Inside the Hitting Mind with Lead Instructor: Coach Tyler

As a current college coach that has really wanted to dive more into private instruction for younger, upcoming hitters, I am really blessed and thankful for our own facility to house lessons and provide a playground for hitters of all ages and levels to come develop, be curious, and desire the ability to grow as an athlete. Since we own it, we get to instruct the way we want to, and I want YOU, the reader, to understand what that means before you ever visit the facility. So what is it that I value in teaching hitters?

Today starts an on-going series of what to expect from working with me as your private hitting instructor. Today's topic: Timing.

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Timing: You Must Have Keys Before Ever Starting the Engine

Oh man, timing. I could write an encyclopedia's worth of content on how much I live on the hill of its importance. Sound mechanics are important, and we will spend a lot of time on that...later. Because you could have a generational swing, but if your timing is non-existent (along with the mindset, which we will also be taking a deep dive into), you're in trouble.

With my private instruction and lessons, you will notice a ground-up teaching and experience right out of the gate, but no matter what, every lesson WILL include timing pieces and moving-ball pieces. Yes, I need to know that a hitter can drive their barrel direction through a ball rather than across a ball, and I need to know that a hitter is finished over the plate and onto the pitcher rather than her front side looking over at the pull-side dugout. But more importantly I need to know: Can the hitter BE READY AT PITCH RELEASE?

A quick definition of "Ready at Pitch Release": A loaded position where the hitter could get their "A" swing off at the snap of a finger. Think "as quick as turning the light switch and seeing lights turn on". This is only achieved if the hitter understands WHEN to start moving. This is why I am the world's biggest advocate of pitching machines with a timing chute; because if the hitter can understand moving with the ball as it travels down the chute, then the hitter can translate to understanding moving with the pitcher's arm circle. Once you master that timing movement, congratulations: You've unlocked softball's (and baseball's!!) greatest cheat code.

Expect a lot of timing exercises in my lessons. Because what I have noticed over the years recruiting and teaching is that there's moments where A+ timing will bail out failing mechanics, but there's no moments where A+ mechanics are bailing out failed timing.