BULLPEN HITTING

 

GOALS

At The Bullpen, the training goal is to develop hitters with faster swing  SPEED, more POWER, more ADJUSTABILITY, while doing it with EFFICiencey and CONSISTENCY. Data has shown that hitting the ball hard with an optimal launch angle will improve your in-game results.  To do this, the training PROCESS must reflect the task.   Clarity  of how to get there is critical for the hitter to transition their training into games.  Therefore, Bullpen hitting training will consist of an environment where intent and variability will be the focus as we build an approach together to reach your goal of becoming a better hitter.

PROCESS

Swing Speed
Increasing the ability to swing faster stems from the body’s ability to accelerate the barrel on time with efficiency.  The barrel and body needs to be coordinated to allow for higher speeds.  Rhythm and the body  sequencing  properly  is vital in the transfer of energy to create speed.  The hitter needs to anticipate, be responsive in their  pitch recognition,  and launch the swing naturally.  

  • Training consists of using underload implements  to promote swing acceleration.  Underload bats forces the body to feel and create more bat speed.

Power
Increasing power will be determined by the hitter being able to utilize the proper muscles and the sequencing of those muscle in relation to the ground.  Power is dependent on the hitter’s rotational force in the context of forward movement while utilizing ground forces.  Therefore, the goal is creating force using the whole body, but at the same time stabilizing to create clean contact.

  • Training consists of using overload implements to promote the correct muscles powering the swing.  Weighted implements  also place the body in a natural swing path.  Med ball training will be included also to promote proper movement to increase power.

Adjustability
The hitter has to be able to adjust to location, speed, and movement of the pitch.  Swinging with speed and power with the ability to adjust to pitches is what increases our hittability.  Posture, stabilization, and dynamic balance play a critical role in adjustability.    Reading the pitch is also vital.  The mechanics built into the swing need to be able to be adjustable.  Building proper movement in the swing, along with trust of it, allows the hitter to be successful on these pitches (in and out of the zone).

  • Training will include BP with various speeds, directions, with mixed variability to encourage decision making and the trust of the swing mechanics.

Efficiency and Consistency
Being able to swing with a pattern that is natural to your body and how you move,  will create an efficient swing.   A natural swing will more likely be repeatable and create consistency.  Working through the process of this training will breed efficiency and consistency.  The mental side of hitting (clarity of swing mechanics/timing and approach that unleashes that in a game) is critical in becoming efficient and consistent.

  • Clarity will emerge and efficiency and consistency will be the result as you train with constraint, intent, variability, with feedback of video and data.  Knowing what you do and why you do it will be the ongoing dialog throughout training.

PROGRAM

Speed, Power, Adjustability, Efficiency & Consistency

Training will be tailored to the athlete within the context of these phases of development.

Phase 1-Base

  • Body analysis

  • Profile

  • Baseline data

  • Education

  • Dialog-History

  • Introduce  Movement

  • Pattern/Sequence

  • Internal cueing

  • Plan Building

  • Introduction to drills

Phase 2-Movement

  • Movement

  • Feel

  • Experimental moves

  • Style Experimentation

  • Coordination

  • Cont. Pattern/Sequence

  • Mixed Cueing

  • Plan Building/Revising

  • Drill variability

Phase 3-Speed/Strength

  • Weighted Implements

  • Weighted plyo balls

  • External Cueing

  • Med ball

  • Bands

  • Launch angle/Exit Velo Data

  • Weights /swing specific

  • Plan -data collection

Phase 3-Application

  • Variability training

  • Mixed speed training

  • Direction training

  • Game approach

  • Location training

  • Competition training

  • Adjustability training

  • Plan evaluation

Hybrid (mixed phases)

  • Advanced Player-Individual plan

  • Maintenance Program-Year 2 plan

  • Swing change-Overhaul (Winter swing change)

  • Focused launch/exit-Stronger/elevate plan

  • Injury remapping- injury/loss of mobility- work around