When it comes to the timing and tempo of your swing, sound swing mechanics are crucial. When you understand the how, you can focus on the when. Take the Yankees’ Robinson Cano. What I love most about Cano’s swing is his smooth and efficient tempo, which directly relate to his sound swing mechanics.
Talk about a quiet storm. You cannot make adjustments to quality breaking balls and off-speed pitches if you’re moving too fast and exhibit a lack control. (For a complete breakdown of mastering your swing, check out “6 steps you must know now to fix your swing.”) Don’t forget to mix the proper guidance, some patience and a strong work ethic.
Look at it this way – Great swings are like tornados – organized chaos.
So let’s focus on one aspect of the “when” – timing.
Knowing your opponent – When you step in the batter’s box, you should know what type of pitcher you’re facing. Does he have an above average, average or below average fastball? Good hitters can time a pitcher based off of his fastball. An undisciplined hitter wants to hit balls hard without spending the time to master the art of timing.
In the end, success comes down to being prepared, being focused and being ready to succeed. You’ll be on your way to a successful season when you don’t have to focus on the “how” and can concentrate on the “when” to win.
In my next blog, I’ll focus on the “when” – tempo.
BIO:
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 area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, CJ has more than 12 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 track record of success that can work for you.
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