How do I change my kid's "Spinner" into a "Hammer"?

Unfortunately, most kids who think they are throwing curves today, throw "spinners".  Their elbow drops and they "cast" the ball towards the strike zone, in an effort to throw the breaking ball for a strike.

Problem is...The best hitting coaches in the game today teach their hitters that if the ball "pops" or goes "up" out of the hand, it is a "hanger" or a "spinner" and will soon find a nice resting place over the outfield wall!!! (BTW, if you are teaching your own son hitting, that is the ONLY pitch that moves "up" out of the hand and is easily recognized, once you know what to look for.  All other pitches have a "downward" or "straight out" action.)

In order to teach your son how to convert his "spinner" into a "hammer" (and have much more success with his breaking ball), show him this picture of John Smoltz at release.

John's chest is directly over his front knee at release.  This is THE key.  And the easiest way I have found to teach this is to have your young hurler mentally picture "pulling a string" attached to the middle of his chest at his release point. 

This way, the chest almost always extends over the front knee once they "pull the string", and the breaking ball will break hard and down in a "straight out" of the hand manner!  

And your son will now be known for having a "Hammer" for a breaking ball and can put the "Spinner" back where it belongs...(in the tackle box!)

  

  

A Terrific Start!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be able to attend Jamie McMillan's very first Collegiate game.

If you aren't aware of who Jamie is, he is the Big Guy featured on the Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainer Instructional DVD.

Here's a great shot of him warming up with the PNST On-Deck last night.

His team, Georgia Perimeter College, won the game 11-5, and J. Mac went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's in his very first game!

Not a bad way to start what looks to be a terrific Collegiate (and hopefully, Professional) career.

Way to go, kid!

Why Are Some Hitters Great in B.P. and Gross in a game?

Today, I want to introduce many of you to the "Yes, Yes, No" Principle, or thought process. 

When the pitcher releases the ball, each and every hitter's initial thought should be "Yes" or "Swing".  This will allow him or her to flow into their trigger in a very aggressive state of mind, or in other words, "hitting" rather than "analyzing".

At the half-way point, the hitter should still be focused on "Yes" or "Swing".  This will allow him or her to continue into a transfer of their weight (through their heels) and ready to fire the hands and hips (initiating the swing process), again, aggressively, rather than from a position of indecision.

It is at this point the "No" or "Don't Swing" of the thought process is utilized.  If the pitch is a poor pitch to hit, the hitter should immediately (internally) think, "No" or "Don't Swing" and take the pitch.  However, if the pitch is a great pitch to hit, he or she will be in an aggressive position, and will think "Yes", or "Swing", with the result being a perfectly timed, terrific swing on a perfect pitch to hit!

Without you realizing it, your kids do this already in Batting Practice.  They are relaxed.  They are programmed to be aggressive, and their timing and thought process is "Yes, Yes, Yes or No."  However, once the game begins, more often that not, I see kids thought process become the opposite or "No, No, Yes", meaning they are not aggressive in their initial thought process, they analyze rather than cut loose, and unfortunately, make their decisions late on balls they should be crushing.

And that is why some kids are great in B.P. and gross in a game.

Take a moment to teach your kid(s) the "Yes, Yes, No" principle.  The smile on his or her face will be worth it.

What's the difference between "Wrap" and "Curl"?

"Wrap?"  "Curl?"  You may be wondering what in the world I'm talking about, (and no, it's not a new hairstyle!)

"Wrap" and "Curl" refers to a hitter's positioning of the bat prior to the swing process initiating.  Or in English, where the barrel of the bat is once the hitter is ready to swing.

Almost all Major Leaguers use "Curl" to encourage what is known as "hinging" the wrist.  This creates whip through the zone and creates power in the process.  (See above pic of Ryan Howard.)

However, many young hitters misinterrept this action in imitating their favorite MLB Hitters and in trying to create "Curl" actually create "Wrap", which quite simply means the barrel assumes a position behind the hitter's head.

In other words, from a side view, you can't see your young hitter's barrel at all times (i.e. "wrapping" around your young hitter's head.)

In coaching your youngster, please take a moment to teach the difference in the two.  It could be the difference between night and day!

   

 

When should I try to pick a guy off at First?

Sunday, one of my catching students asked me, "when is the best time to try and pick a guy off at first?" 

The answer is actually three-fold.

The very best time for a Catcher to pick a guy off at first is when your pitcher is in trouble, the bases are juiced (which would cause your first baseman to be behind the runner) and you need to do something to help him get out of the inning.  In college, my first baseman (Todd Wodraska, now Vice-Mayor of Jupiter, Florida...And one of the best first basemen I ever played with) and I could look at one another and "just know" when he would creep in behind the runner to set up the pick.  However, if you don't possess this higher level of communication, a simple "open glove" sign from the first baseman, followed by a rub of the cleat by the catcher should do the trick.

The second thing you should look for is you should identify the "slowest" guy on the team (meaning, more often than not, he is a poor baserunner) and the "fastest" guy on the team (meaning, he'll take chances trying to get a big jump) immediately.  Both of these types are excellent candidates for a pick, and should be noted by the catcher and first basemen as possible targets.  Normal, middle-of-the-road type runners are usually very conservative on the basepaths and as a result, very hard to pick.

And the third and perhaps most important thing you should look for (pay attention:  this is more advanced, professional type instruction) is a "Bunt and Miss", or a "Swing and Miss" with a Left Handed Hitter at the plate.  In these two situations, the baserunner will "lean" setting up the quick pick from behind the hitter due to the fact his sightline of the catcher will be blocked by the hitter at the plate.  This situation, (with respect to the score, the inning, the dominance (or lack thereof) of your pitcher) is the perfect situation for a pick.  And both Catcher and First Baseman should anticipate the moment, and once it happens, "carpe diem" or "Seize the day!" and pick that runner off!

When should my son begin to throw a curveball?

This morning, a reader asked me, "when should their son begin to throw a curveball?"  The kid in question is 14, and had just attended a pitching clinic in which he was taught how to throw a breaking ball correctly.  As a result, his Dad wanted to know, "did I feel he was ready to begin throwing this pitch regularly or should he wait until a later age?"

My general rule on when to begin learning a breaking ball is based on the physical maturity of the youth. And the basic rule is "if they are shaving, they can learn and throw a breaking ball."

However, I'm a much bigger fan of the slider or a cutter (which is a pitch with an arm action very similar to the fastball) rather than the curve (which puts a lot of torque on the elbow.)  But if you/he do decide to begin working on a breaking ball, bear in mind, I recommend he only throw it with two strikes for now (that way, he will continue to develop his fastball/change early in the count), or bookend it (meaning throw it as the first pitch and last pitch to their best hitters).  This way, he can learn the breaking ball successfully, pitch well, and still continue to develop his fastball (extremely important to long-term development) and his change-up.

The ABCA Convention in Dallas, TX.

Here's a clip from the ABCA Convention in Dallas, TX with Terry Pendleton signing autographs and speaking with other coaches about the features and benefits of the Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainer!

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/33f661a3d48660b510fd07340f7c6ba2/video/9218014

Check it out and be the next to add the PNST to your team's pre-season hitting workouts!