How to Improve Batting Average and Get Full Contact When Hitting a Baseball

How to Improve Batting Average and Get Full Contact When Hitting a Baseball
By Guest Author Joe Brockoff

Young or old, new to the game or not, no one likes to strike out. So, when I see players struggling with making contact while at bat I simply ask, "How do you feel at the plate?" Most often, the response is the same, "Coach, I'm not seeing the ball."

My response? Use your imagination. Throughout my career in baseball, I've developed hitting drills that convert complex techniques into easy-to-learn applications using imagery. My system is practically fool proof, requiring only a player's willingness to imagine and a desire to succeed.

So how can we use imagery to help batters "see the ball?"

The Problem: "I can't see the ball."

We hear players say it all the time, especially after striking out. Following the ball from pitch to plate is a serious challenge for many hitters, yet we know that the ability to read the pitch and make proper judgment is as important as anything in becoming an efficient hitter. This also decreases rushing and increases confidence.

The Super 8 Hitting System Solution: "Visualize the Target"

Let's imagine that the ball is a target. If we want to hit the bull's eye on a target, then it is necessary to aim for the bull's eye. If the outer ring will give us 10 points, and the bull's eye will give us 100 points, what part do we focus on? The bull's eye, of course. It gives us the highest reward.

With this in mind, let's do a few "making connections" hitting drills, using either regular batting practice or a pitching machine.

Drill #1: Loose Body, Full Take

1. Stand in the batter's box. Take a deep breath.

2. Stand tall with a soft body, soft in the hinge joints.

3. As ball is pitched, keep eyes horizontal, placing a quarter-size imaginary red dot in center of ball.

4. Read pitch all the way to catcher, using just the swivel of the head. Move nothing else.

5. Repeat several times.

Drill #2: Stride-Take

1. Begin as in Drill #1.

2. As ball is pitched, load and stride, reading pitch back to catcher.

3. Continue to visualize bull's eye.

4. Important: Do not move hands from starting position.

5. In the stride, front heel remains up, with 30-40% weight now on front side.

6. Hips remain closed.

7. Repeat several times.

Drill #3: Drive-Take, Add the Pivot

1. Begin as in the first two drills.

2. Pivot hips at completion of stride.

3. Important: Hands rotate with body; they do not commit to the pitch.

4. Hitter is now taking pitch in "drive position."

5. Visualize where "cut" or cut line on the ball will be.

6. Read ball to "contact zone" in front of plate.

7. Repeat several times.

Drill #4: Take and Stroke

1. Batter reads pitch in loose body.

2. Visualize the proper cut line and take pitch.

3. Take several full swings, use same cut line.

4. Each time, visualize a positive hit.

5. Repeat several times.

Through repetition, these visualization drills will dramatically improve a batter's hand action. The batter will no longer swing to contact, but snap at the point of contact, yielding a remarkable and measurable improvement in speed and contact-ability.

Hi. I'm Coach Joe Brockoff, a Division I Head Baseball Coach for Tulane University for more than 19 years, and former minor league player for the New York Yankees. Over the years, I've taught thousands of baseball players how to increase batting speed and improve their overall performance on the field. In fact, my proven training system has sent 45 baseball players to the pros.

As a coach committed to continuous improvement, I share my baseball drills, tips, and techniques here so that you will, in turn, inspire and motivate young players to improve their game. I hope you'll visit my web site, the Super 8 Baseball Hitting System at http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com/super-8-hitting-system.html?gclid=CIKf96-17qICFUsJ2godDWdXaw to watch some of my free instructional videos.

Learn more about the Visualizing the Target baseball hitting drill and other proven methods for improving batting speed by visiting my Super 8 Hitting System - http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com/ bestselling baseball training web site and instructional video package, which includes many free youth baseball drills and tips.

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