A hitter is only as good as the decisions he/she makes and this relates to having a good hitting approach.
Having a good swing is useless if a hitter has a poor approach and makes bad decisions. The strike zone exists so the hitter has a fair opportunity to hit the ball hard. Hitters usually experience poor results due to:
- Taking a strike that should have been smashed
- Missing a good pitch to hit
- Swinging at balls
Good hitters are selective aggressive hitters – looking to do damage within the first 3 pitches of an at-bat. Almost every pitching coach wants their pitcher to throw strike one and to get 2/3 pitches over for strikes to begin an at-bat. Hitters – you are going to get a competitive fastball to hit prior to two strikes, be ready for it and smash it! No one should be taking a pitch for the sake of taking a pitch.
This means they are hunting zones where their swing plays the best and putting the brakes on anything else. For the most part, hitters should hunt the fastball early; Yes yes YES!
In the hole (2 batters away from being up to bat).
- Prepare your equipment and mentally start getting ready for your at bat.
- What is the scenario that is taking place right now?
- What could the scenario be when you’re up to bat?
- Start paying attention to the pitcher, where she is throwing, what is she throwing
- Can you pick up her change up grip or any grip?
- Working on timing
- Working on watching their delivery
On Deck
- Get a sense of rhythm and timing
- You should be watching the pitcher and taking dry cuts as if you were up to bat
- Syncing your swing up with the pitcher
- Continue gathering information on the pitcher and mentally prepare for what your roll may be
At Bat
- You walk up to that plate knowing you are the best batter on this planet
- You should have some type of routine. You wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom, brush your teeth, brush your hair, take a shower..etc. You should do the same thing when you’re at bat because it becomes habit and makes you relaxed and focused
- Take a controlled breath…deep breath in, hold it for a few seconds then breathe out
- What 2 parts of the plate are you looking for on your first pitch? Middle away or Middle in?
- What height (even though we should all be looking belly button and lower)
- Aggressiveness under control
- When you swing it needs to always be your best cut. You want to do damage. Don’t take a half swing. If You are saying Yes Yes YES let it fly and hit the ball hard. DO DAMAGE! It isn’t a Yes yes maybe approach.
