1.
Introduction
Fast Track,
Shortcut Option
2. The
Preliminaries
Choosing a Bat
Hyperlite
Versus Thicker Wall
Big Barrel
Versus Regular
Loud Versus
Quiet
Metal of the
Month
Sting Stoppers
Wood Versus
Metal
3. Getting
Started
The “Set-Up”—
Foundation for Success
Foot Placement
Grip
Grip Pressure
Body Alignment
“Squared-Up”
Position of the Hands and Elbows
“But That’s
Not What My Favorite Pro Does”
Try Knowing
What You’re Looking At
Common “Square
Up” Disasters
Starting
“Close”
Bat Angle
Balance
Head Position
Getting That
Special Best Look
4. Master
Secret No. 1: Learning to Really
Watch the Ball
Pulling Your
“Head”
“Peaking”
The Challenge
First-Aid Ball
Watching 101
“Out in Front,
Where It’s At”
Practicing
Head to the Bat
5. The
Swing to the Ball
Learning the
Power Chop-Swing
Do Not Pass
“Go”— Before Passing This Test
Swing
Instruction For the Youngest
6. Master
Secret No. 2: Level Swing
A
Side-to-Side, Inside-Out Cut
The “N” in the
“WIN” System: No Uphill Swings
No Uphill
Swings
Never Try to
Lift the Ball
Missing Under
Phenomenon: Top Half Remedy
How To
Miss-Hit the Ball Better
Level Swing
Drills
Finishing Long
Drills
Uppercutting
How to
Identify an Uppercut
7. Master
Secret No. 3: The Secrets of
Timing
The “I” in the
“WIN” System: “In Front” Contact
Out in Front
Batting Practice
Learning the
Hammer and Hammer Rehearsal
Hammer Tee
Drill — Ideal Positions for
Various Pitches
“Hammer”
Training Tools: The Tire
Tennis Racket
Trainer — “Flat-Handed” Hammer
8. The Secrets
of Power
Bat Head Speed
— “Throwing the Bat Head” and
“Quick Twitch”
Quick Twitch
Where’s the
Beef?
Learning an
Explosive Turn “Spotlight Drill”
The Mechanics
of the Weight Shift
Rotational
Hitting Versus Weight Sliding
Harnessing
Power — “Leading With the Knob”
The Barrier
Drill
“Sweeping is
for Brooms”
Coiling and
Wrapping: Extra Power
Hitch Breake
“Wrapping” the
Bat |
9. The
Stride
Stride
Mechanics — Over-Striding
Coiling,
Cocking, and Your Stride
Coil,
Separate, and Launch
“Dead Hands”
Timing Out the
Coiling/ Stride
Step Every
Pitch
Eliminating
Overstriding, “Stepping in the
Bucket,” etc.
The Latest:
the “Back-Step”
10. The
Best Ways to Train Your Hitting
Physical
Strength Training
Dry Swings
The Sand Bat
Medicine Ball
Muscle
The “Speed
Stick” Bat Speed Trainer
The Batting
Tee
Soft Toss
Pepper
The Sock Ball
Drill
Wiffles
Your Local
Batting Cage
Give Them a
“Hand”
Sharp-Shooting
Golf Wiffle Balls
Full Contact
Indoor Hitting — Without Guilt
Home Practice
Area
11.
Advanced Hitting Skills
Advanced
Hitting-the-Ball Stuff
Hitting
Offspeed
Hitting Inside
“Don’t Tense
Up, Stay Loose.”
Getting a Good
Pitch to Hit
Becoming a
Smart Hitter
Two-Strike
Hitting
Advanced
Hitting Aspiring to Greatness —
the Razor’s Edge
Secrets for
“Raising the Bar”
12. Winning
the Mental Game
Sole Swing
Thought
Positive
Thinking in the On- Deck
Circle/Visualization
Coping with
Failure
Fearful
Batters
Setting Goals
and Incentives
13.
Troubleshooting
Pulling the
Head and Not Seeing the Ball
Uppercutting
Swinging Late
— Rear Foot Block
“Dead Hands”
The Little
Kids’ Swing Syndrome — Weight
Shift Slide Style Hitting
14.
Conclusions
Master Skills
and Drills Outline
A Step-by-Step
Fail-Proof Plan
15. Teaching
Wizardry for Coaches—Keeping
Their Attention
Teaching Tips:
The Terrific Ten
Coaches
Appendix 1
Vital Coaching
Phrases: “Say the Magic Words”
Coaches
Appendix 2
Conducting a
Quality Batting Practice
Station One:
Swing Building
Activity/Advice
Station Two:
Player , Plus Coach Tee, Toss,
and Darts
Station Three:
Live-Arm (Preferably) or Machine
Batting Practice
Creating and
Maintaining Focus
Bibliography
Index
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