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8-10 YEAR OLDS
Player Height / Best Bat Weight:
48 in. 16 oz.
50 in. 16.5 oz.
52 in. 17 oz.
54 in. 17.5 oz.
56 in. 18 oz.
58 in. 18.5 oz.
60 in. 19 oz.
Formula = (Height/4) + 4
Player Height / Best Bat Weight:
48 in. 16 oz.
50 in. 16.5 oz.
52 in. 17 oz.
54 in. 17.5 oz.
56 in. 18 oz.
58 in. 18.5 oz.
60 in. 19 oz.
Formula = (Height/4) + 4
Youth 11-12 Years Old
Player Weight / Best Bat Weight:
70 lbs. 18 oz.
80 lbs. 19 oz.
90 lbs. 19.5 oz.
100 lbs. 20 oz.
110 lbs. 20.5 oz.
120 lbs. 21 oz.
130 lbs. 21.5 oz.
140 lbs. 22 oz.
150 lbs. 23 oz.
Formula = (Weight/18) + 14
Player Weight / Best Bat Weight:
70 lbs. 18 oz.
80 lbs. 19 oz.
90 lbs. 19.5 oz.
100 lbs. 20 oz.
110 lbs. 20.5 oz.
120 lbs. 21 oz.
130 lbs. 21.5 oz.
140 lbs. 22 oz.
150 lbs. 23 oz.
Formula = (Weight/18) + 14
High School & College
Player Height / Best Bat Weight:
66 in. 27 oz.
68 in. 27.5 oz.
70 in. 28 oz.
72 in. 29 oz.
74 in. 30 oz.
76 in. 30.5 oz.
Formula = Height/3 + 6
Player Height / Best Bat Weight:
66 in. 27 oz.
68 in. 27.5 oz.
70 in. 28 oz.
72 in. 29 oz.
74 in. 30 oz.
76 in. 30.5 oz.
Formula = Height/3 + 6
BAT SELECTOR TIPS
Why Composites
Compared to aluminum, wood, and other materials used to make bats, composite materials (carbon, glass and Kevlar fibers embedded in a plastic resin) are lighter, stiffer and stronger.
Of most importance, unlike bats made of other materials, composites are anisotropic which means bats can be designed to have different stiffnesses and strengths in different directions.
The anisotropic property of composite materials allows Combat bat designers the opportunity to increase stiffness along the handle (reducing vibrations and reducing sting) and to
decrease stiffness along the barrel (increasing “trampoline” effect and thus improving bat performance), resulting in Combat all composite bats with optimal performance and feel.
Further, composite bats can be designed for a wide selection of Combat® Swingweights
Compared to aluminum, wood, and other materials used to make bats, composite materials (carbon, glass and Kevlar fibers embedded in a plastic resin) are lighter, stiffer and stronger.
Of most importance, unlike bats made of other materials, composites are anisotropic which means bats can be designed to have different stiffnesses and strengths in different directions.
The anisotropic property of composite materials allows Combat bat designers the opportunity to increase stiffness along the handle (reducing vibrations and reducing sting) and to
decrease stiffness along the barrel (increasing “trampoline” effect and thus improving bat performance), resulting in Combat all composite bats with optimal performance and feel.
Further, composite bats can be designed for a wide selection of Combat® Swingweights
WHY COMPOSITE
The Power Bat Drill
The purpose of the Power Bat Drill for a baseball player is much the same as a boxer using a heavy bag to train with. Boxers learn how to develop power in their punch by trying to
power through the heavy bag. Baseball players learn to develop power in their swing by hitting through a heavier object than a normal baseball. The result is the same for both
athletes… increased power through the point of contact!
What you will need:
1. A batting tee
2. A plunger
3. A flat soccer ball or basketball
4. A hitting net (or wall)
5. A bat heavy and light
How the drill works:
Slide the plunger handle into the batting tee.
Place the flat soccer ball or basketball onto the plunger cup top.
Execute your normal swing repeatedly.
The purpose of the Power Bat Drill for a baseball player is much the same as a boxer using a heavy bag to train with. Boxers learn how to develop power in their punch by trying to
power through the heavy bag. Baseball players learn to develop power in their swing by hitting through a heavier object than a normal baseball. The result is the same for both
athletes… increased power through the point of contact!
What you will need:
1. A batting tee
2. A plunger
3. A flat soccer ball or basketball
4. A hitting net (or wall)
5. A bat heavy and light
How the drill works:
Slide the plunger handle into the batting tee.
Place the flat soccer ball or basketball onto the plunger cup top.
Execute your normal swing repeatedly.
POWER DRILL
Step 1 - Loading
Hey Coach! You forgot the stance position! Actually, no I didn't. I purposefully left that position out. Look around the Major Leagues, there are hundreds of different stances, very few of
them are similar. Everybody has their own comfort level, style and body type. If you have been playing baseball for any length of time you more than likely have a position which you feel
most comfortable in, stay with that. Just make sure you get to a simple, proper load position similar to the one shown here in the photograph. The key points to a good load:
· The weight moves primarily onto the inner portion of the back leg and foot.
· The front shoulder closes slightly, automatically loading the hands and tilting the bat head forward toward the pitcher (knob looks at the catcher).
· The front knee kicks inward (show the pitcher your pocket) this move cocks the hips.
· The player is stacked, meaning from the bottom of the back side to the top everything is aligned. The foot is under the knee, the knee under the hip, shoulder and hands stacked above
the hip.
From this position the player is in a well-balanced, loaded position that allows him to attack the incoming pitch. Watch the Major Leaguers. You will see most players reach this position at
some point, no matter what their stance looked like when they started.
Step 2 - The Step
This is a much more critical portion of the swing than most people give credit to. The load stage gets the hitter in synch with the pitcher. The step stage gets the hitter in synch with the
pitched ball. Which are you hitting, the pitcher or the pitch? See my point? Timing is the most important component in hitting. An excellent swing poorly timed will likely get no results. By
contrast, a poor swing properly timed will likely result in success. The key points to a good step:
· Short is sweet. 6-12" is more than sufficient, some players simply pick the foot up and put it right back down. This depends on the width of your original stance.
· Land on the pad near the big toe… softly.
· Keep the weight primarily to the rear leg. This is the "stay back" you always hear from coaches. Moving the weight forward to the front leg causes the head to move forward as well.
This is bad news for a hitter. The head must remain in the same location it was in during the load phase.
Time your step between the release point and about 10 feet from the pitcher. Early is much better than late. A late step makes it nearly impossible to hit. Remember, it is step then
swing… not, step and swing. They are separate.
The importance of the steady head position cannot be overstated. When the head moves forward, the eyes move as well. The visual system is providing information to the brain relative
to the ball's position in space. When the eyes move forward it causes the brain (computing the incoming data on the ball) to calculate .. re-calculate.. calculate.. re-calculate regarding the
point the player should intercept the ball with the bat. That is simply asking too much given the time frame. So, a steady head allows the brain to compute the information correctly the
first time. Small step, weight back, steady head.
Step 3 - Launch the Hips
The third movement in the Sweet Swing sequence is the launching of the hips. This movement is the cornerstone of the power generated in a baseball swing. I have referred to this
movement as the "coiling and uncoiling" in previous articles. The launching of the hips is the beginning of the torque phase of the baseball swing. The big muscles of the lower body (the
hips and legs) are moving one way, while the big muscles of the upper body are ever so slightly moving the other way or remaining stationary… coiling against each other to create the
powerful torque necessary for a Sweet Swing. The key points to launching the hips:
· The player fires the rear hip forward toward the pitcher.
· The head does not move forward, everything rotates under the head.
· The hands do not move forward (They will move a little on their own).
· The rear elbow tucks to the hip. This movement directs the knob of the bat toward the ball.
· Most of the player's weight remains on the rear leg with some weight moving to the firming front leg.
From this point in the swing sequence everything happens at super speed. It is almost impossible to distinguish the movements from each other because of the incredible speed
generated from the proper hip action. It is imperative that you practice these movements in slow motion to fully ingrain the actions to muscle memory. Again, the head does not move!
Rotate under the head. The hands not moving forward allows the player to react to the speed of the pitched ball. For a fastball, the player will obviously launch the hands almost
immediately to time the contact. For an off-speed, the player simply waits for the ball to near the contact point before launching the hands. This is the "keep your hands back" command
you hear so often from coaches. Ingraining this Sweet Swing to muscle memory makes that an automatic occurrence.
Step 4 - Launch the Hands
This is the only phase in the swing that most fans are aware of. They either see the player hit the ball or miss it when the player swings the bat with his hands. In actuality, if the player
incorporates the previously addressed motions to muscle memory, this is the easiest part of the swing. Providing, of course, that the player has some measure of hand-eye coordination.
Simply launch your hands at the ball… aggressively! This is no time to be passive, trust your hands and attack the ball. With the previous three steps already set in motion, the player
has generated enough torque to propel the bathead at speeds matching or exceeding that of the pitched ball. The ball travels a total of 60 feet at those speeds, whereas the bathead
travels only a handful of feet from the start of the swing to the point of contact. Great hitters are naturally more adept at this all important timing sequence. But the simple truth is
confidence in your swing can play a tremendous role in your success. The key points to Launching the Hands to contact:
· The knob driving toward the ball begins the sequence.
· The wrists flick, or snap the barrel to contact.
· The top hand is in a palm up position at the point of contact.
· The bottom hand is in a palm down position at contact.
· The front leg is firm and creates resistance for the body to propel the bathead.
· The head stays steady.
Again, the last line is the key. The head stays steady. If the information provided by the visual system never changes you will have greater success in contacting the ball. Of course, the
ball will move more in the last few feet. This is partially due to it losing speed and having gravity affect it's path. This is why hitting is so difficult. The key is not to have information
change (the brain computing where the ball and bathead will meet) as a result of anything the batter does. If information changes because of the talent of the pitcher throwing a moving
fastball, or fantastic curve, so be it. Tip your hat. If the hitter keeps his head still and takes a short, linear approach to the ball, he has a better than average chance to succeed. Trust
your hands.
Step 5 - Extend (The Power V)
The fifth step seems unnecessary. After all, we have already hit the ball. Isn't that the object? Well, the key to being a good hitter is being able to hit the ball with authority. If you don't
power through the ball, you may as well bunt every time. You have to accelerate through the ball much like a boxer punches through a heavy bag. Contact is important, accelerating
through the contact point is imperative. The key points to the Power V:
· The hands do not roll over!
· They finish their flicking motion started at contact.
· Centrifugal force powers the bathead through the zone.
· The front leg firms up and straightens out creating leverage for the bathead to swing around.
· The player's head looks directly down the 'V', chin down.
· Some players lift off the rear foot as a result of the tremendous centrifugal force generated by the bathead, transferring even more body weight through contact.
This sequence is taking place at such incredible speed it is hard to imagine. By slowing it down to this stop system we can see how important the little aspects are in creating the levers
and fulcrums that generate the force propelling the bathead at such amazing speeds. Most important to note is that the centrifugal forces we generated from the earlier hip action are
what is actually whipping the bathead through the zone. The hands are actually opposing forces on the handle, creating even more torque! If a player were to release the bat it would
fly a tremendous distance. How many times have we seen a bat fly into the stands 80-100 feet away after slipping out of the player's hand? This is a result of the centrifugal forces
generated with the Sweet Swing mechanics.
Step 6 - Extend Again (Finish the Swing!)
Here is where the hands finally roll over. The wrists are required to roll in order to re-direct the forces from their final stage of centripetal motion (directly out the barrel head at the
Power V position) to centrifugal again (around the body). This wrist rolling also allows the bathead to decelerate more naturally. If the wrists were to remain firm it would act as a brake
to the bat and the player would lose power and distance. The famous Charlie Lau theory was to release the top hand to prevent the bathead from decelerating as a result of this
resistance. This created more extension in the swing and, according to some experts, more power to the baseball. Problems occur when most young player's release too soon and
therefore lose vital control of the bathead's path. Most great power hitters of the past had a more natural finish around the body. Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Babe
Ruth, just to name a few, had this type of finish to their swing. The key points to a good finish:
· The top hand rolls over.
· The bottom hand rolls over and the wrist collapses.
· The hands finish at the shoulder or just below.
· The bathead wraps around the back of the hitter.
The great announcer Vin Scully has a wonderful saying about players that have warning track power; balls that don't quite get over the fence for a homerun. "One more biscuit for
breakfast and that baby is gone!" Well, you can find that "one more biscuit" in your finish. Don't decelerate the bathead after you hit the ball. Continue powering through the ball and let
the bat wrap around your back before it stops. I think you'll find some extra power there that can make a difference between a homerun and a ball caught at the wall.
We are talking about a very short time frame here… less than half a second. But ingraining the muscle memory into these steps of the swing will insure that the player executes them in
the proper sequence during that short time span. Repetition will mold the steps into one Sweet Swing. Practice them in stop form one phase at a time: Load-stop, Step-stop, Hips-stop,
Hands-stop, Power V-stop, Finish-stop. Progress to slow motion movements where the stops have less time in between them. Do this slow motion swing over and over and over in
proper sequence. Go back to the stops. Over and over and over. When you find yourself out of synch during BP or Soft Toss, go through your steps in slow motion to remind your body of
the proper sequence to a Sweet Swing.
Hey Coach! You forgot the stance position! Actually, no I didn't. I purposefully left that position out. Look around the Major Leagues, there are hundreds of different stances, very few of
them are similar. Everybody has their own comfort level, style and body type. If you have been playing baseball for any length of time you more than likely have a position which you feel
most comfortable in, stay with that. Just make sure you get to a simple, proper load position similar to the one shown here in the photograph. The key points to a good load:
· The weight moves primarily onto the inner portion of the back leg and foot.
· The front shoulder closes slightly, automatically loading the hands and tilting the bat head forward toward the pitcher (knob looks at the catcher).
· The front knee kicks inward (show the pitcher your pocket) this move cocks the hips.
· The player is stacked, meaning from the bottom of the back side to the top everything is aligned. The foot is under the knee, the knee under the hip, shoulder and hands stacked above
the hip.
From this position the player is in a well-balanced, loaded position that allows him to attack the incoming pitch. Watch the Major Leaguers. You will see most players reach this position at
some point, no matter what their stance looked like when they started.
Step 2 - The Step
This is a much more critical portion of the swing than most people give credit to. The load stage gets the hitter in synch with the pitcher. The step stage gets the hitter in synch with the
pitched ball. Which are you hitting, the pitcher or the pitch? See my point? Timing is the most important component in hitting. An excellent swing poorly timed will likely get no results. By
contrast, a poor swing properly timed will likely result in success. The key points to a good step:
· Short is sweet. 6-12" is more than sufficient, some players simply pick the foot up and put it right back down. This depends on the width of your original stance.
· Land on the pad near the big toe… softly.
· Keep the weight primarily to the rear leg. This is the "stay back" you always hear from coaches. Moving the weight forward to the front leg causes the head to move forward as well.
This is bad news for a hitter. The head must remain in the same location it was in during the load phase.
Time your step between the release point and about 10 feet from the pitcher. Early is much better than late. A late step makes it nearly impossible to hit. Remember, it is step then
swing… not, step and swing. They are separate.
The importance of the steady head position cannot be overstated. When the head moves forward, the eyes move as well. The visual system is providing information to the brain relative
to the ball's position in space. When the eyes move forward it causes the brain (computing the incoming data on the ball) to calculate .. re-calculate.. calculate.. re-calculate regarding the
point the player should intercept the ball with the bat. That is simply asking too much given the time frame. So, a steady head allows the brain to compute the information correctly the
first time. Small step, weight back, steady head.
Step 3 - Launch the Hips
The third movement in the Sweet Swing sequence is the launching of the hips. This movement is the cornerstone of the power generated in a baseball swing. I have referred to this
movement as the "coiling and uncoiling" in previous articles. The launching of the hips is the beginning of the torque phase of the baseball swing. The big muscles of the lower body (the
hips and legs) are moving one way, while the big muscles of the upper body are ever so slightly moving the other way or remaining stationary… coiling against each other to create the
powerful torque necessary for a Sweet Swing. The key points to launching the hips:
· The player fires the rear hip forward toward the pitcher.
· The head does not move forward, everything rotates under the head.
· The hands do not move forward (They will move a little on their own).
· The rear elbow tucks to the hip. This movement directs the knob of the bat toward the ball.
· Most of the player's weight remains on the rear leg with some weight moving to the firming front leg.
From this point in the swing sequence everything happens at super speed. It is almost impossible to distinguish the movements from each other because of the incredible speed
generated from the proper hip action. It is imperative that you practice these movements in slow motion to fully ingrain the actions to muscle memory. Again, the head does not move!
Rotate under the head. The hands not moving forward allows the player to react to the speed of the pitched ball. For a fastball, the player will obviously launch the hands almost
immediately to time the contact. For an off-speed, the player simply waits for the ball to near the contact point before launching the hands. This is the "keep your hands back" command
you hear so often from coaches. Ingraining this Sweet Swing to muscle memory makes that an automatic occurrence.
Step 4 - Launch the Hands
This is the only phase in the swing that most fans are aware of. They either see the player hit the ball or miss it when the player swings the bat with his hands. In actuality, if the player
incorporates the previously addressed motions to muscle memory, this is the easiest part of the swing. Providing, of course, that the player has some measure of hand-eye coordination.
Simply launch your hands at the ball… aggressively! This is no time to be passive, trust your hands and attack the ball. With the previous three steps already set in motion, the player
has generated enough torque to propel the bathead at speeds matching or exceeding that of the pitched ball. The ball travels a total of 60 feet at those speeds, whereas the bathead
travels only a handful of feet from the start of the swing to the point of contact. Great hitters are naturally more adept at this all important timing sequence. But the simple truth is
confidence in your swing can play a tremendous role in your success. The key points to Launching the Hands to contact:
· The knob driving toward the ball begins the sequence.
· The wrists flick, or snap the barrel to contact.
· The top hand is in a palm up position at the point of contact.
· The bottom hand is in a palm down position at contact.
· The front leg is firm and creates resistance for the body to propel the bathead.
· The head stays steady.
Again, the last line is the key. The head stays steady. If the information provided by the visual system never changes you will have greater success in contacting the ball. Of course, the
ball will move more in the last few feet. This is partially due to it losing speed and having gravity affect it's path. This is why hitting is so difficult. The key is not to have information
change (the brain computing where the ball and bathead will meet) as a result of anything the batter does. If information changes because of the talent of the pitcher throwing a moving
fastball, or fantastic curve, so be it. Tip your hat. If the hitter keeps his head still and takes a short, linear approach to the ball, he has a better than average chance to succeed. Trust
your hands.
Step 5 - Extend (The Power V)
The fifth step seems unnecessary. After all, we have already hit the ball. Isn't that the object? Well, the key to being a good hitter is being able to hit the ball with authority. If you don't
power through the ball, you may as well bunt every time. You have to accelerate through the ball much like a boxer punches through a heavy bag. Contact is important, accelerating
through the contact point is imperative. The key points to the Power V:
· The hands do not roll over!
· They finish their flicking motion started at contact.
· Centrifugal force powers the bathead through the zone.
· The front leg firms up and straightens out creating leverage for the bathead to swing around.
· The player's head looks directly down the 'V', chin down.
· Some players lift off the rear foot as a result of the tremendous centrifugal force generated by the bathead, transferring even more body weight through contact.
This sequence is taking place at such incredible speed it is hard to imagine. By slowing it down to this stop system we can see how important the little aspects are in creating the levers
and fulcrums that generate the force propelling the bathead at such amazing speeds. Most important to note is that the centrifugal forces we generated from the earlier hip action are
what is actually whipping the bathead through the zone. The hands are actually opposing forces on the handle, creating even more torque! If a player were to release the bat it would
fly a tremendous distance. How many times have we seen a bat fly into the stands 80-100 feet away after slipping out of the player's hand? This is a result of the centrifugal forces
generated with the Sweet Swing mechanics.
Step 6 - Extend Again (Finish the Swing!)
Here is where the hands finally roll over. The wrists are required to roll in order to re-direct the forces from their final stage of centripetal motion (directly out the barrel head at the
Power V position) to centrifugal again (around the body). This wrist rolling also allows the bathead to decelerate more naturally. If the wrists were to remain firm it would act as a brake
to the bat and the player would lose power and distance. The famous Charlie Lau theory was to release the top hand to prevent the bathead from decelerating as a result of this
resistance. This created more extension in the swing and, according to some experts, more power to the baseball. Problems occur when most young player's release too soon and
therefore lose vital control of the bathead's path. Most great power hitters of the past had a more natural finish around the body. Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Babe
Ruth, just to name a few, had this type of finish to their swing. The key points to a good finish:
· The top hand rolls over.
· The bottom hand rolls over and the wrist collapses.
· The hands finish at the shoulder or just below.
· The bathead wraps around the back of the hitter.
The great announcer Vin Scully has a wonderful saying about players that have warning track power; balls that don't quite get over the fence for a homerun. "One more biscuit for
breakfast and that baby is gone!" Well, you can find that "one more biscuit" in your finish. Don't decelerate the bathead after you hit the ball. Continue powering through the ball and let
the bat wrap around your back before it stops. I think you'll find some extra power there that can make a difference between a homerun and a ball caught at the wall.
We are talking about a very short time frame here… less than half a second. But ingraining the muscle memory into these steps of the swing will insure that the player executes them in
the proper sequence during that short time span. Repetition will mold the steps into one Sweet Swing. Practice them in stop form one phase at a time: Load-stop, Step-stop, Hips-stop,
Hands-stop, Power V-stop, Finish-stop. Progress to slow motion movements where the stops have less time in between them. Do this slow motion swing over and over and over in
proper sequence. Go back to the stops. Over and over and over. When you find yourself out of synch during BP or Soft Toss, go through your steps in slow motion to remind your body of
the proper sequence to a Sweet Swing.
6 STEP HITTING
GRADUATING BAT WEIGHTS
This is the key to creating quickness. The wrist roll exercise is to develop strength which is important, but this is the secret.
If you have been playing baseball for a few years, you probably have a few different sizes of bats laying around in the garage. Go get them. They are your tools for success. Ideally, you
need at least three graduating sizes of bats. A tee-ball bat (maybe 16 oz. in weight), a Little League bat (approximately 20-23 oz. in weight), and a Senior League bat (about 27 oz.).
You also need a weighted bat, or a device to weight your heaviest bat such as a "donut" or "power fins". Additionally, you need an extremely light bat, such as the mini collector bats. If
you can’t get one of these, you can use a cut down piece of broom stick. You have to have this progression in order to make this system work.
Set your "tools" in progressive order near you from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the middle bat, taking some smooth, easy cuts. Just loosen up. Take about 15-20 cuts like this and
get your muscles prepared to work. Do a little stretching, make sure your muscles are prepared before you stress them.
Okay, you are set to begin your workout. Again, with the middle bat, get in a fundamentally sound stance and imagine a ball in your power zone. Take a solid, balanced, but powerful cut
at that imaginary ball. Concentrate on your rhythm, your cocking, your timing kick and exploding your hands to the ball. Exaggerate squashing the bug and the follow through.
Concentrate on finishing balanced. The perfect swing, that’s what you want every time. Repeat this 10 times. Set the bat down and graduate to the next heaviest bat. Repeat the same
process. Set that bat down and progress to your weighted bat. Repeat. Concentrate on doing everything perfect. Now, start back down the line of bats. When you get to that super light
bat, you should be swinging with tremendous speed. Bat quickness! Rip those hands through the strike zone with all of your might! Again, do not forsake form. Drill the proper form into
your swing by concentrating on doing everything correctly. Finish balanced, every time.
For the first week this is all you do. One time through the bat progression. The second week, go for two times through. From the third week on, try to get three "sets" in during each
session. Do this routine Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week.
Wrist roll on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graduated bat workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You will be amazed at the difference in your bat speed and
power by the time that six week period is over. I am certain that you will not be the only one to notice. In fact, I am certain you will be approached by at least one of your teammates
and probably one of your coaches. They too will be impressed. That should be all the incentive you need to continue what you are doing. Dedication.
This drill is undoubtedly capable of putting a tremendous amount of power in your hitting if you are disciplined enough to do the drill properly, have the desire to turn yourself into a
better hitter, and are dedicated enough to continue it even in the off-season. Make yourself into the great hitter that you
This is the key to creating quickness. The wrist roll exercise is to develop strength which is important, but this is the secret.
If you have been playing baseball for a few years, you probably have a few different sizes of bats laying around in the garage. Go get them. They are your tools for success. Ideally, you
need at least three graduating sizes of bats. A tee-ball bat (maybe 16 oz. in weight), a Little League bat (approximately 20-23 oz. in weight), and a Senior League bat (about 27 oz.).
You also need a weighted bat, or a device to weight your heaviest bat such as a "donut" or "power fins". Additionally, you need an extremely light bat, such as the mini collector bats. If
you can’t get one of these, you can use a cut down piece of broom stick. You have to have this progression in order to make this system work.
Set your "tools" in progressive order near you from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the middle bat, taking some smooth, easy cuts. Just loosen up. Take about 15-20 cuts like this and
get your muscles prepared to work. Do a little stretching, make sure your muscles are prepared before you stress them.
Okay, you are set to begin your workout. Again, with the middle bat, get in a fundamentally sound stance and imagine a ball in your power zone. Take a solid, balanced, but powerful cut
at that imaginary ball. Concentrate on your rhythm, your cocking, your timing kick and exploding your hands to the ball. Exaggerate squashing the bug and the follow through.
Concentrate on finishing balanced. The perfect swing, that’s what you want every time. Repeat this 10 times. Set the bat down and graduate to the next heaviest bat. Repeat the same
process. Set that bat down and progress to your weighted bat. Repeat. Concentrate on doing everything perfect. Now, start back down the line of bats. When you get to that super light
bat, you should be swinging with tremendous speed. Bat quickness! Rip those hands through the strike zone with all of your might! Again, do not forsake form. Drill the proper form into
your swing by concentrating on doing everything correctly. Finish balanced, every time.
For the first week this is all you do. One time through the bat progression. The second week, go for two times through. From the third week on, try to get three "sets" in during each
session. Do this routine Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week.
Wrist roll on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graduated bat workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You will be amazed at the difference in your bat speed and
power by the time that six week period is over. I am certain that you will not be the only one to notice. In fact, I am certain you will be approached by at least one of your teammates
and probably one of your coaches. They too will be impressed. That should be all the incentive you need to continue what you are doing. Dedication.
This drill is undoubtedly capable of putting a tremendous amount of power in your hitting if you are disciplined enough to do the drill properly, have the desire to turn yourself into a
better hitter, and are dedicated enough to continue it even in the off-season. Make yourself into the great hitter that you
BAT SPEED DRILLS
The proper mental attitude for a hitter is to first understand that you will fail more times than you succeed. Notice I didn't say accept failure, I said understand that you will fail. There is a
big difference between the two.
To illustrate the difficulty of hitting a pitched ball, the greatest hitters that ever played the game "failed" nearly seven of every ten times they stepped to the plate!
The last player to hit for an average of .400 or better was Ted Williams, in 1941! Nearly 60 years have passed. Since then every player has failed a minimum of 60% of the time. Every
single player for nearly 60 years has failed more often than he has succeeded!
That said, what is failure? In the scene I described earlier in the book about the hitter who made an out moving his teammate into scoring position, did he fail? According to his batting
average, yes he did. But every member of his team congratulated him. This player did not fail. Just because you do not reach base safely does not mean you fail.
When you look at a strike three with two outs and the bases loaded, with the outcome of the game on the line, you have failed. You know what? Its going to happen. Nobody is perfect.
If you swing at that same pitch and miss, have you failed? Yes. Should you stomp to the dugout, throw your bat, your helmet and kick everything in sight? Never.
big difference between the two.
To illustrate the difficulty of hitting a pitched ball, the greatest hitters that ever played the game "failed" nearly seven of every ten times they stepped to the plate!
The last player to hit for an average of .400 or better was Ted Williams, in 1941! Nearly 60 years have passed. Since then every player has failed a minimum of 60% of the time. Every
single player for nearly 60 years has failed more often than he has succeeded!
That said, what is failure? In the scene I described earlier in the book about the hitter who made an out moving his teammate into scoring position, did he fail? According to his batting
average, yes he did. But every member of his team congratulated him. This player did not fail. Just because you do not reach base safely does not mean you fail.
When you look at a strike three with two outs and the bases loaded, with the outcome of the game on the line, you have failed. You know what? Its going to happen. Nobody is perfect.
If you swing at that same pitch and miss, have you failed? Yes. Should you stomp to the dugout, throw your bat, your helmet and kick everything in sight? Never.
What I tell young players is this: If you tried your best and failed, that's the way it goes. Grab the barrel of your bat, run to the dugout and say these words "I'll get ‘em next time!" Say
them out loud.
This is what is known as positive affirmation. You are telling yourself that you will do better next time. Be positive. Nothing negative should ever be spoken by a ball player on a ball field.
Positive thoughts and positive statements get positive results.
If you learn at an early age to grab the barrel of the bat and run to the dugout with a positive outlook, you will carry that approach with you wherever you go. In competition, or in life. . .
get ‘em next time
them out loud.
This is what is known as positive affirmation. You are telling yourself that you will do better next time. Be positive. Nothing negative should ever be spoken by a ball player on a ball field.
Positive thoughts and positive statements get positive results.
If you learn at an early age to grab the barrel of the bat and run to the dugout with a positive outlook, you will carry that approach with you wherever you go. In competition, or in life. . .
get ‘em next time
MENTAL APPROACH 90% OF THE GAME
GRADUATING BAT WEIGHTS
This is the key to creating quickness. The wrist roll exercise is to develop strength which is important, but this is the secret.
If you have been playing baseball for a few years, you probably have a few different sizes of bats laying around in the garage. Go get them. They are your tools for success. Ideally, you
need at least three graduating sizes of bats. A tee-ball bat (maybe 16 oz. in weight), a Little League bat (approximately 20-23 oz. in weight), and a Senior League bat (about 27 oz.).
You also need a weighted bat, or a device to weight your heaviest bat such as a "donut" or "power fins". Additionally, you need an extremely light bat, such as the mini collector bats. If
you can’t get one of these, you can use a cut down piece of broom stick. You have to have this progression in order to make this system work.
Set your "tools" in progressive order near you from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the middle bat, taking some smooth, easy cuts. Just loosen up. Take about 15-20 cuts like this and
get your muscles prepared to work. Do a little stretching, make sure your muscles are prepared before you stress them.
Okay, you are set to begin your workout. Again, with the middle bat, get in a fundamentally sound stance and imagine a ball in your power zone. Take a solid, balanced, but powerful cut
at that imaginary ball. Concentrate on your rhythm, your cocking, your timing kick and exploding your hands to the ball. Exaggerate squashing the bug and the follow through.
Concentrate on finishing balanced. The perfect swing, that’s what you want every time. Repeat this 10 times. Set the bat down and graduate to the next heaviest bat. Repeat the same
process. Set that bat down and progress to your weighted bat. Repeat. Concentrate on doing everything perfect. Now, start back down the line of bats. When you get to that super light
bat, you should be swinging with tremendous speed. Bat quickness! Rip those hands through the strike zone with all of your might! Again, do not forsake form. Drill the proper form into
your swing by concentrating on doing everything correctly. Finish balanced, every time.
For the first week this is all you do. One time through the bat progression. The second week, go for two times through. From the third week on, try to get three "sets" in during each
session. Do this routine Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week.
Wrist roll on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graduated bat workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You will be amazed at the difference in your bat speed and
power by the time that six week period is over. I am certain that you will not be the only one to notice. In fact, I am certain you will be approached by at least one of your teammates
and probably one of your coaches. They too will be impressed. That should be all the incentive you need to continue what you are doing. Dedication.
This drill is undoubtedly capable of putting a tremendous amount of power in your hitting if you are disciplined enough to do the drill properly, have the desire to turn yourself into a
better hitter, and are dedicated enough to continue it even in the off-season. Make yourself into the great hitter that you
This is the key to creating quickness. The wrist roll exercise is to develop strength which is important, but this is the secret.
If you have been playing baseball for a few years, you probably have a few different sizes of bats laying around in the garage. Go get them. They are your tools for success. Ideally, you
need at least three graduating sizes of bats. A tee-ball bat (maybe 16 oz. in weight), a Little League bat (approximately 20-23 oz. in weight), and a Senior League bat (about 27 oz.).
You also need a weighted bat, or a device to weight your heaviest bat such as a "donut" or "power fins". Additionally, you need an extremely light bat, such as the mini collector bats. If
you can’t get one of these, you can use a cut down piece of broom stick. You have to have this progression in order to make this system work.
Set your "tools" in progressive order near you from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the middle bat, taking some smooth, easy cuts. Just loosen up. Take about 15-20 cuts like this and
get your muscles prepared to work. Do a little stretching, make sure your muscles are prepared before you stress them.
Okay, you are set to begin your workout. Again, with the middle bat, get in a fundamentally sound stance and imagine a ball in your power zone. Take a solid, balanced, but powerful cut
at that imaginary ball. Concentrate on your rhythm, your cocking, your timing kick and exploding your hands to the ball. Exaggerate squashing the bug and the follow through.
Concentrate on finishing balanced. The perfect swing, that’s what you want every time. Repeat this 10 times. Set the bat down and graduate to the next heaviest bat. Repeat the same
process. Set that bat down and progress to your weighted bat. Repeat. Concentrate on doing everything perfect. Now, start back down the line of bats. When you get to that super light
bat, you should be swinging with tremendous speed. Bat quickness! Rip those hands through the strike zone with all of your might! Again, do not forsake form. Drill the proper form into
your swing by concentrating on doing everything correctly. Finish balanced, every time.
For the first week this is all you do. One time through the bat progression. The second week, go for two times through. From the third week on, try to get three "sets" in during each
session. Do this routine Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week.
Wrist roll on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graduated bat workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You will be amazed at the difference in your bat speed and
power by the time that six week period is over. I am certain that you will not be the only one to notice. In fact, I am certain you will be approached by at least one of your teammates
and probably one of your coaches. They too will be impressed. That should be all the incentive you need to continue what you are doing. Dedication.
This drill is undoubtedly capable of putting a tremendous amount of power in your hitting if you are disciplined enough to do the drill properly, have the desire to turn yourself into a
better hitter, and are dedicated enough to continue it even in the off-season. Make yourself into the great hitter that you
BAT SPEED QUICKNESS DRILLS
10% GOES TO
LOCAL
LITTLE LEAGUES
LOCAL
LITTLE LEAGUES