Episode 2 YouTube Link

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Summary:

Guests: Craig Hyatt, the Hitting Coach at East Valley High School in Yakima Washington, and Doug Latta a hitting trainer from Bally Yard based in Northridge California

How do they define balance and why do we need it

What is the biggest grind move

Describe what people mean by “get into the ground”

How can coaches get their players moving more effectively

Why can tennis drills improve hitting

How can hockey slap shot drills benefit baseball hitting

Backspin is built in when you hit through a spin

How does tennis showcase how players create power

Homes runs come from being smooth and productive with your body

You have got to have consistency

What is a the hitting strategy called “shut piece”

How prevalent is the analysis of  high school player stats and data

You have to hit through each pitch

What does it mean to have a soft entry into the zone

Don’t hit your pitches with your front arm

Video and data can show a hitter what their body is doing

3 Key Points:

The body works better from a position of balance.

Tennis drills offer players the chance to feel proper body movement when hitting.

One hit every two weeks, at the big league level, is 20 points towards your average

Tweetable Quotes:

“I have a very strong bias for balance. I think it is elemental to the way bodies move.” - Craig Hyatt (01:35)

“I really think tennis and actually throwing are the best ways that really exemplify how our bodies should move when we hit.” - Doug Latta (13:18)

“We really hit balls in a line and in a rectangle.” - Doug Latta (17:38)

“The thing with tennis, all the bodies are different. So there is variation of how guys create power, but they also need to be consistent, they need to hit the ball in a certain direction.” - Craig Hyatt (21:08)

“‘I worked really hard to hit that home run.’ No, you hit that homerun because you were clean and efficient with your body.” - Craig Hyatt (22:37)

“Most young hitters and a lot of professional hitters have big shoulder moves. And if we don’t get those out of them, they aren’t going any farther.” - Doug Latta (24:36)

“Once we get down to balance, the one key I want and give people is, you have to hit through every pitch you see.” - Doug Latta (30:33)

“Train young hitters so that they have the same basic moves that they’re going to have up the latter, and their adjustments become internal.” - Doug Latta (31:40)

Resources Mentioned:

Ahead of the Curve Podcast

@AOTC_podcast

Craig Hyatt Twitter: @HyattCraig

Doug Latta Twitter: @LattaDoug

Ballyard.net

Website and Social Media sites for the show 

www.aotcpodcast.com