“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” –Vince Lombardi
In a recent blog, “Power up – 3 ways to boost your power for the fall,” we discussed how to continue to build your body into baseball shape, particularly your hip flexors and shoulders.
As you continue to build these muscle groups, it’s time to log some quality reps on the load phase of your swing.
The load is one of the most under coached parts of your swing. Most hitters have long approaches because of a bad load. Hitters often are unable to get good extension because of a bad load. A good load consists of your hands going back, followed by your front foot striding forward while your body remains still.
With the fall season only weeks away, it is time to start building your swing. Let’s start by focusing on your load with three easy drills.
Drill No. 1
1. Sit on a bucket or chair
2. Spread your feet one inch shorter than the length of your bat
3. Sit upright, trigger your hands back and stride one inch without your torso moving
Repeat this exercise for 100 reps each day (Day 1-3)
Drill No. 2
1. Get into your stance with your feet one inch shorter than the length of your bat
2. Trigger your hands back and stride one inch without your torso moving
Repeat this exercise for 200 reps each day (Day 4-5)
Drill No. 3
1. Get into your stance with your feet one inch shorter than the length of your bat
2. Raise your front leg and hop 2 feet beyond the barrel of your bat
3. Hop back to the handle of the bat, which was your starting position
4. Trigger your hands back and stride one inch without your torso moving
Repeat this exercise for 200 reps each day (Day 6-7)
These drills represent more than 1,000 quality reps in just one week.
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 take your game to the next level, C.J Stewart has a proven track record of helping players reach their goals.
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