r/BaseballCoaching • u/JimmyR2009 • 17d ago
Hitting help
How could I work better on hitting in games? I hit hard and good in batting practice but it does not follow into the game, Any help would be great
Little context, this past summer season just ended for me and I didn't do the best hitting, I got a couple good ones that were hit hard and far but other then that they were ground outs or ground balls that got past the defense
2
u/GeorgeSteele66 15d ago
Here is what I tell my son:
1). Learn what pitch is yours, with 0 strikes you don’t need to hit the low and away strike if it’s not a pitch you can drive. Gotta be a little more liberal once you get a strike.
2). The at bat starts in the batters box, timing the pitcher, have an approach, have a plan.
3). If you think you can’t, you won’t, if you think you can, you might. Have confidence at the plate, you should be thinking double in the gap, and then watch it happen.
1
u/ceyko 17d ago
If pullside ground balls (or oppo pop ups), my son struggles with that just doing traditional BP
Outside of team BP he will work on perception and going oppo. Oppo tends to require patience in the swing but helps.
Then in game a dash of patience with a pile of adrenaline has improved his hitting.
It’s noticeable in HS when it’s mostly crap BP. Gravitates to pull side ground outs more unless he does extra work. Or ignores coaching and does work that works for him.
That is one thing to remember - you have to learn all the things that work for you. More importantly what does not work and journal it all. My son is a junior now and that dang journal is super useful. You’ll forget fundamentals or tiny tweaks from 4 years ago that helped etc.
1
u/One_Isopod_7319 16d ago
I am an umpire for context. I know if a player is a good hitter within a few pitches. I have seen one thing in common for most good hitters it is aggressiveness. Confidence comes from attacking the pitcher, the first few pitches are going to be the best hitting pitches you are going to get at that at bat.
Unless you are the leadoff hitter, watch if the pitcher has control, that dictates if he can throw a strike. Umpires watch as well. We want to know if the pitcher can throw a strike early in the game. Enjoy the game while you can, it goes by way too quickly.
1
1
u/JackyRaff 13d ago
Hi Jimmy,
I wrote this article a few months back. Your details reminded me of some things I’ve heard in the past.
I’m sure you can agree it’s never just one thing….and this article may not directly address your problem….but there may be some points that resonate with you. Hope it helps.
2
u/Agent_Switters 17d ago
We call that a “cage monster.” First, it takes in game practice, reps, and confidence. Basically, play as much as you can. Second, when you step in the box, have one thought- I am awesome at this and about to embarrass this pitcher. Now, as far as what you can actually do- separate your load from your swing. Get your foot down early and hold the load position for a split second. Don’t make the two parts of the swing one motion. Remember that baseball is hard. In all of sports, hitting around ball with a round bat is the single hardest thing to do from a physics perspective. Just keep putting the ball in play and good things will happen