Hitting Consistancy

An often overlooked, but extremely important aspect of hitting is swing consistancy. Now, I'm not referring to getting 2 hits a game (although that would be great!). What I mean is the ability to "re-create" your swing over and over again on a variety of pitches.

Always be aware of this when practicing. Be sure to move the ball around if you are performing tee work. If doing soft toss drills work towards all fields.

I believe a lot of work should be done by a "live" thrower. Naturally the ball will be in different locations on each pitch.

Although this may seem like common sense, many screw this one up. Only working on aspects of hitting they are comfortable with.

I talk about this in depth, along with many other hitting "secrets", in my hitting program Million Dollar Hitter. I have compiled a FREE report titled "7 Secrets of Successful Hitting" and you can get a copy send USPS First Class Mail simply by clicking here. What are you waiting for...It's FREE!

Secret Of Getting Your Pitch

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend. The unoffical start of Summer is here and baseball is in full swing!

I have been watching a ton of amatuer baseball lately. There is certainly some serious talent out there!

However, I must admit...I am shocked at how many hitter's get themselves out. I have witnessed so many at-bats given away over the last few weeks it's mind-boggling.

Basically, the hitter's don't have a plan when they go to the plate.

It's simple really.

1. Know what pitch you want to see. For this example we will use a middle-in fastball.

2. Unless you have two strikes, or the situation calls for it, don't swing unless you get your pitch. Typically you will get at least one pitch you will love each at-bat. Of course, this won't hold true 100% of the time, but it will be close.

3. When you get your picth jump all over it. I don't care if it's the first pitch or the tenth. Be ready to react and cruch it.

It's really that simple, yet most screw this up. This approach will help you consistantly get a good pitch you can handle. And according to Ted Williams, the greatest hitter of all-time, that is the biggest key to successful hitting.

Every Rep Counts!

When training, whether in the weight room or on the diamond, be sure to perform each throw, swing or lift with purpose.

All too often I see an athlete just going through the motions, not concentrating on what he or she is doing. This will do very little to further your development.

Remember you get out of this game what you put into it!

Perform each and every rep with purpose and focus. You owe it to yourself. Your owe it to your teammates. You owe to it your family.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and lets remember why we celebrate it in the first place!

Explode!

For some reason "slow and controlled" motions are considered "safe" by many coaches in weight training circles. This has always left skaing my head asking, "What in life, or baseball for that matter, happens slowly?"

Nothing. So why the heck would you train that way?????

It drives me crazy. If you have seen any of my DVD's (If you haven't what are you waiting for?) you wil notice the speed of movement we teach. It's very fast. Very, very fast.

However, it's certainly controlled. And it's a whole heck of a lot "safer" than lifting slowly.

If you lift slowly you will be slow. And your body will have a difficult time moving fast. When you body is forced to move fast you will get injured. It's really that simple.

Yet, very few understand, or know how to impliment these methods.

I want you to try and lift a little faster next time you lift weights on the concentric, or lifting portion of the exercise. Simply, move the weight a bit quicker. Not out of control or carelessly, just a tad quicker than last time.

Do this over a period of time and watch your explosive strength and power soar through the roof...and your body better equipped to handle life and sports.

Mind Games

Everyone knows that the mental aspect of baseball is as important (or even more important, depending on who you speak to) as ability when it comes to performance. This is especially true as you move up in the ranks and play travel ball, high school, AAU, American Legion, College and Pro.

The players who have the correct mindset and intestinal fortitude will perform better the majority of the time.

I have a special treat for the readers of my Blog. I have just finished an audio interview with Mental Performance Master Todd Herman.

Todd is, hands down, the authority when it comes to increasing performance through mental training. What I like about Todd's methods are they are so easy to understand and use that a child could do it (I know, I know bad joke!)

But seriously you will want to get your hands on this interview as it may be the missing link in your training.

As I put the finishing touches on the interview at some point next week I will let you know how you can get this awesome interview 100% FREE of charge! That's right...I am going to give away this interview next week so stay tuned to see how you can get it...

Power Snatch

The Power Snatch is one of the most effective, yet misunderstood, exercises around.

The benefits of this lifts are tremendous when done properly.

Here are a few...

-Increase Power
-Increased Speed
-Core strength and stability
-Shoulder stability
-Entire posterior chain development...as you must know by now from my posts, this is crucial to speed, power and success on the diamond
-Improved force production (key to speed and power generation)
-Improved neuromuscular connection (the key to great reaction ability)
-Ability to move a submaximal weight (in this case the bar, but think bat and baseball as well) with tremendous speed and control.

I can go on all day about the benefits of this great exercise. Many coaches will have you believe that this lift is "complicated" and "dangerous". That is only because they can't perform the lift themselves and certainly cannot teach it.

Done properly there almost zero risk of injury. I say almost because even walking down the street carries a certain amount of risk.

I suggest you learn the correct techniques in this lift and watch your athleticism soar through the roof!

If you are interested in how to flawlessly perform the Power Snatch and countless other "Money" exercises click here to check out our "Power/Speed Development Series."

Sprains and Strains

No doubt during the year you will encounter minor sprains and strains. Hopefully you will avoid any major injuries (As long as your training was done properly you should be ok).

The key is to help your body repair and rebuild itself as fast as possible so your minor injury (although it certainly doesn't always seem minor) is healed as fast as possible.

You can't lose with the tried and true R.I.C.E. method

Rest
Ice
Elevation
Compression

The first 48 hours after an injury are the most critical for a speedy recovery.

Ice for 25 minutes, take 20 minute off and then ice again for 25 minutes. Repeat as much as possible. You really can't ice too much during this time period. Icing reduces swelling and that is key to recovery.

Remember to take care of your body as it will reward you on the field!

Machines Stink!

I can write all day about just how misunderstood baseball training information is these days. However, I would make myself sick because it reallyupsets me to see kids getting such bad advise.

One such piece of advise is the use of machines in weight training.

Machines should never be used. I repeat, machines should never be used!

Do you have a machine guiding you on the baseball diamond? I didn't think so. So why in the world would you train with them?

Machines are not only useless, they can decrease performance and increase the risk of injury! That's right. Triple whammy right there.

On most machines you are sitting or lying down. In order to increase power, strength and speed your must perform ground-based movements. This means your feet are on the ground and you are standing up. Not sitting on some pretty chrome machine.

Machine strength has very little carryover to the baseball diamond for a number of reasons. The machines actually guide the weight for you. So the stabilizer muscles do not have to work. These may be one of the reasons for the high amount of injury our youth have been experiencing.

Please do yourself a favor and use goodold fashioned barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, bodyweight movements and kettlebells. Your body (and statistics) will thank you!

The Easy Way To Gauge Your Hitting

As you very well know I recommend a wood bat at all times, except in game play and in BP before a game.

Use an old trick, but one that I rarely see anymore, to improve your hitting and get a better feel of how you are hitting the ball.

Simply wrap some athletic tape around the barrel of your bat. A thin layer will do. After each round of BP, simply look at the tape and it will provide instant feedback of your BP.

Think of it as a "test" of your swing.

Doing this day in and day out will help you develop improved hand-eye coordination and will lead to more balls being hit on the sweet spot.

No Time For Healthy Breakfast?

No problem. Here is a quick smoothie that will provide you with protein, carbs and healthy fats that will get you going and provide your body with the nutrients you need!

2 cups of skim milk
1/2 cup of lowfat frozen yogurt
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries (no sugar added)
1/2 frozen blueberries (no sugar added)

Blend for 30-60 seconds and enjoy!

First Step Quickness

A tremendous drill for first step quickness (obviously a must for any great fielder) is call the Dead-Drop Drill...or D3 for short.

Have a partner hold a baseball directly out to his side parallel to the ground. You are facing him but in line with the baseball. Start 3 feet away. Your partner drops the ball without telling you. Your job is to catch the ball before it hits the ground.

When this becomes easy you simply step back a foot or two. The partner should vary how long he holds the baseball to prevent adaptation.

This is a tremendous drill for all athletes, especially baseball players.

At first it will be very frustrating. But over time your quickness will drastically improve.

I will try to dig up some pics over the next few days.

Mother's Day Special!

To celebrate Mother's Day and to give back just a little bit to everything the mothers out there do that allow their sons, daughters and husbands to enjoy the game of baseball.

My mother did everything from play catch, throw BP, wash uniforms and help me perform hitting drills (Yes, my mom allowed me to use her stomach as a "wall" for the wall drill! Wow, was she brave. I never did hit her, but looking back I would never do it again!)

So I am offering FREE shipping on every single order this weekend! And I'm extending this offer for a full three days. From Friday at 12:01 AM until Sunday night at 11:59 PM every order will be rushed to your door-step FREE of charge!

You simple can't beat that. Another reason to love all the moms out there!

So go now to my products page by clicking here and get the products you need to help you become the baseball player you want and deserve to be!

Baseball Grip Strength

A very simple, yet extremely effective exercise to increase grip strength and endurance is called the bar hang.

It's really simple to perform.

1. Find a Pull-Up bar
2. Grab on
3. Hold

That's it!

Do not be fooled by this exercise's simplicity. In addition to buidling an incredible amount of grip strength, the bar hang will also decompress the spine. This is crucial to long-term lower back health.

At first try to hold on for 30 seconds. Over time work up to a full minute. 2-3 sets at the end of a workout works best.

Missing Link of Core Training

"Core Training" is an often heard and severly misunderstood concept these days in athletic training circles, especially baseball.

A critical skill is torso flexibility. A baseball player needs to have core strength of course. But the ability to have that strength through a great range of motion will largely determine have quick a player can swing a bat or throw a baseball.

Most players never work on torso flexibility. This is not their fault. Rather one of the Strength & Conditioning community.

However, if you want bat speed, arm speed and great athleticism you MUST have a strong combination of core strength AND flexibility.

Some of my favorite exercises to build torso flexibility and strength are the Home Run Press, Windshield Wiper, Baseball Full contact twist, Saxxon Side Bend and various Medicine ball drills.

If you are interested in more information regarding this topic please visit www.unbreakable abs.com.

In-Season Pitcher's Weight Training

I'm often asked if and when a pitcher should perform his workouts in-season.

Yes, pitcher's should workout in-season!

Typically 2 workouts per week works best for most individuals.

One should always come immedately after pitching or the next day. The second should come 2-3 days following that workout and at least 48 hours before your next pitching appearance.

And The Winner Is...

Craig Richardson of Bakersfield, California.

Congrats to Craig as his selection was randomly picked out of the hundreds of emails.

His prize was his choice of any one of Baseball Training Secrets.com products. Big suprise as he picked the Rolls Royce of Hitting Programs: The Million Dollar Hitter ($497 price tag). Enjoy!

Thank you very much to everyone who made a suggestion.

For those of you who didn't get around to sending me an email I would still love to hear from you about what products you want to see from my company in the near future. I can be reached at jondoyle@baseballtrainingsecrets.com

Don't Forget About The Cuff!

With baseball season in full swing training needs to be as efficient as ever.

I see far too many players overlooking rotator cuff training during the season.

With so much internal rotation (i.e. throwing) being performed, you MUST train the opposite movement (external rotation)to avoid injury and improve performance.

I suggest 3-5 days per week of specific exercises geared towards external rotation and overall shoulder girdle strength and stability. 2 exercises per day at 12-15 reps performed at a deliberate pace is the proper way to do it.

Have a great weekend!

Crunches Are Useless

Most ab training consists of crunches, crunches and another version of crunches.

I will say this until I'm blue in the face...Crunches Are Practically Useless!

As I tell my players, If you are laying on your back on the baseball field...you stink!

Get off your back and start doing Ab and Core exercises that will make you a better athlete and baseball player. Oh yeah, these same injuries also strenghen your back and shoulders. I don't think I need to tell you how important that is.

Check out Unbreakable Abs. The best-selling Ab and Core program that is creating a stir in baseball circles around the country. Check it out by clicking here.

Contest Ends Friday at 11:59 PM EST

I want to thank everyone who has sent me an email for my "One Lucky Winner Gets To Pick Whatever The Heck He or She Wants" Contest.

If you don't know what I'm talking about here goes...I want to know what you want. If you send me an email by Friday, May 5th at 11:59 PM EST telling me exactly what products you want to see my company, Baseball Training Secrets.com, release in the near future I will enter you into my contest.

I will put your name into a hat. My girlfriend Tina will pick out the lucky winner Saturday morning. The winner will receive any one of my products at no cost. Which ever product they want. Yes, even the $497 Million Dollar Hitter. Somehow I have a hunch this will be the product selected, but you never know :)

The winner will then be notified by email. Then I will annouce the winner, along with the product he or she picked.

This is your chance to not only get the exact product you want to see released, but your chance to get any one of my products for FREE...What are you waiting for???

Email me now at jondoyle@baseballtrainingsecrets.com and let me know what you want to see released!

Is Organic A Scam?

I have recently received many questions about organic foods.

My thoughts?

You should purchase organic versions of these fruits and vegetables as often as possible because thousands of government tests results have shown that the conventional versions of these foods consistently have the highest levels of pesticides.

Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Cherries
Imported Grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Red Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries

What should you NEVER buy organic? Seafood. The USDA doesn't have a standard or certification for organic seafood. Because of this, companies can put "organic" all over the labels regardless of whether or not the seafood is wild, farmed, or pumped with antibiotics. You'll just end up paying more for no guaranteed benefit.

But before you think about Organic, be sure to follow proper nutritional habits. There is little point to eating an organic apple and follow that up with a trip through the drive through.

Olympic Lifts

Answer this question for me...Can you name three exercises that provide the following benefits? ...

-Explosive power
-Reactive strength
-Speed strength
-Running speed...Yes, lower time in the 60!
-Shoulder strength, stability and health
-"Core" strength and stability
-Lower back strength and stability
-Explosive hip power and strength
-Decrease injury-risk in shoulders, lower back, hamstring and calves
-The ability to generate force from within (For those of you who are familiar with my teachings you know this is the Holy Grail of baseball training)

I can go on all day here...That's not the point.

What were your answers? I'm sure you are saying there is no way a baseball player can receive those benefits in just three exercises.

Well, I'm here to tell you there is.

The Olympic Lifts (Power Clean, Power Snatch and Push Press) have gotten a very bad rap as exercises in certain baseball coaching circles

It's too bad because a great deal of young athletes are missing out on these tremendous exercises because some pretend "expert", who thinks he understands the game of baseball but has no idea, labels these exercises as "bad"

There are very few bad exercises. Just bad application.

When performed correctly, the Olympic Lifts can provide a myriad of benefits that are highly sought-after amoung trainees.

Learn to do these properly and watch your game skyrocket and your body feel like a million bucks!