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GRADUATING
BAT WEIGHTS
If you have been playing baseball for a few years, you probably have a few different sizes of bats laying around in the garage. Go get them. They are your tools for success. Ideally, you need at least three graduating sizes of bats. A tee-ball bat (maybe 16 oz. in weight), a Little League bat (approximately 20-23 oz. in weight), and a Senior League bat (about 27 oz.). You also need a weighted bat, or a device to weight your heaviest bat such as a "donut" or "power fins". Additionally, you need an extremely light bat, such as the mini collector bats. If you cant get one of these, you can use a cut down piece of broom stick. You have to have this progression in order to make this system work. Set your "tools" in progressive order near you from lightest to heaviest. Begin with the middle bat, taking some smooth, easy cuts. Just loosen up. Take about 15-20 cuts like this and get your muscles prepared to work. Do a little stretching, make sure your muscles are prepared before you stress them.
For the first week this is all you do. One time through the bat progression. The second week, go for two times through. From the third week on, try to get three "sets" in during each session. Do this routine Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week. Wrist roll on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graduated bat workout on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You will be amazed at the difference in your bat speed and power by the time that six week period is over. I am certain that you will not be the only one to notice. In fact, I am certain you will be approached by at least one of your teammates and probably one of your coaches. They too will be impressed. That should be all the incentive you need to continue what you are doing. Dedication. This drill is undoubtedly
capable of putting a tremendous amount of power in your hitting if you
are disciplined enough to do the drill properly, have the desire to turn
yourself into a better hitter, and are dedicated enough to continue it
even in the off-season. Make yourself into the great hitter that you want
to be. If you believe, you can achieve! |



This
is the key to creating quickness. The wrist roll exercise is to develop
strength which is important, but this is the secret.
Okay,
you are set to begin your workout. Again, with the middle bat, get in
a fundamentally sound stance and imagine a ball in your power zone. Take
a solid, balanced, but powerful cut at that imaginary ball. Concentrate
on your rhythm, your cocking, your timing kick and exploding your hands
to the ball. Exaggerate squashing the bug and the follow through. Concentrate
on finishing balanced. The perfect swing, thats what you want every
time. Repeat this 10 times. Set the bat down and graduate to the next
heaviest bat. Repeat the same process. Set that bat down and progress
to your weighted bat. Repeat. Concentrate on doing everything perfect.
Now, start back down the line of bats. When you get to that super light
bat, you should be swinging with tremendous speed. Bat quickness! Rip
those hands through the strike zone with all of your might! Again, do
not forsake form. Drill the proper form into your swing by concentrating
on doing everything correctly. Finish balanced, every time.