Coach's Corner

[Pat Dad]

I'd like to start a thread dedicated to helping players. Twice a week someone can ask about a problem with fielding, hitting, pitching, or anything baseball related. And then coaches or baseball guru's can help them out a little.

 

I'll start with hitting.

 

Switch hitter has a problem hitting curve balls while batting lefty. He has more power on the left. Any drills to help this batter out?

[YankeeFan22]

I'd like to start a thread dedicated to helping players. Twice a week someone can ask about a problem with fielding, hitting, pitching, or anything baseball related. And then coaches or baseball guru's can help them out a little.

 

I'll start with hitting.

 

Switch hitter has a problem hitting curve balls while batting lefty. He has more power on the left. Any drills to help this batter out?

 

 

I dont know the answer to this question I just wanted to say I think this is a good idea espically when baseball season starts kicking up around Feb. this might answer some questions.:thumb:

[STRIKE3]

...Switch hitter has a problem hitting curve balls while batting lefty. He has more power on the left. Any drills to help this batter out?

As with most SH's, they have a natural side and "learned" side. Most often the power side for switch-hitters, is the "natural" side and the contact, is the "learned" side.

 

Several things for the player to remember. If he's a LH hitter and missing CB's from a RH pitcher, than he's lifting his head/shoulders off the ball and causing his his left shoulder to drop and his right to elevate, thus probably swinging over the pitch. He also could be getting long in his swing....remember, "Short to the Ball". He could also be trying to pull every curve, instead of driving. This is possibly a timing device problem, his stride to too early, or hands drop.

 

If hitting off a LH pitcher, than same could be happening and front stride foot, could be stepping into the bucket.

 

His back hip, could also be lunging him forward, instead of loading during his Load, Stride and Weight Shift. Here are 2 drills, which may help.

 

Outside Tee - Place tee on the outside corner of plate. LH hitter, must drive the ball to LF, by taking bat (sweetspot) to the point of impact. This is done with stride foot going slightly toward pitch location, upper body balanced, hands to point of impact. 3 sets of 15 swings....trying to drive the ball over SS head, into the gap.

 

Front Toss/Curve - Use L-Screen, from distance of 15'-20' away. Pitcher kneels down complete behind screen and tosses CB's, down and away. This will force the hitter to use his stride, as a "timing device", while keeping his weight back, to allow his hand to go to the ball and drive to opposite field. 3 sets of 15 swings. A variation, can be the pitcher tosses to middle and inside, than the player hits the ball to the area of the field, where it was pitched.

[Pat Dad]

SPARQ training. Thoughts and comments.

 

http://sparqtraining.com/

[STRIKE3]

SPARQ training. Thoughts and comments.

 

http://sparqtraining.com/

I've looked at it before and have incorporated several programs, into conditioning athletes.

 

Speed, agility, quickness and endurance, are vital to most sports and they're various programs which focus on those essentials, with SPARQ being one. Any athlete who wants to turn their workouts, up a notch could benefit and they are really suited, to Football players to me but they can be tailored to Baseball, as well.

 

I especially like the footwork drills and core stabilization. I'm partial to Plyometrics myself but use several of the ladder type, foot-speed drills.

[Pat Dad]

I agree. Agility, speed, and endurance are essential in any sport. Some baseball coaches aren't so high on this. They feel it's more for football. And I totally disagree. Any athlete can benefit from this type of program.

[Pat Dad]

I know that most HS and college baseball players are conditioning or working the weights this time of year. So, what are the best workouts for the off season?

[STRIKE3]

I know that most HS and college baseball players are conditioning or working the weights this time of year. So, what are the best workouts for the off season?

Weight and strength conditioning, flexibility exercises, core work, lateral footwork, agility drills, bands, cardiovascular running, Plyometrics, medicine ball, diet and nutrition, JOBES, pitching drills, fielding drills, catching drills, tee work, cage hitting, video tape analysis.....I could go on and on.

 

Each player needs a regimented program to follow, so they can track their progress and improvement.

[Pat Dad]

Every good coach has a program for the off season. Players need to follow this program just as close as they can. Someone said that "championships are won in the off season". And that is true. While the games are won on the field, iot's what you do during the off season that carries you farther.