Hitting: Making the Right Moves at the Plate

with Ford Pemberton,
Nicholls State University Assistant Coach (Hitting);
former Assistant coach at C.E. Byrd HS, Zachary HS and Parkview Baptist HS (helped lead all three schools to the LHSAA State Championship);
former associate scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks

Coach Ford Pemberton's foundational approach to hitting helps keep the swing simple and will allow you to identify problem areas while customizing your practice program to how different types of players learn and grow. In this video, Pemberton teaches you how to evaluate hitters from setup to follow-through, including identifying effortless swing power and impact value such as the sight and sound of the ball off the bat to continue reinforcing positive development. Pemberton then defines strategies for developing routines, and focus areas, for players through their drill and tee work in the cage.

Foundation 1: A Clean First Move (Load)

By focusing on a simple load, or first movement, Coach Pemberton helps hitters develop consistent and repeatable mechanics to build upon. Hitting flaws often are rooted at the very beginning. Keeping things simple will build a solid foundation for later enhancements to your hitter's swing and hitting approach.

The first iteration of Pemberton's Wall Drill focuses on the first foundation in the load phase. By utilizing the drill, hitters can:

• Reduce swaying and twisting
• Avoid over-rotating
• Get into an ideal "attack position"

By creatively utilizing a free weight plate in an activity called the Weight Drill, Pemberton shows how coaches and players can be more effective in identifying inefficient movements. The drill provides real-time feedback to the hitter and coach. By helping prevent swaying and twisting, it proves extremely simple and effective as part of a swing training program.

Foundation 2: Make a Forward Move (Balanced Position)

By making an effective move after load, Coach Pemberton helps hitters identify how to get to the ideal attack position and be athletic. Drills like the Toe Up Drill help hitters ensure forward movement without swaying. Staying athletic and "in the legs" is a recurring theme of optimal balance and positioning.

The next Wall Drill focuses on the second foundation in the balanced attack position. With this portion of the drill, hitters learn to:

• Get to 50/50 weight distribution - the most athletic position possible
• Get into proper hitting position
• Keep control of the barrel, balance, and posture by staying in proper position

While facing live batting practice pitching, the Feet Together Drill is a dynamic exercise in validating proper 50/50 weight balance at swing start. Ensuring hitters do not sit and spin rotationally, or reach with their head past the mid-line, Pemberton shows how to help hitters finish strong and in a balanced position "in the legs."

Foundation 3: Make an Efficient Move (To and Through Contact)

By focusing on key areas like hip/shoulder separation and palm up/palm down hand placement, Coach Pemberton extends the hitting foundations to contact and finish positions. Drills like the High Tee Drill and High Front Toss accentuate Pemberton's desire for the hitter's swing to be compact and simple to the ball.

Adding some fun to the mix, Pemberton teaches the Self Toss Drill and Advanced Self Toss Drill, where players can feed themselves a moving ball and locate on their own for a quick and easy hitting session. Other drills focus on top hand path and 3/4 swing finish to control the barrel of the bat and reduce "rolling over" of the hands.

By properly assessing what players are doing well, and what they need to improve upon, Coach Pemberton teaches how to develop a hitting program for each player on your team. Hitting is hard, but by keeping it simple and efficient, you can give your athletes their best opportunity to be successful. Hitters of all ages and skill levels can improve by following these hitting techniques.

61 minutes. 2021.