Posted by: Jim (jwelborn@lexcominc.net) on Tue Oct 4 21:11:33 2005

> Hi Dave,
> I thank you for your post. I think this subject needs to be addressed more because I don't feel anyone has really focused that much on training methods that relate to this important action to become a more consistent hitter. Let me know if you dig up anything that is proven to aid in my search.



Erik,

Somewhere way back up the thread someone brought up a drill using high speed tennis balls.

Prior to the 2004 summer games, the USA Olympic Softball Team used a similar drill extensively. As explained to us by Coach Candrea at one of his clinics, the drill involved a tennis ball throwing machine (120 MPH @ 43’) and balls with color coded numbers. The ENTIRE team ultimately became proficient at reading the numbers. He credits this drill as a big help in training his athletes to get themselves into and playing “in the zone.” As he explained it, when playing “in the zone” the batter’s thought process speeds up which makes the ball appear to slow down and thus be easier to hit.

The last information I have is they are in the process of developing and marketing a kit to make the drill easily accessible to FP softball, and baseball programs.

Jim