Improve Hitting With A Solid 2-Strike Approach: A Definitive Guide
In order to improve hitting with 2-Strikes we have to make a few physical adjustments, but the biggest challenge is between our ears. Effective 2-Strike hitting is 80% mental and 20% physical. Kids learn at an early age to fear striking out, it's worse than losing in a video game, mostly for the fact they're being watched by 10's of people. Only if kids could approach 2-Strike hitting with the relentlessness of trying to beat a video game; when they lose, that hunger feeds them to try again and again. [The Little Engine That Could, pictured above, is a great story for kids to read, as it pertains to confronting their fears with striking out] That's the essence to improve hitting with 2-Strikes because baseball is a game a failure...players are going to fail and make outs and errors in the field, that's just the way it is. It's perfect practice where we iron out all the wrinkles. In this article, we're going over what it takes to improve hitting with 2 strikes both physically and mentally, while also giving you a few competitive drills to work this highly sought after skill. What this article won't do: some players strikeout more than others, so this piece won't take a player who strikes out 140 times a season and bring the final number down to 30, that's not realistic...however, making a goal of a 10% drop per season is very reachable for any player. Just a note: I didn't strike out much early in my playing career, but as I got into college, my strikeouts erupted mainly for the fact I was becoming more mental at the plate, mostly from my own doing; it was like I forgot how to hit... I blame it on pretty girls (until I met my wife, of course), calculus classes (letting my analytical side take over), and making at-bats out to be more than they really were; often thinking too much and letting fear get the best of me, so learn from my mistakes below. Here's how to improve hitting with 2-Strikes inclusive of the following physical adjustments, borrowing from Coach Batesole's 2008 College World Series Champions Fresno State Bulldog's program, With 2-Strikes, a hitter must make the following adjustments:
We widen the stance and quiet the stride to stabilize our eyes from moving too much up/down or forward. We choke up slightly to be quicker and have more control over the bat, because now we have to cover the whole plate instead of only 2/3 of it, and willmost likely see a pitcher's better stuff. And one of the most important ways, physically, to improve hitting with 2-Strikes is to: Look to drive the ball the other way, because most of the time, when a pitcher gets ahead in the count (0-2, 1-2, 2-2) they're going to revert to their breaking or off speed stuff, OR to get you to chase something out of the strike zone. Check out Swing Smarter's article on Discover Baseball Hitting Techniques: 3 Simple Steps to Increasing Opposite Field Strength. Why would a pitcher do that? Because they know they really have nothing to lose and THEY are at the advantage point. The biggest pitcher sin? Walking hitters. That's why 2-1, 3-1, and 3-2 counts are like heaven to hit in because the pitcher has the added pressure NOT to walk you. Getting mental to improve hitting with 2-Strikes... Since we have to cover all of the plate now, the best mental approach to take is NO mental approach. Simplify and relax. We have to drown out what inning it is, the score, what's on the line, etc. and just do what you do best: See the ball and hit it. You can't get anymore simple than that...if the pitcher keeps slinging "poo" up there and it's anywhere close, foul it off until you can get something clean to hit (pardon the pun). The other thing we have to do is practice belly breathing or a diaphragmatic breath: taking a breath in through the nose expanding the belly, then back out through the nose elongating the exhale...8 count breath, 4 second inhale, 4 second exhale. You can do this in the box while waiting for the pitcher to deliver, or outside the box before you step in. The main point of counting the breath is to take the mind off all the other distractions laying down on you, and to focus on the present moment. Simplify: while in the box, don't worry about what the pitcher has been throwing you in past (that you take care of before you step up to the plate), or anticipating what he'll throw you on the next pitch sequence. Just see the ball, and hit the ball. Let me repeat myself, because it's important, do your scouting report homework before stepping up to the plate. For more training on the mental side of the plate, please subscribe to The Dugout eZine, Swing Smarter's online monthly magazine resource centered around hitting from the neck up. Click the image below to read about the benefits you'll receive for signing up...
Make the batting cage atmosphere competitive by putting something on the line...loser buys lunch, has to take over the winner's field duties that day, wash the other's car, clothes, dishes, etc. My favorite games to play for 2-Strike, situational hitting, or any other added pressure situation is Live Golf Whiffle Baseball or the Tee Line Drive games. Golf Whiffle Baseball is self explanatory, you're playing a real game in the batting cage using distance markers for runs. Start each at-bat with a 1-1 count for added pressure, and to simulate speeding up the game. The players have to do their best to slow the game down and not let their racing heart get the best of them. The Tee Line Drive game is playing to 6,7, or 9 innings...if it's one-on-one, each hitter gets three at bats per inning, and points are scored as such: 3 points for a line drive to the back of the cage, 2 points for an opposite field line drive, 1 point for hitting the ball on the ground either up-the-middle or the other way. Negative points are issued to fly balls and pulled baseballs. If you're playing the Tee Line Drive game with a team, play it like a game, outs are recorded by pulling the ball or hitting it up in the air. Use your imagination, the tee game lends itself to more situational hitting then to improve hitting with 2-strikes, but do some experimenting, the sky's the limit here. And, remember Swinging Smarter doesn't mean thinking more, it's the absolute opposite...learn from me when I say, less is more. Return Improve Hitting with 2-Strikes back to SwingSmarter.com Homepage Please enter the Password. |
