Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast | ⭐Hitting Performance Lab⭐

Episode Overview In this insightful episode, baseball experts Joey Myers and Perry Husband explore the nuances of hitting and pitching strategies to improve player performance. From dissecting hitting techniques to understanding swing flaws and diving into pitching analytics, they cover a comprehensive range of topics. The duo emphasizes the importance of data analysis and encourages players to be mindful of their own capabilities instead of merely mimicking professionals. Listeners will also get actionable advice and resources to elevate their game. Key Takeaways Hitting Techniques: The importance of a locked-out lead arm, wrist stretch, and maximizing swing leverage for optimal hitting. Trade-offs in Hitting: Balancing between hitting homers on low and away pitches and mastering the top of the strike zone. Swing Flaws: Understanding and identifying swing flaws that can affect a player’s ability to make solid contact with the ball. Copying Pros: The risks of emulating swings of professional players who have different physical capabilities. Pitching Strategies: The significance of speed differential between pitches and keeping track of pitch counts for effective pitching. Ground Ball Focus: The necessity for pitchers to induce ground balls to minimize the number of pitches thrown. Timing and Angles: How timing tendencies and angles at which hitters hit pitches are often overlooked in scouting reports. Data Analysis: The critical role of data and real-world testing in refining both hitting and pitching strategies. Resource Sharing: Perry Husband’s books and website are mentioned as resources for further learning and improvement. Mutual Respect: Both experts express admiration for each other's work and contributions to the field. Resource Links Blog Post on Hitting Performance LabYouTube VideoPerry's website Effective Velocity

Unlock your hitting potential with data-backed techniques! Debunk myths about the best adjustable baseball power swing drills for youth to high school. Dive into at-home hitting mechanics supported by science. Here's a little bit of what is discussed in Part-3 between Perry Husband and Joey Myers: Other Resources Blog PostYouTube Video

Here are the links to: Blog PostYouTube video

Why instruction to increase exit velocity? Learn baseball and fastpitch or slowpitch softball bat speed tips to improve hitting power that are supported by data and science. The following video is a conversation I had with Perry Husband of EffectiveVelocity.com. The Importance of Exit Velocity in Baseball In the world of baseball and softball, one term that has gained significant attention is 'Exit Velocity.' Exit Velocity refers to the speed of the ball as it comes off the bat, and it has emerged as a critical metric for evaluating a player's hitting ability. The Emergence of Exit Velocity The concept of Exit Velocity was first introduced, by Perry Husband, in a video with J. Bell. The idea was to come up with an efficient and effective teaching method for young players that would maximize their output on the field. Thus, Exit Velocity was born. The Impact of Exit Velocity The average Exit Velocity in Major League Baseball hovers around 75-80% of a player's maximum. Teaching based on Exit Velocity can lead to immediate improvements in a player's performance. It's not uncommon for players to see their ball exit speeds increase significantly after just a few sessions. This not only boosts their performance on the field but also their self-confidence. The Controversy around Exit Velocity Despite its effectiveness, not everyone is on board with the concept of Exit Velocity. Many players and coaches have pre-existing belief systems about hitting based on traditional methods or advice passed down from previous generations. However, it's important to note that the proof is in the pudding. One of the best examples is Carlos Pena, who transformed from being a slugger to a hitter and led the Major Leagues in exit velocity the first year it was recognized as a crucial metric, working with Perry. The Future of Exit Velocity With the advent of technology and data analysis in baseball, Exit Velocity is likely to play an even more significant role in the future. A player's ability to produce high Exit Velocities consistently is seen as a marker of their potential to play at higher levels. For instance, a high school player aiming to play in college should be able to achieve an Exit Velocity of at least 80 mph off the tee. As baseball continues to evolve, so too will the importance of metrics like Exit Velocity. As we move forward, it's essential to keep an open mind and remain willing to test and adopt new strategies and techniques to improve player performance. Links: Blog Post, and YouTube Video.

In this interview, we discuss the following: Many things that differentiate you from others and it's MAT, explain MAT a little bit...“I've got one research paper with 3D mathematical models showing you need over 2000 pounds of force, as compression shearing to get even a 1% change in length. And a 1% change in length for, ligaments that's called a grade one strain or sprain.”What’s your view on weighted ball throwing programs?And pitchers are using the Kinetic Arm to rehab Tommy John surgery?

In this interview with Physical Therapist Dr. Jocelyn Vartanian in Fresno, CA, we discuss: On low back stuff, what kind of advice would you give the ladies?“And your shoulder blade strength starts to pick up, your shoulders start to feel better. You add like 2, 3, 4 miles an hour on your velo like that, but I didn't throw harder”Let people know where they can find you...

In this episode I interview one of my former Fresno State teammates, who was a pitcher and is now a Chiropractor. Here's what we cover: The dangers, causes, and how to fix reverse cervical curve in young athletes

In this interview with clinical Sports Performance Psychologist, Dr. Bhrett McCabe, we go over: “To me, the first thing we can do as the coach is never assumed that they're going to be better. I think we must assume that they're going to struggle.”“Every coach strength, coach hitting coach, every coach should know what to do. If a player comes to them and says, coach, I just don't think about living anymore.”

Here's what we go over in this episode: “...hitting approach, something we've really used this fall to help assess our hitters and swing decisions”“...you manually put in where the pitch crossed the strike zone, and it's almost like having a spray chart, but just digitally and the cool aspect of it, from what I've gathered, what I've seen, is that it creates a heat map.”

Here's what we go over in this interview with hitting academy owner, team coach, and one-on-one hitting instructor in Tennessee, Nate Headley (brother to Major Leaguer Chase): “I think the toughest conversations I have are the ones with the parents that are so over the top that you have to sit them down and say, hey, look, man, if you don't back off, they're not going to make it.”“I think ultimately that's where you start to lose traction in the development process and building teams and I think that the more you can continue on a daily basis to pick up, if it's one thing a day...”What's your filter? How do you know to follow a guy or two to give it a try, what's your filter for that?“There's so much information available. If you're just paying attention to the game, if you're just paying attention to how they're attacking hitters in front of you, we force all our guys to get out of the dugout, out onto the field when they've got a guy getting loose.”“We can give you all the information you need to be successful, but what you do with it is ultimately all that matters, because the development process is not going to be there.”

Here's what we cover in this episode: “Getting repetition because through repetition, we're going to gain our retention....“They won a college world series. It was a great moment. But suddenly, everything's winding down. I suddenly realize that journey had concluded...”“I use the term and I've used 40 years where I tell parents the whole objective is to trade athletic ability for academic excellence.”“What's the difference of success levels between your son who just played through college and the one who went pro in the way you treated them and brought them up?”Where to find the book Committed and purchase, and where to find you guys on the socials?

Here's what we go over in this part-2 episode with Joe Yurko: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod Crane, in the story, he was afraid, but it was his own imagination that caused him to be afraid, there was no Headless Horseman.”“These kids were walking around saying, we're going to face a guy throwing 95 miles an hour. I'm trying to counter that.” “...your thinking parts, the parts that land rockets on the moon and invent sticky notes and whiteout and things like that.”“The moment you said, I don't care anymore, you just turned your brain on.”“He called it the paradox that the upper parts of our brains invent the games that we play... Then the lower parts are the ones that play it.”

Here are some of the topics to be discussed: Click short link for transcribed interview in pdf format: https://gohpl.com/chazhtranscription Click short link for video of interview: https://gohpl.com/chazhvideo

“You Can Have Average Mechanics and If You Have A Good Approach, You Can Still Be Successful” Mark Gonzalez, @EastBayMark on Twitter, and inspirational parent coaching his High School Junior hitter Here's what we talk about in this episode: “If this college wants a certain type of hitting approach and if that's the hitting approach you really don't like well maybe that's not the school for you...”

In this episode with Joe Yurko, a retired teacher and baseball coach who taught a Sports Psychology class, we go over: Teacher-coach, what you were teaching, the psychology side, give everybody a little bit of a background... What do you mean by you can't ‘try’ to hit?“The more you forget, the better you are at doing it, and the better you are doing it, the more you can forget.” How did you get out of your head and just react when you play? “The mind is a great thing unless you must use it.”

Here's what we talk about in this episode:

Bill Masullo of Ultimate Edge at GoodSports “I saw 6000 guys; I didn't see anybody who could hit a curveball. It's like, how are we not hitting a curveball?” What we go over:

Coach Neil McConnell, the founder of MaxBP whiffle ball pitching machines, et al. products What Does It Mean To ‘Build The Database’ When It Comes To Hitting? Here are some of the topics to be discussed: “Where you're making them make a decision and ignoring one color versus being locked into another color...”“You can honestly get work in and probably 10-15 feet. 20 feet is a good space....”

Strength & Conditioning Coach Joey Wolfe, owner of Paradigm Sport of Santa Cruz, California Do You Have Data Showing the Difference of AFTER Putting Athletes Through a Movement Screen & Do Corrections? Here are some of the topics to be discussed: Click short link for transcribed interview in pdf format: https://gohpl.com/joeywolfetranscription

Geoff Rottmayer of StrategicHittingGuy.com “I Think We’d Like To Tell Guys More Than Seeing How They’re Pitching Him...See How They’re Adjusting To Them...” What we go over: “Pregame data research, where you combine on and try to figure them out...”“Every pitcher is different, his fastball, not his fastball, his curveball, not his curveball. It's really individualized and everything. That's the key to it individualizing as much as you can...”“I think we'd like to tell guys more than seeing how they're pitching him...see how they're adjusting to them...”“There are three mindsets that we've been able to identify over the last five, six years, and then it's really been an eye opener...” Click short link for transcribed interview in pdf format: https://gohpl.com/geoffrtranscription Click short link for YouTube video of interview: https://gohpl.com/geoffrvideo