[00:01] what's going on guys coach Madden yougoprobaseball.com we are here in
[00:03] yougoprobaseball.com we are here in Nolensville Tennessee at the hit lab
[00:06] Nolensville Tennessee at the hit lab beautiful facility it's actually Joey
[00:09] beautiful facility it's actually Joey Lewis facility we've got Nate Headley
[00:13] Lewis facility we've got Nate Headley and Casey Smith Casey and I played
[00:15] and Casey Smith Casey and I played together in the Padres organization
[00:16] together in the Padres organization these are some of the best hitting guys
[00:18] these are some of the best hitting guys in the world so they're gonna share with
[00:22] in the world so they're gonna share with us some of their best hitting drills for
[00:24] us some of their best hitting drills for guys of all ages and really break down
[00:27] guys of all ages and really break down what they're trying to do to help their
[00:28] what they're trying to do to help their players succeed in the game of baseball
[00:30] players succeed in the game of baseball and hitting so why don't you tell me
[00:32] and hitting so why don't you tell me your top two your top two and your top
[00:34] your top two your top two and your top two and then we'll go through it and if
[00:35] two and then we'll go through it and if you guys want to jump in at any time and
[00:37] you guys want to jump in at any time and give a tip on the other guys can you
[00:39] give a tip on the other guys can you feel that be cool absolutely all right
[00:40] feel that be cool absolutely all right all right so I'll go ahead and start it
[00:42] all right so I'll go ahead and start it off for any age hitter you know some of
[00:45] off for any age hitter you know some of the things that I see as far as common
[00:47] the things that I see as far as common flaws are getting into a good athletic
[00:49] flaws are getting into a good athletic position and creating good direction and
[00:52] position and creating good direction and rhythm to get there so we want to make
[00:54] rhythm to get there so we want to make sure that we're balanced with our
[00:55] sure that we're balanced with our athletic and what I see a lot with young
[00:58] athletic and what I see a lot with young guys is they don't know where they want
[01:00] guys is they don't know where they want to be when they hit the ground
[01:01] to be when they hit the ground so the first drill that I'm going to
[01:03] so the first drill that I'm going to talk about is what I call the launch
[01:05] talk about is what I call the launch drill and all it is is just making a
[01:06] drill and all it is is just making a hitter aware of where they feel the most
[01:09] hitter aware of where they feel the most athletic so whenever we go to swing our
[01:12] athletic so whenever we go to swing our body can move as efficiently as possible
[01:13] body can move as efficiently as possible so hitting a baseball is the most
[01:15] so hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in sports it by
[01:18] difficult thing to do in sports it by far so we have to be an athlete when we
[01:19] far so we have to be an athlete when we swing the bat so what I like to do with
[01:22] swing the bat so what I like to do with guys is I'll first ask them where do
[01:24] guys is I'll first ask them where do they want to be when they hit the ground
[01:25] they want to be when they hit the ground and what you see a lot with young
[01:26] and what you see a lot with young hitters is they'll hit the ground and
[01:28] hitters is they'll hit the ground and they've been told stay back so they get
[01:30] they've been told stay back so they get over this back side all right or they're
[01:33] over this back side all right or they're standing straight up they'll hit the
[01:34] standing straight up they'll hit the ground in their body straight up over
[01:36] ground in their body straight up over their hips or not in an athletic
[01:37] their hips or not in an athletic position so the first question I ask
[01:40] position so the first question I ask them from them is if you were to play
[01:41] them from them is if you were to play another sport it was football basketball
[01:43] another sport it was football basketball and you wanted to guard somebody would
[01:45] and you wanted to guard somebody would you stand straight up which you have
[01:47] you stand straight up which you have your way back or would you be balanced
[01:49] your way back or would you be balanced in a strong athletic position obviously
[01:51] in a strong athletic position obviously the answer is always I want to get into
[01:53] the answer is always I want to get into that position to do anything athletic so
[01:55] that position to do anything athletic so from there I'll go okay stay there
[01:57] from there I'll go okay stay there and then just pull your hands back up
[01:59] and then just pull your hands back up and what that does is it starts to get
[02:01] and what that does is it starts to get them to feel hey okay this is where I
[02:03] them to feel hey okay this is where I feel athletic from now I can learn to
[02:05] feel athletic from now I can learn to swing from there right from that once
[02:08] swing from there right from that once they get into that spot now we'll try to
[02:11] they get into that spot now we'll try to create a little bit of stretch in the
[02:12] create a little bit of stretch in the swing so
[02:13] swing so then we'll start to pull the ants back
[02:15] then we'll start to pull the ants back let the hips start to separate a little
[02:17] let the hips start to separate a little bit so now they can feel some tension
[02:19] bit so now they can feel some tension we're removing the slack out of their
[02:21] we're removing the slack out of their body all right and then from there all
[02:23] body all right and then from there all they're gonna do is take a swing and
[02:25] they're gonna do is take a swing and what I want them to try to be able to do
[02:26] what I want them to try to be able to do is fire with as minimal movement as
[02:29] is fire with as minimal movement as possible so they should be able to pull
[02:30] possible so they should be able to pull that trigger instantly without having to
[02:33] that trigger instantly without having to reload their body or reload their arms
[02:35] reload their body or reload their arms if they do that they're in a really good
[02:37] if they do that they're in a really good watch position and now we can be
[02:38] watch position and now we can be efficient whenever we hit the ground all
[02:40] efficient whenever we hit the ground all right so all I'm gonna do go ahead and
[02:42] right so all I'm gonna do go ahead and try the balance get into that good
[02:44] try the balance get into that good launch position feel myself stretch out
[02:46] launch position feel myself stretch out to remove slack then I'm gonna fire and
[02:50] to remove slack then I'm gonna fire and I should be able to stay right there
[02:51] I should be able to stay right there nice balance position and I'm not trying
[02:54] nice balance position and I'm not trying to crush this ball all right I want to
[02:56] to crush this ball all right I want to feel a nice smooth swing but I want to
[02:58] feel a nice smooth swing but I want to be a fire instantly you notice when I
[03:00] be a fire instantly you notice when I went I didn't try to reload I didn't
[03:02] went I didn't try to reload I didn't move I want to be able to pull the
[03:03] move I want to be able to pull the trigger okay so the second drill that we
[03:06] trigger okay so the second drill that we then build off from that is what I call
[03:08] then build off from that is what I call the Griffey drill or stride the
[03:09] the Griffey drill or stride the Battleship the reason I call it grippy
[03:11] Battleship the reason I call it grippy journalist when Griffey hit his feet
[03:12] journalist when Griffey hit his feet were together love Griffey as a player
[03:14] were together love Griffey as a player so it does a really good job of allowing
[03:17] so it does a really good job of allowing hitters to now feel some freedom some
[03:20] hitters to now feel some freedom some direction and create proper separation
[03:21] direction and create proper separation as well as body control and then
[03:24] as well as body control and then learning how to get into that launch
[03:26] learning how to get into that launch position that we just saw but do it with
[03:28] position that we just saw but do it with some movement and all we're gonna do
[03:30] some movement and all we're gonna do we're gonna start with our feet together
[03:31] we're gonna start with our feet together I really want the guys to relax their
[03:34] I really want the guys to relax their hands because the move that we're trying
[03:36] hands because the move that we're trying to feel is as I go forward instead of me
[03:39] to feel is as I go forward instead of me pushing my hands back or allowing my
[03:41] pushing my hands back or allowing my hands to come with me I want to create
[03:42] hands to come with me I want to create separation naturally so I'm just gonna
[03:44] separation naturally so I'm just gonna step away from my hands you notice when
[03:46] step away from my hands you notice when I get there right back in that same
[03:48] I get there right back in that same position that I was in in the launch
[03:49] position that I was in in the launch drill okay
[03:50] drill okay all I want them to feel is stay nice and
[03:52] all I want them to feel is stay nice and relaxed try to go forward slow and then
[03:56] relaxed try to go forward slow and then when they hit the ground use that front
[03:58] when they hit the ground use that front foot to pull the trigger for timing okay
[03:59] foot to pull the trigger for timing okay so now we're building on where we were
[04:02] so now we're building on where we were just out on the launch I'm now just
[04:03] just out on the launch I'm now just going to get to that good athletic
[04:05] going to get to that good athletic position with some movement all right
[04:07] position with some movement all right now they can start to put it together
[04:08] now they can start to put it together they stay nice and relaxed step away
[04:11] they stay nice and relaxed step away from the hands
[04:12] from the hands and they fire okay so those two drills
[04:17] and they fire okay so those two drills for me
[04:18] for me are some of the easiest and fastest ways
[04:20] are some of the easiest and fastest ways for young hitters to start to learn some
[04:22] for young hitters to start to learn some body awareness get their bodies into
[04:24] body awareness get their bodies into good positions but do it with rhythm and
[04:26] good positions but do it with rhythm and not feel like they're constricted even
[04:29] not feel like they're constricted even though the first drill is gonna put them
[04:30] though the first drill is gonna put them in a place where they feel a little
[04:31] in a place where they feel a little uncomfortable once we add the rhythm and
[04:33] uncomfortable once we add the rhythm and direction back in they really start to
[04:35] direction back in they really start to have a feel of where they want to be how
[04:37] have a feel of where they want to be how often should the guy be doing these
[04:40] often should the guy be doing these drills so I have especially with the
[04:42] drills so I have especially with the Griffey drill with this try to balance
[04:43] Griffey drill with this try to balance oil I incorporate that and kind of a
[04:45] oil I incorporate that and kind of a daily routine for my guys because
[04:47] daily routine for my guys because there's so many things that it
[04:48] there's so many things that it reinforces both good direction good
[04:51] reinforces both good direction good separation controlling their body with
[04:54] separation controlling their body with their rear hip creating some posture
[04:55] their rear hip creating some posture there's so many things that that simple
[04:58] there's so many things that that simple move does and you see a lot of big
[04:59] move does and you see a lot of big league guys like Bellinger and I think
[05:01] league guys like Bellinger and I think like Corey Seager you'll see guys
[05:03] like Corey Seager you'll see guys starting tall right and then they
[05:05] starting tall right and then they actually in the games will make that
[05:07] actually in the games will make that same move it just simplifies a lot of
[05:09] same move it just simplifies a lot of things so regardless of where they're
[05:11] things so regardless of where they're actually the swing is that's trying to
[05:13] actually the swing is that's trying to balance drill just reinforces so many
[05:15] balance drill just reinforces so many key aspects of the swing without having
[05:17] key aspects of the swing without having to overthink it so I like guys to do
[05:20] to overthink it so I like guys to do that one every single day the launch
[05:21] that one every single day the launch drill can be incorporated if we feel
[05:23] drill can be incorporated if we feel like we're having issues and where we're
[05:25] like we're having issues and where we're at when we hit the ground and if we're
[05:27] at when we hit the ground and if we're having problems firing instantly if you
[05:28] having problems firing instantly if you have a kid that gets to the ground that
[05:30] have a kid that gets to the ground that really wants to drift and they don't
[05:32] really wants to drift and they don't pull that trigger whenever they hit the
[05:33] pull that trigger whenever they hit the ground it can be it going to fix that
[05:35] ground it can be it going to fix that too so so for us we don't do any limited
[05:40] too so so for us we don't do any limited to zero swings as far as game swings off
[05:43] to zero swings as far as game swings off the tee so all of our stuff is either
[05:44] the tee so all of our stuff is either gonna be preset or at an angle okay this
[05:47] gonna be preset or at an angle okay this one I am angled open and all I'm really
[05:50] one I am angled open and all I'm really focusing in on us getting this barrel
[05:51] focusing in on us getting this barrel turned where I can elevate this bow to
[05:53] turned where I can elevate this bow to centerfield
[05:53] centerfield okay the two drills are focusing on are
[05:56] okay the two drills are focusing on are basically the same drill with the
[05:58] basically the same drill with the variation so the guys that you have your
[06:00] variation so the guys that you have your big flowing movers your mookie betts
[06:03] big flowing movers your mookie betts guys like that will go open with them
[06:05] guys like that will go open with them okay and although do is don't stay slow
[06:07] okay and although do is don't stay slow okay it's almost firing from launch just
[06:10] okay it's almost firing from launch just at an angle with my lower body I'm going
[06:12] at an angle with my lower body I'm going to start to set the hands back stretch
[06:14] to start to set the hands back stretch okay then all I'm gonna try and do is
[06:16] okay then all I'm gonna try and do is fire and hit a fly ball to center field
[06:19] fire and hit a fly ball to center field okay do one more so I'm open everything
[06:23] okay do one more so I'm open everything is pretty much facing the shortstop
[06:25] is pretty much facing the shortstop slowly turn back make sure the hips big
[06:28] slowly turn back make sure the hips big thing we see with these guys when they
[06:29] thing we see with these guys when they do this drill his hips and shoulders are
[06:31] do this drill his hips and shoulders are moving at the same time okay all we're
[06:33] moving at the same time okay all we're trying to do is resist that term back to
[06:35] trying to do is resist that term back to let everything fire forward okay the
[06:40] let everything fire forward okay the guys that you have your more stiffer
[06:43] guys that you have your more stiffer movers okay we're gonna do something
[06:46] movers okay we're gonna do something very similar we're gonna focus more on
[06:48] very similar we're gonna focus more on rotating behind the back hip so I'm now
[06:50] rotating behind the back hip so I'm now angled in my front foot is close i'm
[06:52] angled in my front foot is close i'm staggered i'm gonna feel that same term
[06:54] staggered i'm gonna feel that same term back in my hands once again still
[06:56] back in my hands once again still fighting the turn or resisting the turn
[06:58] fighting the turn or resisting the turn here all I'm gonna do now is rotate
[07:00] here all I'm gonna do now is rotate behind this hip I'm not gonna slide into
[07:03] behind this hip I'm not gonna slide into it alright so same barrel turn same
[07:05] it alright so same barrel turn same focal point
[07:06] focal point okay just different angles with my feet
[07:09] okay just different angles with my feet nice and slow resist the turn on the way
[07:11] nice and slow resist the turn on the way back all right I'm gonna hit on I think
[07:18] back all right I'm gonna hit on I think path in connection or two of the biggest
[07:22] path in connection or two of the biggest things I see in hitters that I work on a
[07:25] things I see in hitters that I work on a consistent basis especially what I'm
[07:27] consistent basis especially what I'm trying to evaluate what I'm trying to do
[07:30] trying to evaluate what I'm trying to do with the hitter when they initially come
[07:31] with the hitter when they initially come in how do they move what's their path
[07:34] in how do they move what's their path and most hitters get exposed
[07:37] and most hitters get exposed initially pitches away is their barrel
[07:41] initially pitches away is their barrel actually releasing that direction so I
[07:43] actually releasing that direction so I do a drill I call fifty-fifty PVC pipe
[07:46] do a drill I call fifty-fifty PVC pipe turns we're gonna grip it straight in
[07:47] turns we're gonna grip it straight in the middle I'll set up a tee down on the
[07:49] the middle I'll set up a tee down on the way I'll cue the hitter to get to their
[07:52] way I'll cue the hitter to get to their launch position and then I think
[07:55] launch position and then I think basically knob of that barrel the bat I
[07:58] basically knob of that barrel the bat I want knob working to to this tea in my
[08:02] want knob working to to this tea in my barrel releasing through this ball so
[08:04] barrel releasing through this ball so this is what I typically see in hitters
[08:06] this is what I typically see in hitters consistently the first thing they'll do
[08:08] consistently the first thing they'll do their initial move is okay the base of
[08:10] their initial move is okay the base of the PVC pipe starts to turn that way and
[08:12] the PVC pipe starts to turn that way and then it becomes a push in a cut so where
[08:15] then it becomes a push in a cut so where their barrel is getting on plane and
[08:18] their barrel is getting on plane and cutting back across the zone instead of
[08:20] cutting back across the zone instead of getting on plane and staying through the
[08:22] getting on plane and staying through the zone so instead of a push in a cut where
[08:26] zone so instead of a push in a cut where you have this much room of
[08:29] you have this much room of the ability to hit a baseball and square
[08:32] the ability to hit a baseball and square it up if we get it on playing back here
[08:34] it up if we get it on playing back here and stay through this all the way out
[08:36] and stay through this all the way out front now we create adjustability so
[08:39] front now we create adjustability so we're not we don't have to be perfectly
[08:40] we're not we don't have to be perfectly on time to be successful so where I
[08:43] on time to be successful so where I thought my fastball was gonna be ends up
[08:45] thought my fastball was gonna be ends up being a slider or something off-speed
[08:47] being a slider or something off-speed that I have to keep my barrel going that
[08:49] that I have to keep my barrel going that way and now it just elevate that ball
[08:50] way and now it just elevate that ball pull side that's only gonna happen is if
[08:52] pull side that's only gonna happen is if your that's only happens if your barrel
[08:54] your that's only happens if your barrel release is through and chases the ball
[08:55] release is through and chases the ball off the back so instead of a push cut we
[08:58] off the back so instead of a push cut we have to make sure that barrel is
[08:59] have to make sure that barrel is releasing basically behind that rear
[09:01] releasing basically behind that rear hand and so when we turn instead of a
[09:04] hand and so when we turn instead of a push cut now it's this is turning that
[09:07] push cut now it's this is turning that direction until you feel like you can't
[09:09] direction until you feel like you can't go that way anymore that's when the
[09:11] go that way anymore that's when the pivot occurs and now my barrel gets on
[09:13] pivot occurs and now my barrel gets on plane back here and stays on plane
[09:15] plane back here and stays on plane lengthen through so now I give myself
[09:17] lengthen through so now I give myself the ability to be successful all the way
[09:20] the ability to be successful all the way through here not that we're trying to
[09:21] through here not that we're trying to hit balls back here but sometimes we get
[09:23] hit balls back here but sometimes we get blown up sometimes we get beat and we do
[09:25] blown up sometimes we get beat and we do have to have the ability to catch the
[09:26] have to have the ability to catch the ball further back but as long as our
[09:28] ball further back but as long as our barrel stays to that path long enough
[09:30] barrel stays to that path long enough now we can take that off-speed pitch
[09:32] now we can take that off-speed pitch that wirklich early on it's still
[09:34] that wirklich early on it's still elevate both side so now let's say turn
[09:37] elevate both side so now let's say turn and a pivot release versus a push caught
[09:41] and a pivot release versus a push caught back to crosses up 50/50 PVC a 50/50 PVC
[09:45] back to crosses up 50/50 PVC a 50/50 PVC pipe turn exposes path
[09:49] pipe turn exposes path question yep for that one how what
[09:51] question yep for that one how what percentage are they swing are they going
[09:53] percentage are they swing are they going full-speed
[09:54] full-speed yeah so when we're doing PVC pipe drills
[09:57] yeah so when we're doing PVC pipe drills here I want them to start off at like 50
[09:59] here I want them to start off at like 50 percent max I want them to really feel
[10:01] percent max I want them to really feel the direction they're going so I don't
[10:04] the direction they're going so I don't need anything to be real quick here this
[10:05] need anything to be real quick here this is focusing on when are we allowing that
[10:08] is focusing on when are we allowing that barrel to release and I'll do this ball
[10:11] barrel to release and I'll do this ball I'll do this on balls the way middle and
[10:13] I'll do this on balls the way middle and in because I want them to understand
[10:14] in because I want them to understand that we're gonna hold the connection
[10:16] that we're gonna hold the connection longer for a ball in so we'll bypass our
[10:18] longer for a ball in so we'll bypass our exit one will go to exit two and now my
[10:21] exit one will go to exit two and now my release is through the middle of the
[10:23] release is through the middle of the tunnel or in a ball further in now my
[10:25] tunnel or in a ball further in now my turn and release is gonna be through
[10:28] turn and release is gonna be through here so I don't need high intent fifty
[10:31] here so I don't need high intent fifty to seventy percent max one more let's
[10:33] to seventy percent max one more let's talk about connection I see this is a
[10:36] talk about connection I see this is a extremely common and hitters as far as
[10:38] extremely common and hitters as far as basically their barrel dumping away from
[10:41] basically their barrel dumping away from their rear shoulder becoming
[10:42] their rear shoulder becoming disconnected I typically do this with
[10:44] disconnected I typically do this with I've got just a deflated basketball mini
[10:47] I've got just a deflated basketball mini basketball to my facility I use this
[10:48] basketball to my facility I use this will probably do just as good but we're
[10:50] will probably do just as good but we're gonna set this on our rear shoulder
[10:52] gonna set this on our rear shoulder we're gonna set our barrel on there so
[10:54] we're gonna set our barrel on there so what I try to do with my hitters is
[10:56] what I try to do with my hitters is telling find your natural slot so if I
[10:58] telling find your natural slot so if I get a hitter to launch alright and they
[11:00] get a hitter to launch alright and they land and they're an ear slot alright
[11:03] land and they're an ear slot alright something that's gonna keep about that
[11:04] something that's gonna keep about that much space between their bare on their
[11:05] much space between their bare on their shoulders what we're looking for if I
[11:07] shoulders what we're looking for if I have a hitter that's a little bit more
[11:08] have a hitter that's a little bit more vertical with this slot I'll get a
[11:10] vertical with this slot I'll get a bigger ball to put on the shoulder for
[11:11] bigger ball to put on the shoulder for hit for them to hold their so this one
[11:13] hit for them to hold their so this one I'm more of kind of an ear slot anyway
[11:15] I'm more of kind of an ear slot anyway so this is more natural for me so I'll
[11:17] so this is more natural for me so I'll just set this Barrel on there I'm gonna
[11:19] just set this Barrel on there I'm gonna keep a little bit of pressure on this
[11:20] keep a little bit of pressure on this just to try to keep myself staying
[11:22] just to try to keep myself staying connected here and now as I turn if this
[11:25] connected here and now as I turn if this starts to dump away from my rear
[11:26] starts to dump away from my rear shoulder this falls out if I stay
[11:28] shoulder this falls out if I stay connected thank you I stay connected
[11:31] connected thank you I stay connected with my turn now this barrels staying
[11:34] with my turn now this barrels staying with that rear shoulder longer as I'm
[11:36] with that rear shoulder longer as I'm turning staying connected and now we're
[11:38] turning staying connected and now we're gonna release through out front the
[11:40] gonna release through out front the other thing this will expose especially
[11:42] other thing this will expose especially with the round ball is if you get a push
[11:44] with the round ball is if you get a push pattern you'll feel that ball rolling
[11:46] pattern you'll feel that ball rolling down the shoulder so if you feel that
[11:48] down the shoulder so if you feel that ball rolling down your chest as your
[11:50] ball rolling down your chest as your attorney we know we're getting a push
[11:51] attorney we know we're getting a push pattern versus a connected turn and then
[11:54] pattern versus a connected turn and then release of the barrel
[11:55] release of the barrel thanks for watching guys don't forget to
[11:58] thanks for watching guys don't forget to subscribe also follow all these guys on
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[12:02] and check out some of these videos that I got showing right here next thank you