machine offers 5 great benefits:

1. The BatAction Machine has a large circle of ball movement - This large path of ball movement allows the batter to see, hit and track the ball before and after each swing. The BatAction ball movement closely simulates live pitching!

2. The BatAction Machine allows the batter to read swing contact. The ball is suspended in mid-air without cables, string, or ropes. This unique patented design allows the ball to react to bat contact much like a real ball. The batter receives instant feedback as to the quality and power of every swing. The batter can immediately read the ball after contact to see if the ball hit was a line drive, ground ball or fly ball. This instant feedback is extremely useful and beneficial to rapid skill improvement and bat speed development.

3. Every swing is a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.

4. The BatAction Machine fast moving ball makes every swing a challenge - The BatAction Machine features a moving ball with adjustable speeds. Players really love the challenge and fun of seeing and hitting a moving ball. The harder a player hits the ball, the faster it will return. This ball movement keeps the batter challenged and motivated to practice more and more.

5. The BatAction Machine is a great trainer for planned or impulse training - The BatAction is often used as a hitting station for team training. It is great for these planned activities. But, one of the benefits that makes it one of the most popular home trainers ever, is the fact that it can be set up as a hitting station in the backyard. This makes the BatAction Machine always available to a hitter for fun and recreational use. These impulse workouts can be done alone, even when Dad or Mom is not at home. This is why the Bat Action Machine is often called the Backyard Basketball Goal for baseball and softball players. It is so much fun to hit that kids spend hours and hours of their free time hitting the fast moving ball. These fun workouts are the reason that BatAction Machine owners are some of the most dominate hitters in the game today.

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.



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Baseball Hitting Drills - "Land the Plane Drill"

Baseball Hitting Drills - "Land the Plane Drill"

By Joe Brockhoff

This will never allow a hitter to maximize his ability. He will hit lots of ground balls. To correct this, while in contact with the ball, the bottom hand should be facing down and the top hand facing up.

For hitters who use a wrist roll, in order to get the hands to perform correctly, using word pictures, we say that the bottom hand "lands the plane" and the top hand "crashes the plane".

Here is the drill: The bottom hand (lead hand) starts at the shoulder point, palm open and facing down, while in the stance position. Other hand is on hip. Front heel lifts and the player loads. As hips rotate square to the pitch, the hand at the shoulder moves straight to the front of the body, where hands would be while the bat is in contact. Hand remains palm down. This is "Landing the Plane". Do this several times, starting with the hands back at the shoulder in the stance position.

The top hand (power hand) is next. It starts at the same position but with palm open and facing up and forward. As hips rotate square to the pitch, this hand will move to the same location, but with palm up. This is "Crashing the Plane". Do this several times.

Now do the drill again. This time put both hands together, but with the bat added, starting at the shoulder area. Now move the bat into contact. The hands should be in the same position as before. Open them while in the contact position. The top hand should be open, palm up, under the bat. The bottom hand should be open, palm down, over the bat.

Note: The proper action to complete the stroke is that the top hand continues under the bat through contact and first extension. The bat will finally roll as it comes to the second extension position, just before the stroke is complete.

By repeating these baseball hitting drills, with the pictures in mind, hand action is improved. The batter is not swinging to contact. He is snapping at the point of contact. This will increase bat speed, quickness and the ability to make contact with the ball.

Former Tulane Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Joe Brockhoff, fully explains his baseball hitting drills with the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated with videos and hitting drills to help you hit with more power and raise your batting average.

http://www.LearnBaseballHitting.com/blog

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

Division I Baseball - Playing at the Highest Level

Are you a high school baseball star hoping to make it to Division I baseball? If you are, I have some good and bad news for you.

By Gary V Hawkins

Are you a high school baseball star hoping to make it to Division I baseball? If you are, I have some good news for you and some bad news for you.

First, the good news. Division I baseball coaches will always need talented players.

The bad news: It is extremely difficult to make it to the Division I level. However, there are other opportunities to play college baseball other than Division I.

Players who make it to the top level of baseball level are extremely skilled and talented. These players are not only the best players on their team, they are usually one of the top two or three players in their entire league, conference or even region. Let's take a look at some of the requirements of reaching the division I baseball level:

1. Size And Strength

It takes size and strength to play at the top level. Don't let anyone fool you, these guys are true athletes and they train very hard to become even better athletes.

2. Arm Strength

No matter what position you play, arm strength will be critical. If you don't have great arm strength, college coaches at this level will not usually have any interest in signing you.

3. Speed

Division I baseball is also a game of speed. Once again, no matter what position you play, speed is a critical factor.

4. Bat speed/mechanics

Coaches can teach hitting, but they need kids who are already natural with the bat and they can then coach them to become an even better hitter.

5. Grades


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If you don't have the grades to stay qualified to play, coaches will most likely look at the next guy and pass you up.

If your dream is to play division I baseball, keep working hard on the field, the weight room, and the classroom. All of these factors will determine if you can play at the top level of college baseball or not. If you can't reach division I, don't forget all the other excellent opportunities to play college baseball at the Division II, Division III, NAIA and even junior college level.

Once you reach your sophomore or junior season in high school, start making contact with the coaches you think you could play for. Even if you don't play for UNC, Rice, Arizona State or any of the other division I baseball power houses, you can still play the game you love at the college level.

Gary Hawkins is a well known recruiting and athletic scholarship expert and the author of a popular 17-page free report titled: "Five Secrets You Must Know To Get Recruited For Athletic Scholarships"

Head over to http://www.recruitedforscholarships.com/freereport.html to get your FREE copy now!

To learn even more about the recruiting and scholarship process and how you can finally start being noticed by college coaches just visit http://www.recruitedforscholarships.com/ where we provide all of this and much more!

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

7 Tips on How to Become a Better Baseball Player

The Best Batting Machine in Baseball since 1999!


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.

By Jack D. Elliott

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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