HITTING
Coach Traub's unique approach to teaching hitting does not re-invent the mechanics of the swing. (For mechanics, he is a big fan of imitating Don Slaught, former MLB catcher and owner of Right View Pro and current hitting coach for UCLA Softball. Mechanical priorities are listed below.) It is unique because he takes the time to set up practice in a way that allows the student to understand how to coach him or herself, constantly learning more about self and the game. He also blends the mental side of hitting with the physical, with constant attention to transfer. The goal is not to be great at batting practice. The goal is to be great in the games!
Hitting League
with Mental Skills Training
Sundays 5:00-6:30 at Crush in San Bernardino
For ages 10-13. Limited to 8 student-athletes per session
Text Coach Traub at 214-264-4373 to reserve a spot.
If you are inferring from the order of these images that Kelly Kretschman is as good as Bryce Harper (who is clearly awesome)...you may be correct! Look her up here.
Coach Traub's Peak Performance Camps are another great option for ages 9-16. See details here.
BONUS: Hitting league and private lessons students will receive
over $50 worth of Coach Traub products
See Coach Traub's Baseball and Softball Training page on Facebook.
Private Lessons Availability and Scheduling Here
Call or Text Coach Traub with quesitons at 214-264-4373.
Private Instruction
Lessons are currently being offered at RBY in Redlands and at the Crush Baseball indoor facility in San Bernardino. It's basically at Waterman and I-10. Lessons will also be offered at Riverside City College after campus is completely opened. All potential private students are asked to take an initial “trial” lesson before locking in a time slot. Lessons are $1/minute regardless of length and can be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly.
Pre-Registration is REQUIRED for group and private lessons. Call or Text Coach Traub to register at 214-264-4373.
Nice job here of barreling up a change-up!
If you need to change a lesson time, you an cancel your time slot as long as there is 24 hours notice.
If Coach Traub needs to cancel a lesson time, you will be given your choice of a substitute time slot or full refund.
All private students will have complete access to all of Coach Traub’s products including a copy of Leadership Training for Softball or Leadership Training for Baseball and access to all products at www.SoftballMentalMaster.com or www.BaseballMentalMaster.com and the online course at www.TeamMentalTraining.com. Coach Traub will suggest certain products over time as things come up or the student can request any of these at anytime.
Pre-Registration is REQUIRED. Call or Text Coach Traub to register at 214-264-4373.
Coach Traub's students work hard on the fundamentals of strength and balance in the lower half, a short-to-it, long-through-it hand path with palm-up/palm-down through extension, and a calm and focused mind. Even with perfect mechanics, you won't hit the ball well if you don't see the ball well. There are many more details and you can read up on Coach Traub's philosophy in his blog: www.SmileNowCoach.com.
Hitting Fundamentals:
1. Find a grip that allows you to be strong at contact and control the barrel (holding the bat like you would a hammer).
2. Get to a great launch position with hands up, in, and back, knob of bat pointed at catcher’s feet, and great balance and angles. Details and photos on my blog here. Sign up for my free e-newsletter while there :-)
3. Hit with rhythm and be on time. Start with a negative and a positive move and get the foot down in time to turn on the pitcher’s best inside pitch.
4. Separate the stride from the swing. The hands work independently from the stride.
5. First move: Be short to the hitting zone. Keep the hands in during first move and drop the back elbow into the ‘slot.’ The slot is right next to the hip bone. The barrel must not drop below the hitting zone and the hands must not cast away from the body too early. Thinking of throwing a Frisbee to the pitcher with the front arm and skipping a rock off the rubber with the back arm is appropriate.
6. Be long through the hitting zone. Extend through the hitting zone towards the pitcher with palm up (top hand), palm down (bottom hand) until there is a full V in your arms.
7. Three measures of the swing: how much force (speed and strength), efficiency getting to the zone with timing, and hitting in a big zone (keeping the barrel on plane with the pitch for as long as possible).
8. Your lower half should work with your torso. Finish with your shoelaces pointed at the pitcher if you hit it up the middle or pull the ball. Finish with shoelaces pointed towards the ball if you hit to the opposite field.
9. Be aggressive under control. The swing decision is a huge part of hitting that must be practiced. Get a great cut at a good pitch to hit. Have a plan based on the situation, especially including this pitcher’s stuff and tendencies.
10. Emotional control and solid preparation leads to dynamic balance before during and after the swing
11. Learn how to self-adjust both timing and mechanical keys before and during an at-bat.
Call or Text Coach Traub for details or to register at 214-264-4373.
Please read the fine print:
*Students use text messaging directly (for now) to Coach Traub to reserve a specific time slot each month. If private lesson students need to change times, they can do so with no penalty provided that 24 hours notice is given and there is another time slot open during the same week as the missed lesson. All students are also given one credit for any absence in which 24 hours notice was given and rescheduling the lesson the same week was not possible. This credit can be used or donated for any open time slot of the same length. There is no credit without the 24 hours notice. Also, any additional absences are forfeited, but please know that you can always reschedule within the same week. If the scheduling app has no open time slots, feel free to text Coach Traub to request a specific time. He will work it out. The single cancellation credit resets each calendar year. That means that it must be used by December 31 and another credit can be earned starting January 1.
**There is a 3% processing fee for all credit card or Paypal payments. Zelle, Venmo, check, or cash has no such fee.
Note: All parents of Coach Traub's hitting students will receive a free copy of his Developing Talent in Young Athletes: Tips for Parents Audio CD.
