Marc Dagenais

There are a lot of discussions on which hitting techniques is the best. There is no question that a good hitting technique is a key performance factor.

However, it's only ONE of several factors that makes up a good hitter. Let's start a list of what makes a good hitter.

Here is my list:

1) Good hand-eye coordination
2) Tracking ability and focus
3) Confidence
4) Mechanics
5) Decision-making ability (to swing or not to swing)
6) Experience
7) Strength and power
8) Composure

So, mechanics is ONLY one of the factors. I think most hitting specialists or gurus put too much emphasis on technique and tend to forget other aspects of hitting.

Are they good at:


- Teaching and training tracking and visual abilities?
- Fostering confidence?
- Training key mental skills (focus, blocking distraction)?
- Developing strength and power?
- Etc.

There are all important aspects of hitting performance and a good hitting coach can train all of these.

While there is a lot of emphasis on hitting mechanics and while it is a very important part of hitting success, I believe it is a bit overrated.

From experience, too much work on the technical aspects of hitting sometimes makes hitters think too much. And you know what happens when a hitter thinks too much - nothing good happens.

You have to let the hitter see the ball, hit the ball with confidence and not having to think too much about it.

Most great hitters will tell you hitting is anywhere between 50 and 90% mental.

So what makes up your list?

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Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS
http://www.softballperformance.com

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps players be more confident, mentally tougher, hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, and be more dominant on the field. He also helps coaches win more games and get more out of their team.

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bgecoach

hey marc, excellent post. i agree completely. i've seen good hitters with terrible mechanics and terrible hitters with good mechanics.

if i had to pick one from your list i would choose confidence. if a hitter has confidence she has been hitting the ball to get the confidence and she is going to keep hitting the ball because she believes she can.

my next door neighbor to my batting cage use to play pro baseball. he said when he was in high school and college he 100% believed everytime time he stepped in the box that the pitcher could not get the ball by him.

Rick Pauly

The size of the hitters "data bank" and his/her ability to reach into it.