Tips from Cubs pitcher + Pitching drill for keeping front side closed

Sports Science: Why Bellingers swing is perfect for mashing homers

Have A Plan For Hitting

Some may argue, but most will agree, hitting a baseball is the most difficult challenge in sports! However, having a plan when going to the plate will increase your chances for success. Check the follow for two basic approaches to improved hitting,

There are basically two solid approaches to hitting:

1.  You can choose the velocity you want to hit, for instance4 you can "Hunt the Fast Ball" or sit on off-speed until you get two strikes.

2.  The second approach is to "Shrink Your Strike Zone".   It's near impossible to cover the entire strike zone effectively.. The plate is 7 balls wide but the "Zone" is 8 balls wide and 10 balls high. So, shrink your zone to maybe a 3 ball x 3 ball zone and look for a pitch in your "Happy Zone".  Box it up, as coaches and teammates like to say.

Your best chance for success is to have a Plan when you go to the plate.  Work at it!

Coach Bob Harris

Don't Get Foot Down Early - Part 1

Lauunch Angles Determine Power Numbers!

How To Determine Launch Angles in the Batting Cage
http://diamondkinetics.com/how-to-determine-launch-angles-in-the-batting-cage/

Tee Drill

Attention Hitters:

One of the major draw backs to tee work is that the player doesn’t have to make a decision prior to swinging, and they are often working on swinging at just one pitch, the pitch right down the middle. Here's a drill you can do to make your tee work more productive, and more game-like:

Inside/Outside with Take: Set up a tee on the inside of the plate off the front foot, and one on the outside of the plate off the middle of the body. When the hitter begins his stride and load phase, their partner will either say “inside,” “outside,” or “take.” If they say “inside’ or “outside” the hitter will hit the corresponding ball. If they say “take” the hitter will freeze in their hitting position. Make sure the partner giving the direction does so with enough time that they can process and swing at the proper ball.

It is amazing how making just a few changes to tee work can make it much more productive and more likely to translate into games. Coach Kyle Nelson, Cornerstone Coaching Academy

Dusty Baker on Two Strike Hitting