Just because you play the game of baseball doesn’t mean you understand the swing. That’s why hitting coaches like me are so important to the game.
There a few things you can bank on when it comes to baseball. For example, as long as the game is played, hitters will struggle. The key is to understand your swing. If you do, you can make the adjustments. That is the mark of a great hitter.
Take the incredible roll that Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder and Diamond Directors client Andrew McCutchen is on. Heading into the All-Star break, he was on a tear. In the four games since the break, he’s hitting .563, raising his NL-leading batting average to .372. Cutch also has hit three homers, putting him second in that category. He’s also just one RBI off the league lead, meaning he’s a serious triple crown contender.
For hitters like McCutchen, it’s about making the adjustment. Just because you play the game of baseball doesn’t mean you understand the swing. That’s why hitting coaches like me are so important to the game.
Think of it like visiting a doctor. My job is to diagnose your problems and prescribe drills to fix those problem. For every effect, there is a cause. When most hitters experience problems, they go directly to the effect and ignore the cause. Here are a couple examples of cause/effect relationship with hitting.
No. 1: Effect-Repeatedly popping the ball up – This can be caused by not getting your front foot down in time to take a direct approach to the ball with the barrel up instead of under the ball.
No. 2: Effect-Not getting extension through the ball – This can be caused by not having a stance that will allow you to get into a good loaded position on time. Not being loaded on time can speed up the mechanics of the swing and prevent extension.
As you continue to play during the summer, your hitting coach should help you identify the true cause of your problems during your at bats. Understanding those causes will allow you to use your practice time wisely. There is no need to work on parts of your swing that aren’t broken.
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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