Talent is based on things that you do well. Habits are based on the things that you do well repeatedly without thought. Skills are things that you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress.
August through October is the Assessment Phase of development that my hitters try new things to discover what works and what does not work. November through January is the Build Phase. We are building habits and strength based on what does work.
As Diamond Directors’ clients, you know that there are seven parts of the swing and that it takes 3,000 reps to build a habit. That’s 21,000 reps:
- Stance/Load
- Timing
- Tempo
- Tracking
- Approach
- Contact
- Extension/Finish
The L.E.A.D. Ambassadors will focus on three of the seven parts of the swing for our November through January Winter Workouts at D-BAT Buckhead:
- Load
- Tempo
- Approach
Load Drill — Andrew Beattie Load Drill & Hitting Deck
I saw this drill on Instagram and I love it. I call it the Andrew Beattie Load Drill after its creator. Drills are all about feel. As stated, there are seven separate parts of the swing, and you have to feel one of them in order to develop and correct it.
The Tanner Tee Hitting Deck has been a tool that I have used to develop several of my hitters. The numbers on the side of the deck help me hold my hitters accountable for loading the same way for 3,000 reps until it becomes a habit.
My MLB clients get loaded well 90% of the time.
Commit to executing the Andrew Beattie Load Drill for 1,000 reps in November, another 1,000 in December and 1,000 in January.
Approach — Durabands
My MLB clients repeat their approach 70% of the time, regardless of the pitch type, speed and/or location. The Durabands help me, help my hitters feel the need to execute/maintain a consistent approach regardless of the weight of each of the bands.
Commit to executing the Durabands Drill for 1,000 reps in November, another 1,000 in December and 1,000 in January.
Approach — Tanner Tee and Target(s)
The Tanner Tee has been the best tee on the market for decades. When I combine it with targets, it helps my hitters develop a swing approach that they can execute repeatedly without thought.
Commit to executing the Tanner Tee and Target Drill for 1,000 reps in November, another 1,000 in December and 1,000 in January.
Tempo — Pitching Machine
Developing tempo is an under coached habit. Tempo is all about how you load and execute the remaining parts of swing. Off-speed pitches continue to prove to be the most difficult pitch to hit because of a hitter’s inability to be/stay on tempo. What happens if you drive a car too fast when it is raining? What happens when you eat your food too fast or rush to prove a point during a disagreement with a friend?
When the ball is moving, focus on your tempo. Tempo is one of part of the swing and it must become a habit if you want to become/maintain elite status a hitter.
Diamond Directors has been providing the blueprint of success for diamond sports athletes since 1998. Let us assess your swing in our next Hitting Combine.
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 area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. 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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