This is the final week of the Assessment Phase (August-October) for my hitters. During this phase, we have remained committed to trying new things to determine what works and what doesn’t.
November-January is all about building strength and habits based on what works. Taking good swings usually is not the major issue for most hitters, especially if you’re athletic. Being athletic is the ability to make things happen, especially when you don’t have the fundamentals and habits to do it.
A good swing must be supported by strength and habits in order to become a skill. There are three types of strength that I focus on with my hitters:
- Mental
- Emotional
- Physical
Talent is what you do well. Habits are what you do well repeatedly without thought. Habits can be broken up into three parts:
- Cue
- Routine
- Reward
Skills are things you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress. I will unpack all this for you in future blogs. In the meantime, if you haven’t spent enough time this fall trying new things, try one of the four ways to load using a tee in addition to doing 25 reps each for five straight days with a mindset of making adjustments and being athletic leading the way.
- High Leg x 25 reps for 5 straight days
- Toe Tap x 25 reps for 5 straight days
- Bat Wrap x 25 reps for 5 straight days
- High Leg x 25 reps for 5 straight days
- Your Way x 25 reps for 5 straight days
To help keep your skills sharp, we have introduced a new type of Skill Build—our Virtual Skill Build—where I can help you develop hitting skills anytime, anywhere using anything.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.
C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.
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