Hitting Tips – Baseball Swing Advice & How to Play Baseball by Jack Perconte

photo credit: ttarasiuk  Good hitting coaches should have his players answer questions like the following during games - when players are aware of the pitchers tendencies it could lead to a big inning or big offensive game.              
What is the pitcher’s arm angle? How fast is he throwing?  Is he throwing strikes?
When he is not throwing strikes are most of his pitches in a certain area (i.e. high, low, inside, outside)?
What is the break on his breaking ball or action on the change-up?
What does his motion home look like if he works from the stretch? 
Can he get his breaking ball and change-up over for strikes?
Does he have the same pitching pattern for every hitter?
Does he use the same pitch when going for the strike-out?

You don’t have to be a hitting expert to sound like one – just use this word when giving advice and you can help young hitters and sound like an expert. What’s the word? Stay – that’s it. Put this word with the following words – ready, back, inside,  behind,  focused and you will sound like a knowledgeable hitting coach.
 Good hitters:
1.  Stay ready to hit and expect the next pitch to be their pitch.
2.  Stay back, keeping their weight and hands back with their stride until the last second before swinging.
3.  Stay inside, not reaching for the ball and attempting to hit the inside back of the ball.
4.  Stay behind, throwing their hands through the ball with their head remaining  behind their swing.
5.  Stay focused, making every at-bat count and having quality at-bats

Baseball Bat Grip

 I’ve found one of the toughest things to teach is the baseball bat grip.  This is understandable for young hitters whose hands are still small, but most older hitters resist wanting to put the bat in the upper palms and fingers. A good way to demonstrate the grip is to have hitters hold their cell phones before gripping the bat and then have them  hold the bat the same way. Like many hitting tips, players have to be continually reminded of the correct grip. The correct grip allows the correct swing extension, great bat whip and prevents an early roll of the wrists.

Grip in Upper Pallms and Fingers

Throwing Mechanics

Parents often get ask whether I think their son should take some pitching lessons. I have always answered the same, “For sure. Whether he ends up a pitcher or not, the fundamental work and throwing can only help him for any position.” Of course, there is often an expense involved which has to be put into the equation, but I highly recommend pitching classes for all young ballplayers from age 7 to 10. Small group sessions can be less costly and worthwhile also. The reason was just mentioned, for the correct fundamentals of throwing. A good pitching coach will recognize the flaws in a ball player’s regular throwing mechanics and should be able to correct those. Additionally, good pitching coaches will not move on to pitching without addressing the player’s basic throwing habits first and this is the key to taking the pitching lessons. Lessons provide the constant repetition that is often needed to correct throwing fundamentals that are obviously important for every position on the field. Pitching classes provide the amount of repetiton needed to correct incorrect habits and, of course, the amount of throwing with lessons can build arm strength and the much needed accuracy that is important in baseball. 

Battting Practice Tee Work

There are many hitting aides on the market but I believe the batting tee is still the best batting aide to assist hitters in their swing development. Unfortunately, most players, coaches and parents do not know how to use the batting tee correctly. Because of that, the tee does not do them much good and often it just sits in the basement and does not get much use. In my book The Making of a Hitter, I detail how to use a baseball batting tee correctly and why, when used correctly it will give the hitter instant feedback as to whether the swing is correct. If used correctly the tee can be used to develop the perfect swing, to groove that swing, to understand contact points, to develop a compact swing and more. All of that for just a minor investment. Of course, because people don’t know how to use it correctly, it turns into a waste of money for most.

photo credit: kthypryn    I am sure I have written about this in the past but it is something youth coaches need to know.
    Use two hands, use two hands - This is a common phrase that baseball coaches use when teaching baseball to young baseball players. Unfortunately, this common coaching philosophy is sometimes incorrect and hinders players from learning to catch the ball and become good defensive ballplayers. Breaking the habit of players of using two hands on every catch is very difficult but necessary. It is important that coaches know when players should use two hands and when not. It is also important to understand that the ball is only caught with the glove and that the bare hand is there to help get rid of the ball quickly. Using two hands to catch a ball is for balls that players can field within their feet and at positions where getting rid of the ball quickly is important - to explain further, when a player can get in front of the ball and not have to reach for it, two hands should be used. Using two hands on balls that players have to reach for makes players off balance and much slower to get to the ball. Moving two hands at the same time is much slower and creates and unbalanced position, thus a less efficient fielder. On balls that players reach for, glove only. Additionally, 1B where getting rid of the ball immediately is usually not esential, is a one hand catch position. Outfield positions can go either way and players should abide by the above rule of two hands when players can catch the ball in between their feet.

photo credit: kthypryn
Parents of baseball players should look into this device that I read about at Lisa Winston’s blog. She has a great blog that I am sure you will enjoy also: http://gotmilb.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/01/gamechanger_where_were_you_whe.html

     I really like what Robin Green is doing for his teams – he provides instructional tips on a continaulal basis. More teams, leagues and organizations should be doing this to mainly help their coaches. Anyway, his post at http://www.petersburgjrgenerals.com/2010/01/contrast-swings-to-develop-bat-speed.html is an idea of the good information he suggests.
This post talks about an overload-underload system for gaining bat speed. I have used a similar system over the years with results, if and only if, it is done over a good peariod of time; for example two or three times a week for at least a month. the other suggestion I would make to his system is that hitters do dry swings as suggested with the heavy (overloaded bat) but use a batting tee set at various locations for the light (underloaded) bat and for the regular weight bat. Of course, it is always good to change the height of the tee and location (inside, outside) continually and to work on line drives at the same level of tee height and in direction of where ball is located. Otherwise, players with bad habits are taking 90 swings and just reinforcing bad habits. Bat speed is of no use if hitters rarely make solid contact. Keep up good work, Robin and good luck Generals.

Good article at http://baseballcoachesdigest.blogspot.com/2009/12/minimizing-head-movement-and-rotational.html on the importance of the head (which controls the eyes of course). A few baseball hitting drills that will help hitters with this idea are the following:
1. Place hitter on their back knee for some tee work or soft toss flips.
2. Have hitters stand straight with their feet together and don’t have them stride or bend knees at all when swinging.
3. Put hitter up against a net (with net close behind where catcher is) and have them swing and hit net on swing follow through.
4. Have hitter hit on a balance beam – head is key to balance and if it gets out of place on beam they will fall off in that direction. Additionally, young hitters move their head because they are not balanced to begin with  – the beam will help this situation, too. See my previous post at for more insight on this drill.

Baseball Advice from Jack Perconte

Jack Perconte Hitting Tips

I have worked with thousands of baseball hitters over the years and most of them become upset when they hit foul balls, especially in batting practice. I try to get hitters to feel good about fouling balls off so they keep a confident, positive mind-set for the upcoming pitches. Once negativity enters their mind with the disappointment of a foul ball, they may mentally be unprepared to hit. “Wait a minute,” I say, “That was a good thing.” First, it is obviously better than a swing and a miss – Hitting is not that easy so “just making contact is a positive thing” I tell them and “Hey, you are still alive for another pitch,” when there were two strikes on them. Secondly, fouling a ball off on a tough pitch is a total victory because “Even if you put it in play, it would have probably been for an easy out” and “The chances of the pitcher throwing the next pitch in the same tough spot are very slim.”  
Of course, fouling a pitch off that was very hittable (right down the middle) can be demoralizing but I never want my hitters to feel negatively at home plate and I never want them to give the pitcher the impression that they are upset, which may give the pitcher the edge.

Baseball Coaching

 Just finished up a baseball camp. If I said it once I said it a million times, “Practice the way you play and that starts with a simple game of catch.” Warm-ups are such an important time for young baseball players to work on good mechanics – those initial throws, catches and swings are important because they set the stage for the habits that kids are forming. When players warm up in a lackadasical manner, they are often developing bad habits that will be hard to overcome and they set the stage for incorrect game fundamentals. There is not a better time for coaches to coach then in their teams warm up time. So often, coaches tell kids to warm-up their arms and swings and allow players to do the fundamntals incorrectly by not paying attention to them at this time. Coaches then get upset when players cannot make plays in games. Allowing players to warm-up incorrectly is a sign of a poor coach. Once again, bad habits that are allowed in warm-ups will show up in players game fundamentals.
  Coaches have the responsibility to concentrate on players warm-up time as much or even more than their regular practice habits. A good coach will not allow players to warm-up in a lax manner where players can get away with doing things incorrect or even halfway correct.

 Kids who play baseball in cold weather states are at a definite disadvantage when if comes to playing baseball. Often, this disadvantage does not come into play with throwing, pitching and hitting because of the ability to perform these skills adequately indoors. However, the diasadvantage comes into play in the fielding area – not being able to get outside and catch groundballs and flyballs for the extended months that “warm weather players’ can is a huge disadvantage. The problem is that it is extrememly difficult to duplicate playing field conditions indoors. Indoor turf fields and gym floors often create bad fielding habits because of their true bounce nature. Kids can easily calculate where the ball will bounce on these surfaces and be able to get away with incorrect fielding fundamentals.
     Following are things coaches can do to help players learn good fielding habits when working indoors.
1. Start with ground balls that hug the floor – this is the key – because balls will always bounce true indoors players learn to put the glove where they know the ball will bounce and never learn to start the glove down, below the hop to begin.
2. After doing this for awhile, work on slow, low balls where players have to be agressive and charge the ball – emphasizing staying low when approaching the ball.
3. Next, bounce the ball in a “one hop” style where players have to decide whether they should charge the ball and catch it on the high or short hop, or lay back and play it on the second hop.
Of course, fielding fly balls present an even bigger challenge – working a great deal of footwork, especially getting a jump on the first step can be done though.
 
 photo credit: kthypryn

Hitting Tips for The New Year

Bad habits are often formed at the beginning of the season and hitters may not ever recover. Here are 5 baseball hitting tips that will help prevent bad habits  from forming.
1. Do not head out to the batting cages as the way to begin preseason- practice. Trying to gain timing before the swing is refined often leads to bad habits.
2. Begin with batting tee work and short flip work with the goal of building hand strength and developing good balance. Concentrate on hitting each ball in the correct direction based on where the ball is pitched.
3. When hitter feels comfortable with their swing, begin batting practice with slow speeds and gradually work up in speed each week.
4. Film the swing as early in the season as possible and have it reviewed by a knowledgebale coach.
5. Remember, doing something correct and doing something almost correct is the difference between success and failure. Performing good baseball hitting drills early in the season will pay off all season.

photo credit: bp6316 is alive
       With off season baseball workouts right a round the corner for many youth players, it is important to draw up a throwing schedule. Nothing is more important at the beginning of the season than  having the arm in shape and ready for those first days of practice or tryouts. Bad fundamnetals can lead to injury of course, as well as to inaccurate (dangerous) throws. First of all, it is good to check around at local facilities if you cannot get outside this time of year. Finding a place where you can really stretch the length of your throws out is ideal but not mandatory. Next draw up a schedule and try to stick with it the best one can.  Plan on adding about 10 throws to each subsequent throwing days and about 10 to 12 feet of distance to each additional throwing session. Having a throwing expert check out a young player’s throwing mechanics before the first day of throwing is always recommended, especially for players who have a history of arm trouble. It can pay off to prevent injury and help players develop greater arm strength as the season goes on. Taking a little jog is always recommended to warm the body before throwing. The next thing is to be sure and warm up correctly with the plan of gradually adding a few miles an hour to each throw after getting warmed up. It is a good idea to not “let it loose” at least till the 3rd week of throwing.

photo credit: jontunn
     Off season is definitely the time for baseball players to get their mind and body in shape for the up-coming season. Bigger, stronger, faster as they say is important. Just as important for the baseball players is developing an “eye of the tiger” state of mind. When I did my off season training before heading off to spring training, I was not thinking of getting stronger just to be stronger, but kept visualizing how being stronger was going to help me to get base hits and steal bases. Having a regular offseason physical conditioning routine was preparing my mind to be mentally tough as much as my physical development. Setting up an off season routine is very important for baseball players, even for players as young as ten years old, because baseball is a sport where routine is necessary.

   With baseball season right around the corner it is time to see if players should add anything to their desired list for a Holiday gift. Of course, the basic need of  a glove and bat are the first thing to check out. If one is needed, players or parents should do a little research to Read the rest of this entry »

Every once in a while a few products show up at my doorstep that I am very impressed with. I am not all that easily impressed when it comes to telling others to spend their hard earned cash but I don’t think anyone will be dissapointed with these recommendations. If you are looing for a nice holiday gift for baseball nuts like me, check these out. Read the rest of this entry »

Positive Parenting in Sports

Check out this podcast, when time, at Baseballisms – Had a real fun time doing interview with Joe Magennis – cool guy.
http://baseballisms.com/podcast-author-jack-perconte.html

Following is a short book excerpt from the making of a hitter. 

Getting a hitter out of a slump is never easy. The only way I know to do it is to get back to the basics and put in the work. Many slumps seem to occur right after a very hot streak. Sometimes it’s just the law of averages catching up with them. Other times the hitter becomes too confident and forgets about performing the little things that go into a good fundamental swing. It was very common to have a hitter come back for lessons about Read the rest of this entry »

It is a beautiful sight to see a hitter who appears to not even swing hard and see the ball jump off their bat. That is the groove Chase Utley of the Phillies was in. Obviously, he is swinging hard but because of his compact swing and overall balance, there appears to be so little effort exerted. This takes years and years of practice and a lot of talent but all hitters can Read the rest of this entry »

Following are the positions hitters should strive for at contact.
1. A capital “A” should be formed between hitters’ legs so they are hitting against a firm front leg for maximum bat speed.
2. Head should be positioned over the rear leg. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: pastorbuhro    First Base - Most people think playing first base is easy but playing it correctly is not as easy as it looks or as easy as people think. It takes good concentration and, of course, very good footwork. Besides catcher, there is no one on the field that handles Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: ttarasiuk

Exerpt of Jack’s Article for Ezinearticles.com
3 Absolutes of Throwing for Speed and Accuracy
1. Direction – most kids know how to stand at home plate so having them go to their hitting position before throwing should come easy. This complete turn of Read the rest of this entry »