Hitting with Constraints: Training Better Hitters

with Josh Bloomer,
Arizona State Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator;
Arizona Hitting Coach from 2023 to 2024;
South Carolina Hitting Coach from 2022 to 2023;
Duke University Assistant Coach from 2019 to 2022;
2022 NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year;
2021 ACC Tournament Champions;
2021 NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year;
Louisville Male High School (KY) Head Coach from 2012 to 2019;
2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Champions (undefeated, 39-0);
2019 Kentucky State champions;
6x Regional Champions;
2019 USA Today National High School Coach of the Year finalist;
Mercy Academy Head Coach from 2005-12;
2012 Kentucky State champions;
5x Regional Champions

Coaches often need to refill their repertoire of hitting drills to incorporate training specific to a modern hitting approach. In this video, Duke hitting coach Josh Bloomer takes you through a complete series of drills tailored to the High Level Pattern hitting philosophy. Any coach intent on helping players develop this skill set and philosophy will find the depth of drills inside a valuable resource. Coach Bloomer goes through a total of 16 individual drills that can be expanded based on the skill level and age group to include tee work, soft toss, and front toss.

Swing Development

The drills taught by Bloomer work on four elements of swing development: arm spacing and bat path, development of rhythm and timing around the unlocking of hip coil kinetic chain, mastering the behind the ball attack mode of the HLP swing, and developing the proper body position and posture to access power.

Constraint Drills

Of particular interest and unique to Coach Bloomer's approach are the Split Grip and Barrel Tilt drills, which focus on the unique elements of the HLP swing pattern.. These drills help players develop rearward rotation and initiate the bat path to opposite field that is unique to the HLP. They also illustrate spacing concepts that are often discussed and usually poorly clarified from other drill videos.

If you are adapting to and transitioning to HLP training, this video will be a great resource for your program's hitting development. While there are certainly some advanced skills shown and discussed by Coach Bloomer, he explains them in a way that will make sense to coaches and players of all levels.

59 minutes. 2021.