This is my third year as a Little League coach. I enjoy doing what I do with the boys. I do it because,I believe in the power of sports and the life lessons that you can teach to young kids. I appreciate this video because it reinforces what I use. My daughter used to go to a softball hitting coach. He uses the same system, and I can tell you that it works.
Great comment! After talking to Kevin numerous times, his baseball knowledge is OUTSTANDING. He was working with our young athletes like they were Jeter or Cano! Nicest guy ever too, just a quality human being. He spent NINETEEN years in the minor leagues coaching before becoming the Yanks coach. THAT is perseverance. -Coach Matty
The same advice applies to pitching, the golf swing, tennis swing, basketball, throwing a football, etc. - it is universal. Power comes from the lower body, not the arms. Arms are for finesse.
okay this is my 8th year playin baseball in Mi and im the clean up hitter in the batting order and can i tell u one thing this video has helped me a ton!!! you see this video helped me by being more athletic stance and exploding my hip this video was great!!Also i dont like the Yankees but i do like the batting coach Kevin Long!!
The baseball swing should mimic throwing a baseball sidearm to 3rd for the inside pitch, throw sidearm to second base for the pitch down the middle, and sidearm to 1st for the outside pitch. The bottom hand should be a limp noodle. You should throw the barrel at the ball with the top hand as though you are throwing a baseball sidearm. Similar to the mechanics of skipping a rock. When skipping a rock the throwing hand never turns over. It continues flat through the release never turning over and your body continues straight through lunging your body in the direction of the throw. This drives your whole body in the direction you want to drive the ball. When you finish swinging at an outside pitch your body should finish as though you threw a ball sidearm to 1st base resulting in your lower body being ready to start a race to 1st. The same for the pitch down the middle and the inside pitch.
Thanks TOJOatyour6, I'm glad you liked this tip! Rochester isn't TOO far! If you find your way to Westchester in either Mt. Kisco or Port Chester, stop by! (I work in Port Chester, find me there and I'll give you a couple free tokens for our batting cage!) -Coach Matty
Chi, this is understandable, and the MAIN reason we have implemented the most important step in our "Hitter's Checklist" video... TAKE A DEEP BREATH. This will relax you, the next step is "tracking" the ball. Focus on watching the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way to contact. When we get too anxious, we make the decision to swing before the pitcher even lets go of the ball, causing our lower half to leak forward and disrupting our energy transfer. WAIT BACK! Trust your hands. -Coach Matty
Hay getting a batting coach like Long from the NY, Yankees....come on....anyone ,on any level,can listen with certainty,to what coach Long tells him, IS '' A take it to the bank " teaching and instruction. Lets face it ,there is allot of guys here on RUclips who have more history in Baseball ,and good coaching,and played higher level then myself.......but in many small but significant ways,they teach on say some aspect on hitting,quite different,from one another......and this puts guys like me at a disadvantage as to trying to figure out ,whose right....or are both right,or even both methods ....wrong! However,when you got a guy like Long....who coaches in the Big SHOW level.....one can feel and have certainty.......they know what the heck there are talking about......Bottom Line......what do I think of having a guy like Long there on your show.......I wish he were able and willing to come on there all the time! Its may be the ONLY chance coaches like me,will ever have access to a guy like Coach Long, My only complaint would be.....way to little time was given to him to teach....for us who can only see him on RUclips......!
hey... I am 14 years old and recently moved up to the big field. I have never had a problem with hitting until i started using -3 and could use some tips. I thought about quiting because of this. I play center field and my defense has stayed great...just my hitting has been horendous. Could you help me
I've learned that getting low in your stance takes up time. your going to have to get back up to get to where the ball is to field it. doesnt make any sense. being Ready makes sense.
Hey Chi, I'm sorry you've gotten yourself in a slump, but remember. "Your mechanics can get you into a slump, but only your MIND can keep you there." Are you striking out, popping out, grounding out? How do you feel up at the plate? Send me a message with the answer and I'll have some great drills to help you. -Coach Matty
Being athletic in your stance is only appropriate for players 13 and under. After that, you need to understand that an elite swing provides a transference of mass from the back leg/side, which means that you're not quite in a defensive basketball position.
The athletic position is one where your lower body is prepped for quick, powerful movements. Slight bend in knees, weight on balls of feet, etc. You can not hit without achieving this. I get what you're saying. You can't stay perfectly balanced throughout the swing. There has to be weight transfer. But being athletic in your set up facilitates that efficient weight transfer. You can start loaded on your back side, or smooth into it. A great example was Bernie Williams, who would set up in a perfectly balanced position then use a back step with his front foot to shift his weight back, then forward. Aaron Judge preloads. He is stacked on a slight angle just ahead of his back foot, and just fires out from that position. In either case, the proper swing can not begin if an athletic position is not achieved just prior to it.
I will tell you one thing. Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports. Other than that you shouldn't quit. As you grow older your brain processes information quicker. What your brain can intake now, will be greater when your older. Just because you can't do something now, doesn't mean you will never get it. If anything.... Just quit. Baseball isn't for quitters.
Not at all! I don't see where he's suggesting speeding up the feet. He's talking about the mistake that 70% or more of players make of swinger harder or faster with the arms. The "explosion" comes from the lower half. The hands automatically speed up as long as the upper half stays connected. Think of it as the lower half "throwing" the upper half of the body. Tension in the arms actually slows the bat down.
Catherine Sternau Catherine, have you ever heard the hitting advice, "slow feet, quick hands"? Do you know what it means? And when your hips explode, what do you think will happen to your shoulders?
What about Griffey one of the best of all time. He doesn't have an athletic stance he stands upright and isn't square. You really can't have a perfect stance. It just comes and the hitter should just use what he's comfortable with.
I can't believe you made such an opinionated comment. This guy has worked wonders with MLB players. He can only control the physical aspect of the batters approach, not the mental. So when the Yanks can't hit in the playoffs, its all mental. Remember, these guys are in the big leagues for a reason. Because they are good....and you're obviously not in the big leagues because every MLB player respects what this guy has to say. So take your nonsense elsewhere
Dude is responsible for ruining more pro players swings than anyone else in baseball history. I bought his video years ago and at the time my 9 year old looked at me and said "he's wrong"
Pretty ignorant and all around dumb statement. Any time this guy has been available, big league clubs literally line up to bring him in as their hitting coach. But hey man, taking advice from a 9 year old kid sounds reasonable. Keep doing you.
Please hitting coaches even when a guy is swinging ok they like to change shit. Look at the stats he his over rated to many Ks and everyone looking for Hrs
This is my third year as a Little League coach. I enjoy doing what I do with the boys. I do it because,I believe in the power of sports and the life lessons that you can teach to young kids. I appreciate this video because it reinforces what I use. My daughter used to go to a softball hitting coach. He uses the same system, and I can tell you that it works.
Great comment! After talking to Kevin numerous times, his baseball knowledge is OUTSTANDING. He was working with our young athletes like they were Jeter or Cano! Nicest guy ever too, just a quality human being. He spent NINETEEN years in the minor leagues coaching before becoming the Yanks coach. THAT is perseverance.
-Coach Matty
I'm going to flag this video as inappropriate; I don't want anyone else to learn how to execute this great man's tips.
The same advice applies to pitching, the golf swing, tennis swing, basketball, throwing a football, etc. - it is universal. Power comes from the lower body, not the arms. Arms are for finesse.
Matty, I love all of your videos and send one each week to all of the parents of the boys on my Croton Little League team. Thanks!
okay this is my 8th year playin baseball in Mi and im the clean up hitter in the batting order and can i tell u one thing this video has helped me a ton!!! you see this video helped me by being more athletic stance and exploding my hip this video was great!!Also i dont like the Yankees but i do like the batting coach Kevin Long!!
The baseball swing should mimic throwing a baseball sidearm to 3rd for the inside pitch, throw sidearm to second base for the pitch down the middle, and sidearm to 1st for the outside pitch. The bottom hand should be a limp noodle. You should throw the barrel at the ball with the top hand as though you are throwing a baseball sidearm. Similar to the mechanics of skipping a rock. When skipping a rock the throwing hand never turns over. It continues flat through the release never turning over and your body continues straight through lunging your body in the direction of the throw. This drives your whole body in the direction you want to drive the ball. When you finish swinging at an outside pitch your body should finish as though you threw a ball sidearm to 1st base resulting in your lower body being ready to start a race to 1st. The same for the pitch down the middle and the inside pitch.
Thank you so much!! You've improved my hitting sooo much!! 😄
Thanks TOJOatyour6, I'm glad you liked this tip! Rochester isn't TOO far! If you find your way to Westchester in either Mt. Kisco or Port Chester, stop by! (I work in Port Chester, find me there and I'll give you a couple free tokens for our batting cage!)
-Coach Matty
Chi, this is understandable, and the MAIN reason we have implemented the most important step in our "Hitter's Checklist" video... TAKE A DEEP BREATH. This will relax you, the next step is "tracking" the ball. Focus on watching the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way to contact. When we get too anxious, we make the decision to swing before the pitcher even lets go of the ball, causing our lower half to leak forward and disrupting our energy transfer. WAIT BACK! Trust your hands.
-Coach Matty
Best hitting coach ever
Outstanding video. Really like this one.
I Live In Yonkers And Am Insterested In Training With You Because I've Been On Slump Lately
Love the energy
It also helps playing in Yankee Stadium
I was at that clinic
awesome tip
what the heck is that at 1;40 in? i wanted to puke when i saw you take the hands down like that?
Ik right. Tf was dat😭🤣
Hay getting a batting coach like Long from the NY, Yankees....come on....anyone ,on any level,can listen with certainty,to what coach Long tells him, IS '' A take it to the bank " teaching and instruction. Lets face it ,there is allot of guys here on RUclips who have more history in Baseball ,and good coaching,and played higher level then myself.......but in many small but significant ways,they teach on say some aspect on hitting,quite different,from one another......and this puts guys like me at a disadvantage as to trying to figure out ,whose right....or are both right,or even both methods ....wrong! However,when you got a guy like Long....who coaches in the Big SHOW level.....one can feel and have certainty.......they know what the heck there are talking about......Bottom Line......what do I think of having a guy like Long there on your show.......I wish he were able and willing to come on there all the time! Its may be the ONLY chance coaches like me,will ever have access to a guy like Coach Long, My only complaint would be.....way to little time was given to him to teach....for us who can only see him on RUclips......!
hey... I am 14 years old and recently moved up to the big field. I have never had a problem with hitting until i started using -3 and could use some tips. I thought about quiting because of this. I play center field and my defense has stayed great...just my hitting has been horendous. Could you help me
I've learned that getting low in your stance takes up time. your going to have to get back up to get to where the ball is to field it. doesnt make any sense. being Ready makes sense.
Try using a smaller ball for batting practice.
great video but why them coaches never come to places like the bronx or brooklyn
Hey Chi, I'm sorry you've gotten yourself in a slump, but remember. "Your mechanics can get you into a slump, but only your MIND can keep you there." Are you striking out, popping out, grounding out? How do you feel up at the plate? Send me a message with the answer and I'll have some great drills to help you.
-Coach Matty
Being athletic in your stance is only appropriate for players 13 and under. After that, you need to understand that an elite swing provides a transference of mass from the back leg/side, which means that you're not quite in a defensive basketball position.
when the front foot lands yes you are in an athletic position. Too many times people over complicate the swing. It is very simple. K.I.S.S.
The athletic position is one where your lower body is prepped for quick, powerful movements. Slight bend in knees, weight on balls of feet, etc. You can not hit without achieving this. I get what you're saying. You can't stay perfectly balanced throughout the swing. There has to be weight transfer. But being athletic in your set up facilitates that efficient weight transfer. You can start loaded on your back side, or smooth into it. A great example was Bernie Williams, who would set up in a perfectly balanced position then use a back step with his front foot to shift his weight back, then forward. Aaron Judge preloads. He is stacked on a slight angle just ahead of his back foot, and just fires out from that position. In either case, the proper swing can not begin if an athletic position is not achieved just prior to it.
I will tell you one thing. Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports. Other than that you shouldn't quit. As you grow older your brain processes information quicker. What your brain can intake now, will be greater when your older. Just because you can't do something now, doesn't mean you will never get it. If anything.... Just quit. Baseball isn't for quitters.
Is Kevin Long contradicting the "slow feet, quick hands" advice that seems to work for a lot of players?
Not at all! I don't see where he's suggesting speeding up the feet. He's talking about the mistake that 70% or more of players make of swinger harder or faster with the arms. The "explosion" comes from the lower half. The hands automatically speed up as long as the upper half stays connected. Think of it as the lower half "throwing" the upper half of the body. Tension in the arms actually slows the bat down.
Catherine Sternau Catherine, have you ever heard the hitting advice, "slow feet, quick hands"? Do you know what it means? And when your hips explode, what do you think will happen to your shoulders?
how did kevin long get hired by a major league team? Mind boggling
lol still employed today, he's doing something right
I thought the Yanks fired Long? He's found redemption with Mets slugger Murphy. Lets see if Murf can keep it going!
Last advice might change careers
What about Griffey one of the best of all time. He doesn't have an athletic stance he stands upright and isn't square. You really can't have a perfect stance. It just comes and the hitter should just use what he's comfortable with.
Hitters do not explode. Nor does exploding anything in the lower half increase bat speed. Awful understanding
I can't believe you made such an opinionated comment. This guy has worked wonders with MLB players. He can only control the physical aspect of the batters approach, not the mental. So when the Yanks can't hit in the playoffs, its all mental. Remember, these guys are in the big leagues for a reason. Because they are good....and you're obviously not in the big leagues because every MLB player respects what this guy has to say. So take your nonsense elsewhere
Dude is responsible for ruining more pro players swings than anyone else in baseball history.
I bought his video years ago and at the time my 9 year old looked at me and said "he's wrong"
Pretty ignorant and all around dumb statement. Any time this guy has been available, big league clubs literally line up to bring him in as their hitting coach. But hey man, taking advice from a 9 year old kid sounds reasonable. Keep doing you.
That kid is thinking "flexion? I will be flexion my nuts on Suzy Bird after practice!".
Please hitting coaches even when a guy is swinging ok they like to change shit. Look at the stats he his over rated to many Ks and everyone looking for Hrs
This is awful.
Long not a good batting coach Dow . Yanks are hurting with him
Murphy is the only Met he helped!! The team was last or almost last in hitting!
hitting coach??? hitting at that little baby park all you have to do is stick your bat out and it flies over the fence,
UR DUMB
you clearly have never went to a training facility lol.
klazzikk he’s probably talking about bitch ass yankee stadium
That’s way too wide , that’s for tee ballers
when i saw yankee hitting coach i thought he would say take steroids like a-roid
Right! Because ALL the steroid users in baseball were Yankees!! No one else did it. Never anyone from other teams! You're brilliant!