Depending on where you live, December is a cold and wet month, which can make it difficult to get outside to hit baseballs. But this is an important month. I recommend you use December to work on the two Ss (strength and stamina) in order to develop the perfect swing.
Aside from hitting baseballs, most players spend a lot of time in the weight room for the wrong reason. Too many young players want to focus on the size of their muscles instead of building strength. As a hitter, you need strong muscles to develop the perfect swing.
As a professional swing coach, I don’t even discuss mechanics until I know my students are strong enough to swing the bat. You really need strength in your hip flexors, forearms, quads/hamstrings and abs/back. When the perfect swing is developed, you have to be strong enough to repeat it. Who cares if you are strong enough to hit the ball over the fence if you can only repeat a good swing one out of 10 attempts?
The best way to build strength is to spend time with a certified trainer – one who has programming and a curriculum to support those shiny weights. I’m a huge fan of XPE Sports.
Right before I finished this blog, I completed a two-mile jog/walk. Even though my playing days are over, I must have good stamina in order to perform as an elite-swing coach. Without stamina, you can’t do anything well for very long. Developing and repeating a great swing requires lots of focused reps. Without stamina as a hitter, you will move in the opposite direction as a hitter.
December is a month to spend some time on the treadmill and/or elliptical for at least 30 minutes per day, four days per week. It’s a sacrifice, but it is a must if you are serious about being an elite hitter.
Remember: Good hitters don’t work hard; they work smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today.
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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