| Let me say this up front... | | | | fastball! Call it a trigger, load or hitch, it's all the |
| I do not like aluminum bats . . . but I'll win with | | | | same. Just get some movement from your |
| them. | | | | hands starting when the pitcher separates his |
| Practice with wood . . . and you'll win with | | | | hands from his glove with a movement toward |
| aluminum. | | | | the back shoulder. |
| It's really very simple. An aluminum bat swing can | | | | #2 Defined |
| be mechanically flawed but still get results. Inflated | | | | Keep Your Hands Inside The Ball...What? |
| averages & power numbers abound with | | | | Keep your hands 4-6 inches from your body |
| huge aluminum sweet spots & tricked-out | | | | throughout the swing. Think about hitting the |
| metal alloys! | | | | inside half of the baseball (the half that's closest to |
| But eventually bigger fields and better pitching | | | | you). This will train you to have a shorter, quicker |
| eliminates many aluminum bat hitters well before | | | | stroke and will help keep balls straight and not |
| High School . . . and it doesn't have to be! | | | | allow them to hook foul...see Barry Bonds! |
| Allow me to explain . . . | | | | #3 Defined |
| Much of the physical side of the game is about: | | | | Use your wood bat instead of your game |
| BATSPEED | | | | aluminum for tee work, soft toss, in a cage |
| HANDSPEED | | | | & when hitting live pitching & you'll get |
| FOOTSPEED | | | | the results you're looking for! |
| Much of hitting is about: | | | | NOTES: |
| TIMING & BALANCE (Strength helps too) | | | | Wood Increases Bat Speed! |
| Wood Bats feel head-heavy, with much smaller | | | | Bat Speed Equals Power! |
| sweet spots so any imperfections in a swing are | | | | In summary, any player or team that trains with |
| magnified. (Are you getting the picture?) | | | | wood will hit the ball harder, plus increase contact |
| Training with wood forces the player to become | | | | and power over all who don't. Ask any hitting |
| mechanically precise & builds bat speed and | | | | coach. |
| strength. Additionally, wood trains hitters to really | | | | Coaching Hint |
| learn the strike zone and not swing at bad pitches | | | | Kids, like adults, do not necessarily care for |
| (ever hit one off the end or the handle? . . . it | | | | change. Get creative, make it cool like real |
| hurts... and many times it breaks!) | | | | ballplayers and they may accept it easier. Use |
| To successfully swing with wood... | | | | marker to put their number on the knob. Tape |
| Trigger the hands earlier into the load position | | | | the handle. Buy some stick-em. Have them use a |
| Keep your hands inside the ball (meaning hands | | | | permanent marker and put their "Signature on the |
| closer to the body throughout the swing to make | | | | business end." |
| for a quick rotation to the ball) | | | | The Rules |
| Stick with it until your muscle memory acclimates | | | | Since January 1, 2001, high school players |
| to this new weapon. | | | | nationwide must use bats that weigh no less than |
| #1 Defined | | | | 3 oz. of their length (meaning a 33" bat can't |
| Dead Hands Kill Players! | | | | weigh less than 30 oz.). The barrel diameters have |
| The first thing a hitter must do is take away the | | | | shrunk from 2-3/4" to 2-5/8" and the exit |
| pitcher's fastball. In general, that is a pitcher's best | | | | velocities were changed so that batted balls don't |
| pitch. From Clemens, Johnson, Martinez & | | | | "jump" off the bat as quickly. In other words, |
| Maddux, to the baddest pitcher in your league. | | | | these bats more resemble the performance of |
| Spot the fastball and you are a real pitcher. Ok, | | | | wood. |
| hitter what are you going to do about it? You're | | | | Younger players take note! The college bat rules |
| going to crush it... that's what! | | | | have changed, the high schools have changed, and |
| Hands Start The Swing! | | | | the changes may not be finished. So, train with |
| Start your swing with your hands (it's your timing | | | | wood and you will win with aluminum. |
| mechanism). . . and you can time a jet or a | | | | |