Keep the Front Side Closed
Ever wonder how Vlad Guerrero can hit the ball so well with such an ugly swing? Take a look at how well and how long he keeps his front side in. He really doesn't have a bad swing, what makes him look so bad is his pitch selection. He swings at bad pitches constantly, however he makes such great adjustments during the swing that he is still able to be successful. How is he able to make such
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great adjustments? Well he has great hands and eyes, but I also believe it is because he is able to keep his front side closed for so long. One of the keys to hitting off speed pitches is learning to keep the hands back and the front side closed. Vlad does this as well as anyone in the game. When he gets fooled on a pitch he doesn't let his front side fly open prematurely. Take a look at the picture to the left. His hips and hands have started to the ball but his front shoulder is still closed. At this stage of the swing, most hitters' front shoulder (especially amateur hitters) has already opened up.
Most hitters today are being taught to hit one pitch in one location. They are being taught to wait for "their" pitch. What if they don't get "their" pitch in that at bat? If they don't get "their" pitch, then they probably won't have a successful at bat.
How about teaching hitters to hit every pitch in the strike zone! If you can hit every pitch in the strike zone you will become a complete hitter. I train my hitters to hit every pitch in the strike zone. When I say every pitch in the strike zone that is exactly what I mean. From the top of the zone to the bottom and at least two balls inside and outside the zone. I train my hitters to be complete hitters. If you're facing a pitcher with good control, who makes few mistakes, you will have a better chance to succeed against him if you're confident of hitting every pitch in the strike zone. If your plan is to wait for "your" pitch against that type of pitcher, then you're going to have a long, frustrating day at the plate.
Most hitter are not encouraged enough to work on their weaknesses. It's obviously more fun to work on something that you already do well. For example, a dead pull hitter with power goes into the cage and works on hitting nothing but inside pitches. What has he accomplished? Nothing. If you're a dead pull hitter with tremendous power, you are only a one dimensional hitter. All it takes to get you out is an outside pitch that you are likely to roll-over on and hit a weak ground ball to an infielder. Against a pitcher with good control you're an easy out. You are a control pitcher's dream. Your power is no threat if the pitcher keeps the ball away from you. However, if that same hitter learns to hit outside pitches well, he becomes a serious threat. That is what makes a hitter like Albert Pujols such a serious threat. He's learned to hit every pitch in the strike zone well. He is also a home run threat to every part of the field. Pitchers are not just concerned about missing in one part of the strike zone to Pujols, they are concerned about putting the ball in the strike zone, period!
How about teaching hitters to hit every pitch in the strike zone! If you can hit every pitch in the strike zone you will become a complete hitter. I train my hitters to hit every pitch in the strike zone. When I say every pitch in the strike zone that is exactly what I mean. From the top of the zone to the bottom and at least two balls inside and outside the zone. I train my hitters to be complete hitters. If you're facing a pitcher with good control, who makes few mistakes, you will have a better chance to succeed against him if you're confident of hitting every pitch in the strike zone. If your plan is to wait for "your" pitch against that type of pitcher, then you're going to have a long, frustrating day at the plate.
Most hitter are not encouraged enough to work on their weaknesses. It's obviously more fun to work on something that you already do well. For example, a dead pull hitter with power goes into the cage and works on hitting nothing but inside pitches. What has he accomplished? Nothing. If you're a dead pull hitter with tremendous power, you are only a one dimensional hitter. All it takes to get you out is an outside pitch that you are likely to roll-over on and hit a weak ground ball to an infielder. Against a pitcher with good control you're an easy out. You are a control pitcher's dream. Your power is no threat if the pitcher keeps the ball away from you. However, if that same hitter learns to hit outside pitches well, he becomes a serious threat. That is what makes a hitter like Albert Pujols such a serious threat. He's learned to hit every pitch in the strike zone well. He is also a home run threat to every part of the field. Pitchers are not just concerned about missing in one part of the strike zone to Pujols, they are concerned about putting the ball in the strike zone, period!
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