Here’s a great tip from one of MLBs best hitters in the past 30 years. Don Mattingly shares some great advice in not trying to do too much with a pitch, waiting for something to hit and approaching every at bat the same way, regardless of the game situation or pressure involved. Yes, easier said that done…but good advice nonetheless.   Enjoy…

We all know that practice is essential for becoming a better hitter. But keep in mind that not all practice is created equal. In this clip, Don Mattingly says a few words about trying to get the most out of your training sessions and batting practice.

The keys here are starting slow and keeping your head still.  Moving your eyes even a few inches can be devastating for making good, consistent contact.  Watch Don’s tips for keeping everything in order to see the ball better, maintain a good swing and reduce your chances of striking out.

If you have used good fundamentals in all of the steps leading up the swing, you are probably in good shape.  For these initial hitting tips, we want to keep it simple and he swing should just finish the motion you already started.  In this clip, Don also touches on the importance of proper follow though. 

Now, for some of you who are more advanced, you might want to contribute some other points or have additional questions.  For example, in this clip, Don talks about the issue of swinging up or down to the ball.   There’s also the issue of where you want to make contact with the ball, etc.  Rest assured, there is more coming and we will address these and other important issues.  But for now, we’ll keep to the basics and follow Don’s good advice.   Enjoy!

This is a great video tip. This is clip 3 in a 7 part series done by Don Mattingly.   A lot of hitters get in trouble with the stride so heed Don’s advice here. “Watch the first step…it’s a doozy”. That really holds true for hitting the baseball.  If you get yourself into a bad position with a poor first step, it may be difficult to recover.   The stride should be a soft step or touch…because the weight hasn’t transfered yet.   Keep your weight back…make a soft stride and then transfer your weight through the ball for maximum power and impact. Watch Don explain.

In order to put yourself in the right position for success, a proper setup is critical.  As shown in this video with Don Mattingly, if you put yourself back in the batter’s box, you have a little more time to recognize and react to the pitch. You also want to have your feet in pretty much of a straight line to be able to see the ball and rotate the hips…without being so open that you can’t hit the outside pitch.  Here’s the video clip.

Heres’s the first video in a 7 part series put on by Don Mattingly of Mattingly Sports.  This first video focuses on the critical element of the grip.  That grip may seem simple but it can cause a lot ofmajor problems if done wrong.  Some of the key elements of a proper grip are to have the bat in the fingers…not the palms and to line up the “door knocking” knuckles.    Here’s the first video.

Here’s a video that was made to demonstrate what is meant by “staying back”.   It’s a bit technical and a little long but there are some good points here.

I would also add that if you can “stay back” and not lunge at the ball, you will be able to keep you head more still, which allows you to better see the ball. You will also have a much better chance of hitting an off speed pitch.

Here’s a cool little video showing a young player using the Insider Bat. Looks like the Insider Bat batting trainer is working for this kid.   Notice how he is quick, directly to the ball and then extends through impact.   Nice stroke!

Here’s a new video from Justin Ruchti, a member of the 2003 National Champion Rice Owls and former member of the Seattle Mariners. It’s a little long at just under ten minutes but if you are curious about what the Insider Bat is all about, you should check it out.

He gives an in-depth breakdown of what it’s good for, how and why it was designed, which hitting problems it solves and which drills you can do with it.

He also clarifies how to size the Insider Bat to know which model is right for you or your hitter.

Here’s a nice video from Ripken Baseball talking about using the Tee for batting practice. We all know that when you bring out the tee at practice the kids start to groan. But as we learn in this video, even the major leaguers hit off the tee every day. The key in this video is focusing on practicing the coil and weight shift. Since the ball isn’t moving, you can really take your time and practice getting your weight through the ball for more power. Enjoy!

For a young baseball player, one of the most difficult parts of a swing to master is the stride. The stride, however, is one of the most important aspects of the swing because not only does it help with the hitter’s timing, but it also helps to generate power. Therefore, it is vital that a baseball coach helps the hitter to isolate each part of the stride and understand what the most important aspects of the stride entail.

For this drill, all that is needed is a bat and a helmet. This is a great way to start off a batting practice because you can coach the player before any balls are thrown. You can then incorporate balls into it once the hitter has mastered the stride, which will allow him or her to see the results of taking a proper stride immediately.

To start this drill, have the hitter line up in his or her batting stance, just like he or she would do in a game. The coach will then go into a windup and throw a simulated pitch. The player will then coil and stride, without completing the swing. He or she is to freeze once the stride has been taken to see where his or her body ends up during this process.

The first thing that you are looking for in this case is a proper distribution of weight. If too much weight has gone forward at this point, the hitter will end up lunging for the ball, which will lead to a weakly hit ball or a swinging strike. The weight will come forward when the hips are turned but during the stride, most of the weight should still be back.

Secondly, you will want to look at the hitter’s hands. At this point in the process, the hands should still be back and they should not have dropped. The hands will come through the strike zone as the hips drive through but at this stage, the hands should still be back.

The body should also remain in the same alignment as the original stance. Many players begin bending their knees at this point in the swing, which can throw the body’s entire alignment off. This leads to the player swinging through the ball, as he or she cannot readjust to make up for the bent knees.

The player’s head should also be at the same height, which goes hand in hand with not bending the knees. In addition, the back should remain in the same alignment, so you are basically attempting to keep the body as still as possible while you take your stride. The more movement that they player has, the more likely he or she is to end up misaligned, which will produce an ineffective swing.

Have your players repeat this drill until they are able to produce the exact stride that you want to see. Have the players step out of the batter’s box before each stride and receive a sign from the third base coach. That way, a proper stride will become a part of their routine and can be incorporated into every swing.

Here is a video with Josh Hamilton in a hitting clinic talking about proper hitting mechanics.  The sound quality is poor but you might find it interesting.

For those who are interested in understanding swing mechanics, you might find this video interesting. This is a video of a swing analysis of Manny Ramirez. It’s a bit long…around eight minutes but effectively highlights some of the key hitting fundaments by watching one of baseball’s best hitters.