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A second look at the stride and the mistakes coaches make during instruction

In my days as a pro baseball player, I trained under a hitting coach that instructed us step forward if the pitch is straight down the middle, step outside if the pitch is outside, and to step inside if the pitch is inside.  Sounds simple right?  Sure, except it\'s anatomically impossible to do.

The problem is that against good velocity, there is absolutely no way for a hitter to wait until after he determines the direction of the pitch before he takes his stride. He will always be late getting to the pitch and will have extreme difficulty with his timing.

Another method made famous by Kirby Puckett, yet equally unsuccessful, is to raise the front foot in an exaggerated hop-step stride. Many hitters who try this method struggle because they cannot get the front foot down in time to start the stroke.

Here\'s how I break down the stride when teaching coaches how to improve their players\' hitting game.  First, I employ one of my favorite baseball mantras:  Never underestimate the importance of a good stride. It is part of a hitter\'s timing.  When he\'s striding, he\'s deciding!  Then, onto a discussion of the importance of weight, direction, height, width, and whether the stride is necessary at all.

An important principle: the stride doesn\'t hit the ball; it merely gets us into position to hit the ball. This means the hands are still back at the completion of the stride. The stride overcomes inertia and supports the hitter against the fastball. If the pitch were a fastball, the action would be 'stride-stroke.' If the pitch is slower, there is a momentary pause. Example:'stride-(pause) stroke.' The stride is initiated by the large muscle in the upper leg (hip thigh area), which keeps it consistent.

Here are the rules to achieving the perfect stride:

1. The stride travels only six inches, directly forward, in the same place every time.
2. It occurs at the time of pitcher release.
3. It distributes approximately 30-40of the weight to the front side, and lands on the ball of the foot, which remains closed, open no more than 45°, which usually happens during the pivot.

Some players stride in a 'toe tap,' with no significant weight on the front foot. If a player places only 10of his weight down on his stride, how will he get 90more of his weight off his backside when he rotates to the pitch? He can\'t. It happens quickly, getting the batter into position to hit.

The hitter must work on his stride in his baseball batting drills, using either live or pitching machine practice, so that he can drill 'stride and take,' just concentrating on technique.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/a-second-look-at-the-stride-and-the-mistakes-coaches-make-during-instruction-2938849.html

These techniques are fully explained in our baseball hitting tips Web site for the Super 8 Hitting System, completely demonstrated in eight baseball-hitting videos, which provides training tips and drills on how to increase bat speed and power, and how to improve batting averages by up to 200 points.

Also check out our free baseball instructional videos here.

Coach Joe Brockoff, a Division I Head Baseball Coach for Tulane University for more than 19 years, and former minor league player for the New York Yankees, has sent 45 baseball players to the pros and coached thousands of college level and youth players using his proven Super 8 Hitting System.  Coach Brockoff\'s unique drills, tips, and techniques have increased many players\' batting average by more than 200 points. To learn more visit http://www.learnbaseballhitting.com.

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