Developing Middle School and High School Hitters

By: Bill WalkerNaches Valley High School

Goal

•.400 hitter

Expectations for the Players

•Middle school to freshman•Freshman to JV•JV to Varsity•Varsity to All-league•All-league to All-State•All-State to college

3 Types of Athletes

•Recreational•Social•Elite

-We ask our athletes which one they are.

Mental Aspects

•Hitting is easy. •Bat on ball! •Don’t make it complicated. •To much coaching will overwhelm your

kids.

Mental Aspects Cont.

•Talk with players………..ask them if they are a good hitter.

•Think positive. •Go to bed at night thinking about your

best day ever at the plate.

Hitting is 99% Mental

•Hitting is actually very difficult, but turn it around on them. If you took a spelling test and only got 4 out of 10 correct, would you be a good speller?

•Convince your players they are good hitters………explain to them what hits actually are and that a blooper will usually take the place of a ball hit right at someone. Balances out.

Get yourself read to HIT!

•Hitters counts: 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1. One Pitch one spot one speed. Don’t get cheated.

•Take your time at the plate. If you swing and miss, step out, ask for time and refocus with a practice swing or two.

Hitting is not just in the batter’s box.

•Study the pitcher warming up in pen and on field.

• On deck hitter needs to get timing down and when not preparing to hit, see what pitcher’s tendencies are.

• Most pitcher’s are not smart.•Talk with your catcher to see what the

zone is.

Other options for hitters:

•Drag Bunts are a great way to pick up a hit.

•Hit and Runs can open up.•Sacrifice Bunts can lead to a hit.

The Stance (approach the plate with confidence):

•Knuckles•Hands•Head•Legs•Feet

Getting Started

1. KnucklesLine up Middle knuckles, some kids will rotate slightly.

The Stance:

1. Knuckle alignment2. Hands: • Comfortable, loose, and just away from

arm pit area.

The Stance

1. Knuckle Alignment2. Hands slightly away from body.3. Head: • Eyes need to be focused on pitcher.

Slightly open stance will help.

The Stance

1. Knuckle Alignment2. Hands slightly away from body.3. Head on pitcher.4. Legs: • Athletic Stance, slight bend in knees.

The Stance

1. Knuckle Alignment2. Hands slightly away from body.3. Head on pitcher.4. Legs are in athletic stance.5. Feet: Weight 60-40 on back leg, weight

on balls of feet (piece of paper slide under heel)

The Swing: Start to Finish

•Hands: Go back to launch position.

Quiet not loud stride

•Hands: Go back to launch position.•Feet: Stride is short. We emphasize heel

to pitcher. Get foot down early. (step on ice-soft)

Hands and Wrist Strength• Hands: Go back

to launch position.

• Feet: Stride is short.

• Hands: Inside baseball and top hand rolls over after contact.

Generating Power with Hips

•Hands: Go back to launch position.•Feet: Stride is short. •Hands: Inside baseball.•Hips: Explode, hands follow. (power L)

Putting it all together

•Hands: Go back to launch position.•Feet: Stride is short. •Hands: Inside baseball.•Hips: Explode, hands follow. (power L)•Head: Eyes on ball. Emphasis on chin

shoulder to shoulder.

Common mistake with young hitters:

•Stride foot opens early or stride is to big.▫Usually the front toe.

•Knee and hips fly open.•Shoulder opens.•Head comes off ball.

▫Head should not move during the process.

Drills for Success:

(we do all these drills with a max of 8 swings-quality, not quantity)

Quality not Quantity

•T work▫Top Hand and Bottom Hand

Everyday Drills:

•Soft Toss▫Top and Bottom Hand(use tennis or softees to do you work into the

net)

Great Drill for working on pull, middle and away.•Front toss behind screen:

▫4 under hand tosses at hip. Hitter pulls.▫4 under hand tosses away. Hitter goes

opposite field.▫4 under hand tosses middle. Wear out

protective screen.

Good Old Fashion Whiffle

•Whiffle Balls are still a great and inexpensive way to hit everyday.

•Game day lots of reps.

•Back Yard whiffle ball……some great competition at the Walker house!

Hit Hit Hit and Hit some More!

•Short toss in cages.Players throw to each other with a purpose.Change it up: • Opposite Field only.• Middle only.• No pop ups.• Hit and Run.

Good old Fashion Pitching MachineUse you machine to:•Work on velocity.•Left handed sliders and curve balls.•Right handed sliders and curve balls.•If you can afford it, use real baseballs for

better movement.•Build a platform to set you machine on for

players to see the pitch coming at a better angle.

LIVE HITTING with Coach

On field hitting.Let’s players and coaches see a result.Make sure you just don’t swing away. Work

on:• Bunting• Hit and Run• Move Runners• Opposite Field• Scoring the runner from 3rd.

Game Situations

•There isn’t a better way for hitters to become Great.▫Have pitchers throw to get their bull pen

work in to hitters.▫Scrimmage/inter-squad.▫Alumni???

STATISTICS

•TO MANY KIDS ARE SELFISH.

STATISTICS

•NO, TO MANY PARENTS ARE SELFISH!!

•We don’t post stats, but will talk about them individually.

RISP

•More importantly than average, is a player’s ability to drive in runs.

•Talk to your players about being productive.

•Reward and give praise to those players who may only have got one hit, but it was the one that won the game!

Motivation

•Banquet speech.•Can’t teach Hustle.•Someone’s always watching.•Attitude.•Still have to play Defense and pitch.

•Play Baseball.

Bill WalkerHead Baseball CoachNaches Valley High Schoolbwalker@nvsd.org

Special Thanks To:Cam Walker (helping me with the power

point)Nick Clark (Assistant Baseball Coach)