former Ball State University Head Coach; 3x MAC Champions, 3x MAC Coach of the Year
Craig Nicholson's teams have consistently been some of the top hitting teams in college softball. In this video, Coach Nicholson shows you how to develop hitters who can change the game with one swing of the bat. He explains his hitting strategy and mechanics and offers several drills designed to develop a power hitter.
Strategy and MechanicsAn important component of power hitting is understanding what pitches can be hit hard and when to look for those pitches. Coach Nicholson demonstrates the mechanics of good power hitting. He explains the importance of staying inside and extending through the ball, which are critical to getting needed backspin to carry the ball.
Confidence and SituationsEven great hitters fail more times than they succeed. Confidence is a critical skill for any hitter, especially a power hitter. Understanding the process, establishing routines and developing trust will help the hitter maximize their ability. Coach Nicholson discusses typical game situations and what the hitter can do to be successful in each situation.
Power Hitting DrillsCoach Nicholson offers nine tee drills for developing good extension, staying inside the ball and using correct weight transfer. He also shows three front toss drills designed to help the hitter understand and feel how the body works. Coach Nicholson explains the purpose of doing the drills and how his hitters use them to develop the feeling of proper movement.
Contact Point and Rhythm MechanicsThe angle of contact is not as steep as many hitters think. Nicholson's philosophy is that hitters should let the ball get deeper into the zone, allowing for stronger contact. In this segment, he discusses and demonstrates the rhythm of the swing and developing consistency in the hitter's rhythm and mechanics. The hitter needs consistency for the proper sequence of body movements to occur.
It's never too soon to teach hitters how to hit for power. This video includes everything you need to teach your players how to hit for power and to develop good mechanics.
57 minutes. 2014.
SD-04646F: with Craig Nicholson, Arizona State University Head Coach;
former Ball State University Head Coach; 3x MAC Champions, 3x MAC Coach of the Year
Prepare your hitters to dominate at the plate! In this presentation, Arizona State University Head Coach Craig Nicholson offers a blueprint for running efficient, productive batting practices.
Coach Nicholson builds his presentation around a typical day of batting practice at Arizona State. You'll see a variety of drills that will help any hitter improve both their swing and their ability to make solid contact with the ball. The drills include both live batting practice drills as well as stationary hitting drills that help reinforce key hitting components of both the top and bottom hand. These drills emphasize the key fundamentals of staying inside the ball, keeping the hands back and driving them through the ball for as long as possible.
Coach Nicholson opens with an overview of a typical batting practice, discussing elements he incorporates into almost every team practice, his philosophy on hitting and ideas for staying inside the ball and the contact point.
In terms of mechanics, Coach Nicholson stresses the importance of staying inside the ball, which helps a hitter keep the ball in fair territory.
Defenses have five infielders to stop ground balls. This presentation will show you how to hit line drives or rising line drives to get the ball out of the infield.
Double BP
Double BP, in which two batters hit live pitches on the field, is a staple in Coach Nicholson's practices. This station allows the hitters to take several live cuts, working on their timing and tracking, in addition to swing mechanics. Coach Nicholson gives batters feedback after almost every swing, noting any adjustments they should make.
Tee Drills and Cage Work
Coach Nicholson shares three drills that his hitters perform at five stations in the batting cages. These drills are designed to break down a hitter's swing, allowing them to feel the individual parts of their swing before putting it all together. Coach Nicholson explains each station and has one of his coaches give a demonstration.
Front Toss
Front toss is important because it is a more controlled swing, and the pitcher can put the ball in more specific spots that they want the hitter to work on. The hitters take several rounds of front toss while a coach offers feedback on their swings. They also perform a "contact progression drill" that allows the hitter to check themselves at certain key points in the swing and feel how their body is supposed to work.
Designed for coaches and players alike, this presentation teaches hitting circuits that reinforce great techniques for better overall results. Get the most out of the time you have to develop key fundamental hitting techniques with the instruction offered here.
82 minutes. 2014.
