Playing Tips

Why Stride

Some hitters think they stride to build up momentum and power. This actually plays right into the hands of a pitcher who uses change ups and curves. A hitter with momentum usually has difficulty holding back his swing when those pitches fool him.

Then why bother striding? Why not just start from the post-stride position (i.e. the launching position)?

The two reasons a hitter strides are:

Widen the structural base to increase the power potential of the legs.

Put the hands in proper position to launch the bat with maximum power, efficiency and accuracy.

To learn more about improving your stride and creating more power, check out our great training programs, designed to make you the best hitter you can be.

Keys to Aggressive Hitting

Having a great swing is not enough to make you a great hitter. You cannot just think your way to a base hit. You have to be ready to drive the pitch before the pitcher throws it.

In order to be more aggressive at the plate:

Always expect the pitch to be a strike.

Always expect to swing the bat until you see something that tells you to hold up.

Think: “YES, YES, YES, NO” rather than: “NO, NO, NO, YES”

There is so much more out there to help you stay aggressive, confident and successful. Let us teach you advanced techniques that will have you dominating the pitcher.

Keys to Basic Pitching Fundamentals

Be consistent in your windup.
Have a well-balanced leg lift - do not start the kick too soon.
Open up the stride and unlock the hips - do not throw across the body.
Utilize good arm extension by getting the pitching arm up high and elbow out in front.
Use strong wrist and arm action.
Throw strikes - stay ahead of the hitter.
Create a consistent point of release.
Follow through in a natural manner.

Learn to pitch correctly and increase your value to your team. We will teach you how to keep your arm strong and your opponents weak.

Keys to Proper Fielding

Routine plays performed with proper mechanics are high percentage plays. Highlight plays are low percentage plays perfectly executed under pressure, usually at a critical time. The routine plays must be executed consistently. When a routine play turns into a highlight play, it becomes a low percentage play. The play, if made at all, it is not a highlight. It was expected to be made, anyway. When routine plays are not made, players can get hurt and games can be lost.

By practicing routine plays, and their components, with perfect mechanics and total focus, ALL plays can be made more consistently, more efficiently and more effectively.

Defense wins games. And loses them, too. Be a winner after learning how to be a Gold Glove fielder.

Why Swing Level

Holding the bat high above the strike zone at the end of the stride causes a steep swing angle. If the hands are lower and the bat barrel is flatter, then a more level swing is possible.

According to basic physics, the force of the swing at any angle is a result of the forces in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Since the horizontal force is the one that redirects the pitch, the closer the swing is to horizontal, the better.

A more level swing produces a far greater horizontal component because less force is wasted on the vertical component.

Find out more about why swinging level is so important and how to do it like the pros.