COMING SOON

This forum provides a place for:

 

* Answering Players/Parents Questions

* Covering Drills and Techniques

* General discussion about Baseball and Softball

* High School and College Training Advice

 

"This is a place to get a closer look into who we are as instructors at Diamond Kings."

                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                              - Eric Blakeley

"IN THE DUGOUT"

w/ Eric Blakeley

 

 

9566 N. Industrial Drive

St. John, Indiana

(219) 558-2273

WELCOME TO DIAMOND KINGS!     Contact us about Private Lessons, Cage Rentals, Team Practices, Camp Dates, Hitting Leagues, and more... 219-558-2273

DK INSIDER

"DK Newsletter"

Send an email to:

TrainDK@sbcglobal.net

 

Write "Send Newsletter" in the subject line. You will receive your DK Newsletter each month delivered directly to your email account.

DK EVENT CALENDAR

July-Aug 22nd, 2010: DK High School Fall

Wooden Bat League Signups

(incoming 2011-2014 grads eligible)

 

August 22nd, 2010: DK West High School   Wooden Bat League Begins (St. John)

 

August 29th, 2010: DK East High School   Wooden Bat League Begins (Portage)

 

Sept-Oct 15th, 2010: DK Indoor Fall Hitting 

League Signups - Teams of 4 players

(9U/10U, 11U/12U, and J.H./H.S. Leagues)

 

October 25th, 2010: DK Indoor Fall

Hitting League Begins

 

 

 

 

ON THE WIRE

Recent Topics

GRIP THE BAT FOR SPEED

 

The most common thing I hear as a hitting instructor is:

 

“I want to hit the ball harder, but stay consistent.”

 

To do this we need to start with the basics: Proper set-up with the hands and lower half, eyes staying on the ball and replacing the ball on and through contact, and having a proper grip on the bat to allow for maximum flexibility and extension throughout the swing.

 

Today, let’s talk about the proper way to grip the bat…

 

I see so many hitters that think they have to grip the bat tight in the palms of their hands to hit the ball hard. When you ask them why they feel like a tight grip back in the palms of their hands hits the ball harder, they proceed to tell me that they feel the strength of their body when they swing the bat that way. The only problem with this is that, as a hitter, you do not want to feel tense muscles in the chest, shoulders, and arms when swinging the bat. This will slow your bat down. We want to free up the hands when hitting to react quickly and fire to the inside of the ball.

 

 

At first, holding the bat like this may be difficult for some younger players. It also may be difficult to explain to a younger hitter why this would give them more power. This grip may also be slightly uncomfortable and cause a player’s fingers to ache or hurt at first. This, like anything, takes a little time to get used to but will be well worth it in the end when they begin to hit the ball with greater ease and consistency.

 

Any questions, email me anytime at TrainDK@sbcglobal.net

 

As always, I look forward to your emails!

 

Eric Blakeley

GRIPPING THE BAT FOR SPEED" (proper technique for power and consistency)