If you have attended more than one baseball camp in your lifetime, then you have experienced more than a couple theories on how to drive or throw your hands to the baseball. Chances are, you have probably experienced a couple different theories on when to throw the hands as well. Whatever the case, there are certain aspects of driving the hands that are non-negotiable.
Much like I discussed in my earlier pieces, the ability to perform this batting step correctly begins with pitch recognition. Begin by dividing the plate into three equal portions, L for left, C for Center, and R for right. As with driving the hips, the hands will want to drive towards the zone the baseball will contacted in. Keeping the hips and hands aligned with the field we want to hit the baseball allows players to maximize the transfer of force into the baseball.
Once players establish which field they want to the ball, I tell them to draw a 45 degree angle from the knob of the bat towards the ground. When players drive their hands, or release their hands to the baseball, they should drive them along that angle. The actual angle the hands travel along is quite different than 45 degrees. However, this visual helps to develop the mindset of driving down toward the baseball instead of up. Driving down through the zone will result in more line drives and hards hits opposed driving up resulting in more fly balls.
As players get older and develop stronger forearm muscles and wrists, players should actually drive towards the baseball leading with their bottom hand wrist. This will keep the hands slightly "cocked back", and will not only increase a players chance to stay inside the baseball, but create more "bat whip" through contact as the wrist snaps through the zone. The key is keeping the hands ahead of the barrel and tight to the body. Leading with the hands or knob of the bat properly also creates a "power V".
If players effectively lead with the wrist or hands, it will create what I call the "Power V". The "Power V" contains two lines, one that runs down the barrel of the bat to the hands, and one the runs down the top hand forearm to the hands. When maintained correctly, it will form the shape of a V. As players begin to drive their hands, the point of the V will be angled toward the field they want to hit the ball, and open part of the V will be facing out of play towards the backstop. In order for this to happen, the bottom elbow must remain tight to the body and hands must lead the barrel of the bat. As a player approaches contact, they "Power V" will begin to flatten out until it becomes an L just after contact. Reminder, on contact, a player's hands should still be ahead of the baseball.
When done correctly, a player should feel that they are only driving their hands 2-4 inches away from their body before they contact the baseball. A common misconception and mistake that most players will make will be attacking the ball out in front of their body. This is caused by the common phrase, "see the ball to hit the bat". In reality, if players can see the ball hit the bat, they are actually causing more harm then good. Why? The further the hands extend away from the body, the lower the bat speed and shorter the extension. This combination will decrease power and average.
When players attack the ball out in front, their confidence may be suffering and/or the are trying to "see the ball hit the baseball bat". In my opinion, this phrase is one of the worst phrases to tell a young hitter. Not because I don't want him to keep his head and eyes on the baseball, but because it will cause players to extend their hands and arms to far foreword before contact. If you watch any hitter, their eyes are actually focused approximately 10 to 15 feet out in front of the plate. From their, a player uses their tracking skills to project their contact point. Trying to "see the ball hit the bat" is nearly impossible, and trying to do so will cause players to consistently miss hit pitches and struggle to maintain good timing.
In any batting demonstration that you perform, I caution you to be extremely conservative with your movements. Players react strongly to visual representations of the mechanics of the swing and you want to avoid showing them any bad habits. For instance, do not demonstrate contact with your hands extended and the hands even with the barrel of the bat. Instead, show contact deep in the stance with the hands ahead of barrel.
Now, the real questions is, what catch phrases can help your player with this step of his batting mechanics. I have two powerful batting training phrases that I use exclusively to help players drive their hands properly. One, "pick the ball out of the catchers mitt", and two, "scrape your knuckles on the inside part of the baseball". These two combined will help players to position their mind around letting ball get deep on the plate before contact and taking their hands ahead of the baseball. Because player do not typically see themselves hit, I deal directly in concepts to help players make the adjustments they are seeking.
As for the batting drills that I use to train this step, there are several. However there is one that I use exclusively when starting out. The "Chopping Wood" batting drill involves two batting tees which are lined up one behind the other facing center field. For beginners, one foot to eighteen inches of space should be between the two batting tees. The front batting tee should be about thigh high and the other batting tee should be raised to a height that is mid-sternum on the player. The baseball is placed on the font tee, but not the back batting tee.
To set-up this drill you will need two tees lined up one behind the other facing center field. Their should be a space of 12 inches to 18 inches in between the two batting tees. The back tee should be raised to a height that is just under chest level of the player. The front batting tee should be lowered to mid-thigh height. As a player approaches the batting drill, his front foot should line up approximately with the front tee.
If done correctly, players will actually take their hands inside the back tee before contact. If players swing over the back tee they are attacking the ball instead of using their hips and driving their hands correctly. The alignment of the two tees will force players to drive their hands inside and forward instead of sweeping around the ball or attacking it out in front as they so often do
If you want to see some real improvement in your ability to perform the mechanics of the swing correctly, use the "Chopping Wood" batting drill in your next batting training session. After a few rounds performing this drill, you will notice and feel an instant difference your approach and efficiency to the baseball. At the end of the day, better mechanics equal a higher average and more power.
Much like I discussed in my earlier pieces, the ability to perform this batting step correctly begins with pitch recognition. Begin by dividing the plate into three equal portions, L for left, C for Center, and R for right. As with driving the hips, the hands will want to drive towards the zone the baseball will contacted in. Keeping the hips and hands aligned with the field we want to hit the baseball allows players to maximize the transfer of force into the baseball.
Once players establish which field they want to the ball, I tell them to draw a 45 degree angle from the knob of the bat towards the ground. When players drive their hands, or release their hands to the baseball, they should drive them along that angle. The actual angle the hands travel along is quite different than 45 degrees. However, this visual helps to develop the mindset of driving down toward the baseball instead of up. Driving down through the zone will result in more line drives and hards hits opposed driving up resulting in more fly balls.
As players get older and develop stronger forearm muscles and wrists, players should actually drive towards the baseball leading with their bottom hand wrist. This will keep the hands slightly "cocked back", and will not only increase a players chance to stay inside the baseball, but create more "bat whip" through contact as the wrist snaps through the zone. The key is keeping the hands ahead of the barrel and tight to the body. Leading with the hands or knob of the bat properly also creates a "power V".
If players effectively lead with the wrist or hands, it will create what I call the "Power V". The "Power V" contains two lines, one that runs down the barrel of the bat to the hands, and one the runs down the top hand forearm to the hands. When maintained correctly, it will form the shape of a V. As players begin to drive their hands, the point of the V will be angled toward the field they want to hit the ball, and open part of the V will be facing out of play towards the backstop. In order for this to happen, the bottom elbow must remain tight to the body and hands must lead the barrel of the bat. As a player approaches contact, they "Power V" will begin to flatten out until it becomes an L just after contact. Reminder, on contact, a player's hands should still be ahead of the baseball.
When done correctly, a player should feel that they are only driving their hands 2-4 inches away from their body before they contact the baseball. A common misconception and mistake that most players will make will be attacking the ball out in front of their body. This is caused by the common phrase, "see the ball to hit the bat". In reality, if players can see the ball hit the bat, they are actually causing more harm then good. Why? The further the hands extend away from the body, the lower the bat speed and shorter the extension. This combination will decrease power and average.
When players attack the ball out in front, their confidence may be suffering and/or the are trying to "see the ball hit the baseball bat". In my opinion, this phrase is one of the worst phrases to tell a young hitter. Not because I don't want him to keep his head and eyes on the baseball, but because it will cause players to extend their hands and arms to far foreword before contact. If you watch any hitter, their eyes are actually focused approximately 10 to 15 feet out in front of the plate. From their, a player uses their tracking skills to project their contact point. Trying to "see the ball hit the bat" is nearly impossible, and trying to do so will cause players to consistently miss hit pitches and struggle to maintain good timing.
In any batting demonstration that you perform, I caution you to be extremely conservative with your movements. Players react strongly to visual representations of the mechanics of the swing and you want to avoid showing them any bad habits. For instance, do not demonstrate contact with your hands extended and the hands even with the barrel of the bat. Instead, show contact deep in the stance with the hands ahead of barrel.
Now, the real questions is, what catch phrases can help your player with this step of his batting mechanics. I have two powerful batting training phrases that I use exclusively to help players drive their hands properly. One, "pick the ball out of the catchers mitt", and two, "scrape your knuckles on the inside part of the baseball". These two combined will help players to position their mind around letting ball get deep on the plate before contact and taking their hands ahead of the baseball. Because player do not typically see themselves hit, I deal directly in concepts to help players make the adjustments they are seeking.
As for the batting drills that I use to train this step, there are several. However there is one that I use exclusively when starting out. The "Chopping Wood" batting drill involves two batting tees which are lined up one behind the other facing center field. For beginners, one foot to eighteen inches of space should be between the two batting tees. The front batting tee should be about thigh high and the other batting tee should be raised to a height that is mid-sternum on the player. The baseball is placed on the font tee, but not the back batting tee.
To set-up this drill you will need two tees lined up one behind the other facing center field. Their should be a space of 12 inches to 18 inches in between the two batting tees. The back tee should be raised to a height that is just under chest level of the player. The front batting tee should be lowered to mid-thigh height. As a player approaches the batting drill, his front foot should line up approximately with the front tee.
If done correctly, players will actually take their hands inside the back tee before contact. If players swing over the back tee they are attacking the ball instead of using their hips and driving their hands correctly. The alignment of the two tees will force players to drive their hands inside and forward instead of sweeping around the ball or attacking it out in front as they so often do
If you want to see some real improvement in your ability to perform the mechanics of the swing correctly, use the "Chopping Wood" batting drill in your next batting training session. After a few rounds performing this drill, you will notice and feel an instant difference your approach and efficiency to the baseball. At the end of the day, better mechanics equal a higher average and more power.
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