Developing Middle School and
High School Hitters
By: Bill Walker
Naches Valley High School
Goal
• .400 hitter
Expectations for the Players
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Middle school to freshman
Freshman to JV
JV to Varsity
Varsity to All-league
All-league to All-State
All-State to college
3 Types of Athletes
• Recreational
• Social
• Elite
-We ask our athletes which one they are.
Mental Aspects
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Hitting is easy.
Bat on ball!
Don’t make it complicated.
To much coaching will overwhelm your kids.
Mental Aspects Cont.
• Talk with players………..ask them if they are a
good hitter.
• Think positive.
• Go to bed at night thinking about your best day
ever at the plate.
Hitting is 99% Mental
• Hitting is actually very difficult, but turn it
around on them. If you took a spelling test and
only got 4 out of 10 correct, would you be a good
speller?
• Convince your players they are good
hitters………explain to them what hits actually
are and that a blooper will usually take the place
of a ball hit right at someone. Balances out.
Get yourself read to HIT!
• Hitters counts: 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1. One Pitch one
spot one speed. Don’t get cheated.
• Take your time at the plate. If you swing and
miss, step out, ask for time and refocus with a
practice swing or two.
Hitting is not just in the batter’s box.
• Study the pitcher warming up in pen and on
field.
• On deck hitter needs to get timing down and
when not preparing to hit, see what pitcher’s
tendencies are.
• Most pitcher’s are not smart.
• Talk with your catcher to see what the zone is.
Other options for hitters:
• Drag Bunts are a great way to pick up a hit.
• Hit and Runs can open up.
• Sacrifice Bunts can lead to a hit.
The Stance (approach the plate with
confidence):
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Knuckles
Hands
Head
Legs
Feet
Getting Started
1. Knuckles
Line up Middle knuckles, some kids will rotate
slightly.
The Stance:
1. Knuckle alignment
2. Hands:
• Comfortable, loose, and just away from arm pit
area.
The Stance
1.
2.
3.
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Knuckle Alignment
Hands slightly away from body.
Head:
Eyes need to be focused on pitcher. Slightly
open stance will help.
The Stance
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Knuckle Alignment
Hands slightly away from body.
Head on pitcher.
Legs:
Athletic Stance, slight bend in knees.
The Stance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Knuckle Alignment
Hands slightly away from body.
Head on pitcher.
Legs are in athletic stance.
Feet: Weight 60-40 on back leg, weight on balls
of feet (piece of paper slide under heel)
The Swing: Start to Finish
• Hands: Go back to launch position.
Quiet not loud stride
• Hands: Go back to launch position.
• Feet: Stride is short. We emphasize heel to
pitcher. Get foot down early. (step on ice-soft)
Hands and Wrist Strength
• Hands: Go back to
launch position.
• Feet: Stride is
short.
• Hands: Inside
baseball and top
hand rolls over
after contact.
Generating Power with Hips
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Hands: Go back to launch position.
Feet: Stride is short.
Hands: Inside baseball.
Hips: Explode, hands follow. (power L)
Putting it all together
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Hands: Go back to launch position.
Feet: Stride is short.
Hands: Inside baseball.
Hips: Explode, hands follow. (power L)
Head: Eyes on ball. Emphasis on chin shoulder
to shoulder.
Common mistake with young hitters:
• Stride foot opens early or stride is to big.
▫ Usually the front toe.
• Knee and hips fly open.
• Shoulder opens.
• Head comes off ball.
▫ Head should not move during the process.
Drills for Success:
(we do all these drills with a max of 8 swings-quality, not
quantity)
Quality not Quantity
• T work
▫ Top Hand and Bottom Hand
Everyday Drills:
• Soft Toss
▫ Top and Bottom Hand
(use tennis or softees to do you work into the net)
Great Drill for working on pull, middle and
away.
• Front toss behind screen:
▫ 4 under hand tosses at hip. Hitter pulls.
▫ 4 under hand tosses away. Hitter goes opposite
field.
▫ 4 under hand tosses middle. Wear out protective
screen.
Good Old Fashion Whiffle
• Whiffle Balls are still a great and inexpensive
way to hit everyday.
• Game day lots of reps.
• Back Yard whiffle ball……some great
competition at the Walker house!
Hit Hit Hit and Hit some More!
• Short toss in cages.
Players throw to each other with a purpose.
Change it up:
• Opposite Field only.
• Middle only.
• No pop ups.
• Hit and Run.
Good old Fashion Pitching Machine
Use you machine to:
• Work on velocity.
• Left handed sliders and curve balls.
• Right handed sliders and curve balls.
• If you can afford it, use real baseballs for better
movement.
• Build a platform to set you machine on for
players to see the pitch coming at a better angle.
LIVE HITTING with Coach
On field hitting.
Let’s players and coaches see a result.
Make sure you just don’t swing away. Work on:
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Bunting
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Hit and Run
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Move Runners
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Opposite Field
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Scoring the runner from 3rd.
Game Situations
• There isn’t a better way for hitters to become
Great.
▫ Have pitchers throw to get their bull pen work in
to hitters.
▫ Scrimmage/inter-squad.
▫ Alumni???
STATISTICS
• TO MANY KIDS ARE SELFISH.
STATISTICS
• NO, TO MANY PARENTS ARE SELFISH!!
• We don’t post stats, but will talk about them
individually.
RISP
• More importantly than average, is a player’s
ability to drive in runs.
• Talk to your players about being productive.
• Reward and give praise to those players who
may only have got one hit, but it was the one that
won the game!
Motivation
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Banquet speech.
Can’t teach Hustle.
Someone’s always watching.
Attitude.
Still have to play Defense and pitch.
• Play Baseball.
Bill Walker
Head Baseball Coach
Naches Valley High School
bwalker@nvsd.org
Special Thanks To:
Cam Walker (helping me with the power point)
Nick Clark (Assistant Baseball Coach)