How do I hit a fastball?

Below are simple and effective fastball hitting tips, and batting drills; for parents, coaches, and players.

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Introduction

A fastball the most common pitch type that you, your kids or your players will face in any baseball league. If you’re unable to make simple, yet critical swing adjustments, you’ll struggle to keep your spot in the batting lineup; unless you possess exceptional speed and defensive skills. Unlike the curve ball, slider, and change-up; a fastball is a simple pitch to prepare for during batting practice, and improve offensive statistics.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE TO HIT A FASTBALL

Why is confidence important? Doubt to hit any pitch, especially, an inside fastball, shows itself during your game day at-bats, in the form of rushing, lunging, and pulling off the baseball; controlled by the critical role of your subconscious mind.

The Subconscious mind is a powerful tool, let it out to play

Gameday hitting confidence doesn’t happen by magic, it comes from pushing your limits during batting practice, by training drills to replicate high-pressure gameday situations. As a result, your eyes transfer the message to your brain, growing confidence to execute a specific task, for example, hitting the inside fastball; in summary, “you need to see it for yourself during practice to believe you can do it in a game.”

Scouting 5 Tool Players

Organizations scout “freak athletes” with the ability to use their conscious mind to hit average MLB speed pitching using a long, and loopy “I hope I hit it” swing; the mechanics of choice for top-level hitting coaches. However, players struggle to hit dominant “game one starter pitching;” the conscious mind reaches the threshold. Hitting dominant pitches, allow your subconscious mind to come out to play, it’s a powerful tool. How do I activate my subconscious mind for a power baseball swing? Simple, by using self-dialogue, “close your mind and open your eyes.”

The Fastball Hitting Supercomputer

Scientific studies reveal it’s impossible to see the baseball at contact, however, they miss a critical element, the state of mind of the player. Conscious vision pales in comparison to your subconscious, a super-computer processing high-speed information sent from your eyes. For example, a car crash victim seeing the split-second event in slow motion, adrenalin triggers, “fight or flight;” and your subconscious mind gives you superhuman vision. On occasions, the same adrenaline pumps into your body during as you hit, commonly known as, “locked in” and “in the zone.” Don’t believe everything you read, even if it comes from seemingly reliable sources, such as sports science research; sometimes they miss a big piece of the puzzle, as organizations create baseball hitting methods based on misinformation.

TRAINING YOUR EYES TO HIT A FASTBALL

Seeing and tracking the baseball is a critical skill for power fastball hitting. Your eyes are the key to unlocking your subconscious mind and triggering your natural reflexes; giving you the best chance for success. If you can’t see a fastball, especially, approaching closer to home plate, you’ve little chance of success! Your eyes are the trigger for your swing; subconsciously your eyes transfer critical hitting information your brain, location, movement, when to start your swing and whether you need to many a split second swing adjustment.

THE BATTING PRACTICE EQUATION

Practicing a long swing trains muscle memory for a long game day swing. Alternatively, practicing a compact, “hands-inside-the-ball” swing, improves game day batting power, and accuracy.

IMPROVE FASTBALL HITTING MECHANICS

If you lunge and reach during BP, you’ll do the same on gameday. The next time you take batting practice record the number of times you lunge and reach for the baseball; resulting in a ground ball, pop-up, foul ball, or swing and miss.

FASTBALL HITTING TIPS

• Practicing to hit the “up-and-inside” and “low and outside” fastball is critical to building game day confidence.
• Your top hand plays a critical for hitting the up and inside fastball. “Short-to-short” swing path combining a two-handed finish, allows you to hit this pitch. Unnaturally lifting your swing plane, with the “up and inside” fastball, causes your back shoulder to “knock your head off the ball;” during your follow through. Additionally, your back foot over-rotates, as you fall off-balance.
• Your bottom hand plays a critical role in hitting the low and outside fastball. Release your top hand for extremely low and outside fastballs, allowing your bottom hand to take over. Why? Simple, your bottom hand has more reach for hitting low and outside pitches. Release your top hand as you feel pressure on your back shoulder.

Learn more about our fastball hitting program.

FASTBALL SWING TRAINER

• Hands-Inside-The-Ball is the most powerful baseball swing
• Hands-Inside-The-Ball gives you the skills and confidence to hit an inside fastball
• Hands-Inside-The-Ball is the hardest to coach during batting practice, until now, learn more about our hands inside the ball swing trainer