You may be asking yourself, “Why do I hit a lot of ground balls?” Or “How can I help my child stop chopping down on the ball?” Constantly rolling over or hitting ground balls can feel like a setback for many players striving to have success at the plate. At the heart of this issue? Swing mechanics. A poor swing path can be the difference between an easy out to the infield and one that clears the fences. The sooner it gets fixed, the better off you’ll be. As hitters get older, the defense gets faster, with better reaction time, better footwork, and better arm strength. By the time hitters reach ..read more

Coach Lincoln Martin knows well that anyone can have an off day. But how your player conducts themselves when things aren’t going according to plan is a fundamental reflection of who they are as an athlete, a teammate, a student, and an individual. Coaching young players to deal with adversity on and off the field is a key part of player development, and a subject about which Martin has a wealth of experience and passion. Introducing Coach Martin Coach Lincoln Martin joined the coaching staff here at The Hitting Vault after a successful professional career as a player with the Baltimore Oriole ..read more

Whether you’re a player, coach, or fan of baseball, you’ve probably heard the term “squishing the bug.” You will also be aware that it is a subject that divides everyone in the industry. Weight dynamics on the back foot through the swing can impact all sorts of important metrics: angle, strength, body mechanics — you name it. So is there a single “correct” answer to the age-old debate? Here at The Hitting Vault, founder Coach Matt Lisle welcomed one of the newest members of the team, Coach Tom Eller, to discuss one of baseball’s most controversial topics. Originally from Rising Sun, MD, Coach ..read more

Every summer, thousands of young players attend college showcases with hopes of being noticed by college coaches and scouts. Showcases provide participants with an opportunity to display their skills before a wide range of industry professionals, but navigating them can be overwhelming for both players and parents. One of the newest members of The Hitting Vault team, Coach Jason Ferber, shared some thoughts and tips for how to get the most out of your showcase experience. Known as Instagram’s most followed coach (with over 140,000 followers!), the Coney-Island native offers advice on what to e ..read more

I get asked frequently what it takes to be a great coach, and I can honestly say there is no real answer to this. At the end of the day, our goal as coaches is to make a difference for the student athletes that you have the opportunity to coach. But if I had to give one piece of advice to coaches, it’s to always have a growth mindset. I can promise you that no coach knows everything, and the best coaches are always striving to improve no matter what level they are at. As coaches, one of the best paths to success is reading (or listening) to books. When new coaches ask me where to begin their ..read more

One of the toughest things to master as a youth baseball or softball player is how to hit a curveball. As the competition level starts to increase, and pitchers get older and more developed we see them have a little more control over their pitches. Up until then, hitting can seem like a breeze for a kid with a good swing and coordination! The pitcher’s goal with curveballs and off-speed pitches is to keep the hitter off balance with not only movement, but also change in speed. When pitchers start throwing curveballs and off-speed pitches they can really throw a young hitter off because they’re ..read more

Aaron Judge has done it! After a 4 game drought, he sent number 62 soaring over the left field wall at Globe Life field in Arlington Texas. He smashed a hanging slider off the Ranger’s Jesus Tinoco in the top of the 1st to give the Yankees and early 1-0 lead. He hit it 100.2 MPH at a 35 degree launch angle for those that love the stats! A moment that will never be forgotten. #AllRise (MLB x @budweiserusa) pic.twitter.com/k2wHOEwWdc — MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2022 Judge tied Roger Maris on September 28th with a homerun to left off the Blue Jays. Yankees fans were hoping for number 62 to come at ..read more

Albert Pujols sent Homerun number 699 off the LA Dodger’s Andrew Heaney over the left field wall at Dodger Stadium Friday night. An inning later in the top of the 4th off Phil Bickford he hit number 700! He smashed it 389 feet, with an exit velocity of 99.8, and a 33 degree launch angle. He’s now a member of the exclusive 700 Club, where Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) are the only other hitters, with 10 regular season games remaining. The moment Albert Pujols joined the 700 Home Run Club! (via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/RLUAg9pgNA — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 24, 20 ..read more

The Judge has done it! He now is tied with the Sultan of Swat in most AL Homeruns in a single season with 60! With 16 games remaining, this puts him on pace to hit a total of 66. The only one ahead of him at this point is Roger Maris, who has held the record at 61 since 1961. What’s impressive as well, is the lead that Judge has on the next closest hitter in homeruns this season. Kyle Schwarber is behind him by 20! No. 60 ties The Sultan of Swat for 2nd all-time in American League history!@TheJudge44 pic.twitter.com/DNwFXsJFMC — New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 21, 2022 Judge has really ..read more

If you weren’t rooting for Albert Pujols before, you have to be now! At 42, The Machine keeps making history. Saturday he tied Alex Rodriguez who was 4th on the Career Homerun list, with his game-tying laser down the left field line against the Pirates. As of Sunday though he stands alone in 4th place. Homerun number 697 was hit at the top of the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates giving the St. Louis a 3-2 lead. Three more homeruns, and Pujols will join the 700 Homerun Club with 21 more games to go. There are only three other players in the 700 Club; Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (75 ..read more