Situational Hitting

Step 5: Situational Hitting

Multi-Swing Method Hitting Program

  • Program: 20 Minute Lasers.
  • Practice Plan: Situational Hitting.
  • Level: Advanced.
  • Total Drills: 4.
  • Options: Front toss, over-hand front toss, cage/on-field BP, and intrasquad hitting.
  • Time: 20 minutes.
  • Purpose: Step 5 teaches you to harness your new-found skills, improving game-day hitting for the challenging pitch types, for example, “hard-up-and-inside,” and “hard-down-and-away.”
Situational Hitting Front Toss

ABOUT THE PITCHER

Rotation: Game one starter.
Primary Pitch: Dominant Fastball.
Secondary Pitch: Late-Breaking Slider.
Control: Excellent.
Tendencies: Hard-up-and-inside, and; hard-down-and-away.

ROUND 1

  • Drill Type: Laser Blast.
  • Pitch Location: Hard-and-middle.
  • Optional Set Up: Laser Reflex, Laser Pro.
  • Multi-Swing Method: Reflex Mechanics.
  • Mental: Hitting in the automatic/subconscious state of mind.
  • Rounds: 1.
  • Swings: 10-20.
unleashing your core power

THE SITUATION

  • Batting Count: 0 balls, 0 strikes.
  • Inning: 1st.
  • RISP: Base-runner on second.
  • Objective: Hitting a dominant fastball, around the middle of the plate; early in the batting count, resulting in a line drive to center-field; scoring the base-runner.

Visit Step 3, to learn more about batting practice for Reflex Mechanics.

situational-hitting
Situational Hitting Front Toss

ROUND 2

  • Drill Type: Laser Whip.
  • Pitch Location: Hard-down-and-away.
  • Multi-Swing Method: Reflex Mechanics.
  • Mental: Hitting in the automatic/subconscious state of mind.
  • Rounds: 1.
  • Swings: 10-20.
strength swing extension plate coverage hitting

THE SITUATION

  • Batting Count: 2 balls, 2 strikes.
  • Inning: 4th.
  • RISP: Base-runner on 2nd.
  • Objective: Surviving with two strikes, hitting a late-breaking slider; producing, an opposite-field line drive, scoring the base-runner.
situational-hitting
unleashing your core power

ROUND 3

  • Drill Type: Laser Blast.
  • Pitch Location: Hard-and-inside.
  • Optional Set Up: Laser Reflex, Laser Pro.
  • Multi-Swing Method: Reflex Mechanics.
  • Mental: Hitting in the automatic/subconscious state of mind.
  • Rounds: 1.
  • Swings: 10-20.

THE SITUATION

  • Batting Count: 1 ball, 2 strikes.
  • Inning: 6th.
  • RISP: Base-runner on 3rd.
  • Objective: Surviving with two strikes, pulling the hard-up-and-inside fastball; hitting the ball deep enough to score the runner.
situational-hitting
Situational Hitting Front Toss

ROUND 4

  • Drill Type: Laser Blast
  • Optional: Laser Whip
  • Pitch Location: Middle to in-front/hanging.
  • Multi-Swing Method: Think Mechanics.
  • Mental: Using the conscious mind to sequence your Think Mechanics, meanwhile, anticipating a mistake pitch.
  • Rounds: 1.
  • Swings: 10-20.

THE SITUATION

  • Batting Count: 3 balls, 1 strike.
  • Inning: 8th.
  • RISP: Loaded bases.
  • Objective: Due to a higher pitch count, the dominant pitcher is tiring; an excellent scenario for a power hitter, driving the ball out of the park.

Visit Step 4, to learn more about batting practice for Think Mechanics.

situational-hitting

Game-Day Tips

Reflex And Think Mechanics

Do you recall, putting your hand near a hot stove, feeling the heat; quickly pulling your hand away? In this example, the hand moves at lightning speed. The subconscious mind triggers your reflex system, pulling the hand away from danger. The conscious mind, communicating to your thinking muscles; is incapable of triggering, the speed-to-react. The same principles apply to hit a dominant fastball. In the dugout, and on-deck circle plant the seed in your subconscious mind, looking for a fastball; around the middle of home plate. Stepping into the batter’s box, switch to Reflex mode, allowing the eyes and subconscious mind to pilot your swing. Limiting, conscious thoughts is critical to unlocking the speed of your reflex system; producing the bat speed to match the dominant fastball.

Changing from Think Mechanics to Reflex Mechanics varies, from pitcher-to-pitcher/inning-to-inning. A simple question to ask yourself. “Is your bat speed fast enough to match the pitcher’s fastball, using elongated Think Mechanics?” Factors may include:

  • Mechanics, bat speed, and the size of your movements, throughout the swing.
  • Your athletic ability, including, body type, and the performance on your fast twitch muscles fibers.
  • Release point recognition. Do you see the ball early or late, releasing from the pitcher’s hand?
  • Is the pitcher making mistakes early in the batting count? Specifically, are the secondary pitches weak? In this case, you have the option, waiting for a mistake pitch; using Think Mechanics.

React And Protect

Are you worried about player safety? You can buy the latest “protective gear,” however, you’re failing to address the critical issue; slowing your reaction time, by thinking. Open your eyes, and clear your mind, quickly moving to avoid contact in the face and head; handy against a hard-throwing pitcher, with control problems.