Philosophy of Hitting

It has been said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sport.

My name is Wayne Snow, hitting instructor at THE REAL STRIKE ZONE. I have been a "baseball nut" for as long as I can remember. For many years I have studied and pursued the art of hitting. People who watch baseball know there are many different looking stances, grips on the bat and positions in the batters box. It may look like each hitter is doing things differently, but when it comes time to attack, swing and make contact with the baseball, everything is the same. These are the fundamentals we will teach to go along with the player's natural ability.

To hit a round ball with a round piece of wood and hit it squarely is certainly challenging. Natural ability has a lot to do with how much success a player will realize when attempting to hit a moving fastball, a hard breaking ball or a change up. Before proper hitting technique and mechanics come into play it is advantageous to possess good eye sight, hand-eye coordination, physical strength and mental alertness. At THE REAL STRIKE ZONE we will take the natural ability and talent of each player and combine it with proper fundamentals and mechanics of a sound hitting philosophy to create the best hitter possible.

I have played baseball at all levels including high school, division I college and semi-pro. I have also coached at levels including youth baseball, high school (Mullen High School and Littleton High School) and summer leagues for college ballplayers. I look forward to working with you and your son.

Hitting Mechanics

STANCE - balanced with weight evenly distributed on balls of feet with feet spread approximately shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent.

PLATE COVERAGE - make sure you can "barrel up" from corner to corner of home plate.

LOWER BODY - weight shift back, rotate hips to a cocked position (this is where power is generated) and stride to a balance point. Front leg becomes rigid and swing begins.

STRIDE - short, toe touches first then heel locks down.

HIP ACTION - when the front heel becomes locked and front leg becomes rigid, the swing begins with the hips locked.

HANDS - follow the hips, stay inside the ball, make contact perpendicular to the ball, top hand palm up, bottom hand palm down at point of contact.

HEAD - keep as still as possible so as to not change eye level.

EYES - see ball with both eyes, recognize the speed and location of the pitch.

SWING - bat is close to shoulder (5-7 inches) until hips open and bat is launched. Be quick with the bat (bat speed).

Wayne Snow
Home #: 303-758-9243
Email: hasnow@comcast.net