“As a professional instructor, it was my responsibility to properly assess and convert their raw tools into skills they could use to compete at the Major League level.”

Unlike golf, the sport of baseball doesn’t require that its instructors be professionally certified. I’m thankful for all of my youth coaches – the ones who gave me everything they had so I could reach my ultimate goal to play professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs.

Ask any youth baseball player what he wants to be when he grows up, and most say they want to play in the Majors. I began training Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates), Dexter Fowler (Colorado Rockies) and Jason Heyward (Atlanta Braves) before they were teenagers. As a professional instructor, it was and is my responsibility to properly assess and convert their raw tools into skills they can use to compete at the Major League level.

To help you effectively prepare to compete at your next level, there are five things your professional instructor must know to. Following is a breakdown of what to look for:

1. How do you learn? – It’s extremely difficult for your instructor to teach you if he doesn’t understand learning styles. The three types of learning styles that I focus on are visual, kinesthetic and auditory. I am a visual learner. That means it’s important that the information is presented to me in a visual format first before I can move forward with other styles. If your instructor doesn’t know how you learn, your development will be altered. The old adage is true: Seeing (or hearing, or feeling) is believing; it all depends on how you learn.

2. Tools of the trade – The two tools I use most often in my Hitting Lab sessions are my iPad and Dartfish Video Analysis. I have more than 20 illustrations I use to teach my students. Showing each part of the swing and each point of contact to my visual learners has proven to be a very effective tool before we start our drills. When I worked with Andruw Jones (New York Yankees), we used the Dartfish Video Analysis approach. The following season, he hit his 500th career home run. Video analysis also provides evidence that your swing is improving. I still show Jason Heyward videos of his swings when he was 13.

3. Drills for the feel – Drills are used so that you can feel the mechanics of your swing. I use careful consideration before recommending a drill to my clients. Like a potter, my drills are designed to mold the perfect swing for my clients. The Diamond Directors Swing is broken into six parts. You must be able to feel every part of your swing before it skillfully comes together to produce hits.

4. Means to an end – Since 1998, I have helped develop more than 20 major league hitters. And there are more on the way. My success is based on a methodology. My AT-BATS™ methodology allows me to replicate success. If an instructor doesn’t have a method for development, your success will be based on luck if you ever become successful at all. My auditory learners love discussing methodology before their off-season training programs. For example, every off-season, Jason Heyward and I discuss his goals. Before we devise an action plan using the AT-BATS methodology, we ensure that his goals are S.M.A.R.T.

5. Moving ahead – The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The hitters who come to me want to at least compete at the collegiate level. And while getting there isn’t easy, when I share my patent pending process, it sure makes the journey worth it. A process begins with establishing short- and long-term goals. If I feel I can help you obtain your goals, we partner to achieve them. This process can take three to 10 years, depending on your physical assessment, aptitude and mental make up. I never move forward unless we have a plan for success.

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When most people describe a baseball swing, they define it as a single movement. The reality is that becoming a good hitter requires you to organize chaotic movements throughout the swing process.

I’ve been successful in developing my hitters because I break the swing down into six parts. Like your body, each part of the swing plays a role that affects how your swing functions. Look at it this way: If a part of your body is injured or you’re sick, you won’t function the same as you do when you’re well. You target the injury, so you can fix it, get well and be healthy again. By the same token, if your swing is broken, you must target the part that’s broken so it can function properly. This will help you get the results you desire.

Following is a look at Diamond Directors’ six-part swing process:

Part 1 – The Stance
To find your ideal stance, it’s important to set up properly in the batter’s box. This will help you cover the plate with an efficient approach. Hand and feet alignment, and good posture are important techniques to remember.

Part 2 – The Load
During your load, remember to trigger your hands back and keep your body centered while your front foot strides forward to meet the width of the bat. To properly track the ball, this must be done correctly and on time.

Part 3 – The Approach
During your approach, it’s important to maintain the hand path you established in your stance. Remember that your back foot and hands work together to direct the bat while your front foot remains closed.

Part 4 – Contact
During contact, you must align your head, back shoulder, back hip and back knee with the ground. If your posture is good, you’ll be in an ideal position to get good extension.

Part 5 – Extension
Good extension is produced when your body is balanced enough for your top hand to work outward. Good tempo is crucial because it gives you the opportunity to extend regardless of pitch speed, location and type.

Part 6 – The Finish
A good finish will enable you to get good extension. Your finish should end up above your shoulder with either one or two hands. If you finish below your shoulders, it will cause an unnecessary rotation and length during the approach phase, which ultimately limits the extension you need.

Understanding the six parts of your swing will not only help you properly build the swing you need, but it will also enable you to identify the source of the problem. Start developing your swing now so that you can properly maintain it in the future.

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“If you don’t do what’s best for your body, you’re the one who comes up on the short end.” – Julius Erving

One of the best investments you can make before purchasing that new bat and batting gloves is a pair of running shoes. Why? Without a comfortable pair of running shoes, your new bat won’t work.

It’s all about the cardio. Every baseball player will tell you that cardio training holds the key to your overall off-season baseball regimen. Take our Diamond Directors philosophy. You remember the drill: To develop sound hitting habits, you must take a minimum of 3,000 reps.

I have to be honest with you – the thought of taking 3,000 reps right now makes me feel tired.

Finding a good cardio routine* will help improve your breathing, reduce stress and increase your energy levels. If you truly want to develop a functional swing that’s repeatable, cardio is a worthwhile sacrifice.

Good cardio training comes in many different forms. For example, you could jog from foul pole to foul pole for 20 minutes, run 20 to 30, 30-yard sprints or knock out 45 minutes on the elliptical machine at a gym near you. I recommend doing either one or all of these cardio routines at least 10 times prior to entering the batting cage.

So, if you’re up to the challenge, lace up those new sneakers and run with a purpose. If you want to make this spring your best season ever, it’s time to start training with a proven methodology – the Diamond Directors way.

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“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” ¬– Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Developing a sound swing happens before you ever step into the batting cage. But before you take that first swing, you must fuel your body for the rigors of our Diamond Directors training system.

You know the Diamond Directors way: To yield results, take a minimum of 3,000 repetitions to develop consistent swing habits.

With that in mind, let’s consider the toll this type of training takes on your muscles and stamina. To build this foundation and to perform properly, you need to build your strength and stamina. If you don’t, you could build bad habits.

It all starts with what you eat.

Feed off your protein

During my playing days, I consumed 25-30 grams of protein every three hours. I supplemented that with an EAS shake in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Protein helps to repair and build muscles.

Taking 3,000 swings is like jogging – you’re going to burn lots of calories. In the process, your muscles are getting torn down, which means you have to build them up with protein.

A good source of protein include: egg whites; baked chicken; baked fish; tuna; steak; milk, cheese and yogurt; beans; soy; and meal replacement drinks, cereal bars or energy bars.

Raise your energy levels

A successful day at our Diamond Directors program consists of 300-controlled reps. Imagine the amount of energy that consumes. One of the best ways to boost your energy level is to consume 20-30 carbohydrates for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Good carbs sources include: grits; oatmeal; baked potatoes; brown rice; fruits such as bananas and berries; energy bars and replacement drinks; and low-fat yogurt.

Success on the diamond means making a commitment in the off-season. That includes taking good care of your body. Remember: Good form is a product of good habits. That goes for your diet, too.

As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.”

So if you want to succeed in the spring, start eating right today.

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A goal without a date is a wish. Having a goal is what keeps you focused during your off-season training. And let’s face it – your off-season workouts require a lot of sacrifice. But to achieve a goal, you must have a method and a process. That’s why it’s important to make your goal S.M.A.R.T.

S.M.A.R.T. is part of my AT-BATS methodology, my patent pending process that enables me to measure development and success. S.M.A.R.T. is:

* What is the SPECIFIC goal you want to achieve?
* How will you MEASURE it?
* Is it ACHIEVABLE?
* Is it RELEVANT to the big picture?
* What is your TIME FRAME?

Let’s look at my off-season training program for Jason Heyward. We have had this planned since the end of the season. We know how many reps he’ll take during the off-season and when he’ll get them. We are working on the load phase of his swing. Our specific goal is to get him 3,000 reps in 10 days, which will help him develop a habit.

After the load phase, we will measure success with the same process for his approach, contact and extension. If you can’t measure it, your development is based on luck.

What is your overall goal for the upcoming spring season? Do you want to double your RBIs from last year? Decrease your strikeouts by 50 percent? Be specific. Your short-term goal is what you should strive for this off-season. If it’s not helping you get closer to your goal, it’s hurting you.

Can you achieve your goal now? The answer is probably no. So start working within your method with diligent practice as soon as you can.

Is your goal relevant? For example, know your role as a hitter. If you aren’t a power hitter, your goal shouldn’t be to increase your home run numbers.

Think of it like this: The off-season is your study time; the test is the spring season.

Your goal should be focused and realistic. You don’t want to waste time during the off-season. To help keep you on track, ask your baseball coach what his expectations are for you in the spring.

This is the S.M.A.R.T. approach to your off-season game plan.

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7 things you need now to get ready for spring

Close your eyes. Even as winter draws nears, you can still smell the fresh cut grass in the air. For the true player, baseball is never far away. I love this time of year. It’s when I get to take all those development pieces in my clients’ off-season puzzle box and transform them into building blocks for the journey ahead.

As you start building your foundation for the upcoming season, here are seven things you can focus on right now to ensure that success is at hand.
1. S.M.A.R.T. – Setting a goal with a performance coach
Specific. Measureable. Achievable. Relevant. Time Frame. These are your S.M.A.R.T. goals for spring.

Ask yourself:

* What is the SPECIFIC goal you want to achieve?

* Is it MEASURABLE? How will you MEASURE it?

* Is it ACHIEVABLE?

* Is it RELEVANT to the big picture?

* What is your TIME FRAME?
Review these goals with a professional swing instructor and performance coach. Set your game plan. See it. Do it. Believe it.

2. Start a healthy diet

You know the old saying, “You are what you eat.” Embrace that message. A healthy body means everything. It will give you the energy to mentally process on fundamentals such as your swing. Put your boots to the ground and get it done. Remember, eating right requires sacrifice. It’s impossible to achieve your goals without a healthy diet.

3. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio
It takes a minimum of 3,000 reps to develop good hitting habits. Not just 3,000 reps – 3,000 fundamentally sound reps. To do that this correctly, you have to be in shape. Period. So what are you waiting for – lace up those running shoes and hit the road. If you don’t start putting in your roadwork now, you’re not going to be ready for spring.

4. The Yoga Way

A well-tuned swing is organized chaos. That’s where flexibility enters into the picture. Flexibility ensures that your body is functional. Get into your Yoga groove, which is a great way to train your body to prevent injuries that may occur from doing all those aforementioned reps.

5. Hit the weight room

Bat speed. Power. Strength. Stamina. It all comes together in the weight room. For example, I really notice an increase in bat speed and power production when my clients are working out steadily.

Remember: Muscles are like rubber bands. If they aren’t flexible, they will break.

6. Train with a professional swing coach
Now that your body is ready for performance, it’s time to attack the Hitting Lab. There are six major parts of your swing that must be developed: Stance, Load, Approach, Contact and Extension. Each of these parts must be carefully built for high performance and treated individually. For example, right now, Jason Heyward and I are spending 10 days specifically on the load before we even make contact with a ball.

7. Live pitching for timing and tempo

With spring just around the corner, it’s time to get in some live BP from a coach and/or pitcher on the mound. While the six parts of your swing are in place, your timing and tempo must support your swing mechanics.

Remember: Timing is when we swing; tempo is how we swing.

In all the years I have been doing this, I have found that “failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” Diamond Directors clients are successful because I have spent 13 years honing my methodology, patent pending development process and S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Now it’s up to you. You have the access to success. All you have to do is formulate your plan. Sacrifice and patience is the glue that will hold your swing together for a successful 2012.

If you’re up to the challenge: Click here to upload your swings for me to evaluate.

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The Walk Off. There might not be anything as dramatic or poetic as finishing the game with an epic shot into the hometown crowd. And here’s the best part: Hitting a walk off home run in the World Series isn’t as difficult as you think.

There was no pressure on the Cardinals’ David Freese as he stood at home plate – bat wagging and the crowd going crazy – in the bottom of the 11^th inning of Game 6 of World Series in St Louis. All he had to do was four things.

No. 1 – Tempo

Freese’s tempo was perfect. Good tempo is what helps you generate bat speed. When you feel pressure, you generally speed things up in an effort to do more.

Remember: Less is best

No. 2 – Timing
Freese was in a perfect position to track the pitch on time. Regardless of how sound your swing mechanics are you must be ready to hit on time if you want to be a hero.

Remember: Hands back, foot down, track the pitch
No. 3 – Adjust to the Pitch

In Freese’s case, Rangers’ reliever Mark Lowe threw a 3-2 change up. Remember, it is harder to hit a home run on a change up. As a youth player, my coaches would say, “The faster the ball comes in the further it goes out.” But hitting a home run doesn’t require a maximum effort swing when the pitcher is supplying the power.

Remember: Home run power is “produced” instead of “created” by maximum effort.

No. 4 – Load & Finish

If you study Freese’s walk off homer, you’ll see that he has a great load, approach, contact, extension and finish. Because he loaded on time, he was able to leverage his body and drive the ball.

I was most impressed with how well his upper and lower body worked together throughout the swing. That’s because his approach was initiated with his hands instead of his lower body. At contact, his body alignment remained strong, which allowed him to get maximum extension through the ball.

It was a perfect swing with a perfect result.

Remember: great load, approach, contact, extension and finish

The Walk Off. Are you up to the task in that same situation? Now that you know what it takes – you are.

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