This week's podcast is with Kurt Elbin

Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Virginia Tech University. 

Topics include:

• Using overload training bats
• Evaluating hitters on one metric with Blast Motion.

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Spotify 

Batting Practice 

Batting practice is a time for players to work on things while preparing them to play. Some coaches like to use the machine in batting practice, while others use the more traditional approach of throwing. Neither is right nor wrong. A big part of it is what resources you have access to.

 An example outline of batting practice.

Batting Practice Rounds

1. 50% effort

2. Opposite Field

3. Gap-Gap

4. Gap-Gap

5. Home Run Round

    

Let's dive in:

Step 1: Group by skill, not a flaw

4-6 players per group.

I group players by skill vs. common mechanical flaws. For example, maybe I have two hitters with a steep attack angle, but one is a better hitter than the other; I won't pair them together.

I want to challenge the groups but will do so differently. If I have the machine on the field, I can turn it down a few clicks if a lesser-skilled group is coming up. You want to challenge the groups enough for them to be pushed, but not too much where they get discouraged. I've made that mistake before.

Step 2: The environment

Hitting is monotonous, day after day, doing the same thing. It's important to mix things up. However, one thing that should remain consistent is having music going during BP. Pick a coach or a player to be on the playlist. You should make this choice wisely. Lol.

Competition: Competing brings the best out of players. No matter if it's during the game or practice, you always want players competing. If you have access to technology, this is easy for you. You can have a barrel contest.

Ex. Balls hit at 90 EV +

Between a 10-25 LA = 1 point.

Whoever gets the most points wins.

If you want to excite players, throw a $10 gift card to a local restaurant for the winner.

Here is an example of the barrel board combined with Trackman. 

Not everyone has access to a scoreboard, but there's no reason you can't take a whiteboard and do the same thing. 

Swing Decisions 

You're only as good as the pitches your swing at. One of the ways you can help hitters with this during BP is to place an object behind home plate for instant feedback. If they take a pitch and it doesn't hit the ball, it was a good take.

You can move the ball inside, out, or over the middle, depending on what you're working on. 

Step 3: Rounds 

For a regular batting practice 

Round 1: I like to have the first round be 50%. I don't want players playing home run derby right out of the gate, and some of them may have yet to hit a live ball before that round, and hitting at 50% helps hitters feel their swing out. 

Round 2: Opposite field gap. Call me old school here, but the best hitters can hit to all fields. You have to earn your right to pull the ball. Once you have established that you can hit the inside part of the ball, then we work around it. 

Round 3/4: Gap - Gap. I like hitters hitting balls hard while staying up the middle. 

Round 5: Home Run. As I alluded to earlier, it's essential to have some fun. Players won't magically pull the ball in the game if they never work on it in practice. 

The traditional batting practice 

40/40/40 

• 40 miles an hour 

• 40 feet away

• 40-year-old man 

That approach is fine if you have a young high school team. 

If you're at the college or professional level, you can do better. 

College/ Pro

• Mix FBs/CBs in rounds 3 and 4. 

• Last round, you mix, and they don't know what's coming. 

Or

They must leave the cage whenever they swing at a ball during their round. 

So many ways to make batting practice fun and competitive while helping players get better. 

Can you help me grow the game?

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