Bend Diamond Sports

02/04/2022

Exit Velocity - Measurement and Speed by Age

Click below for our free article:

https://www.buildingromeseries.com/exit-velocity/

02/04/2022

How to Measure Launch Angle in Your Cage

Launch angle represents the vertical angle at which the ball leaves the bat. The trajectory and velocity of the batted ball are the primary contributing factors to distance and outcome. Click the link below for our free article:

Launch angle tells us about the tendencies of a hitter. Learn how to easily measure the average launch angle using batting cage and markers.

02/04/2022

Softball Swing vs Baseball Swing

Softball coaches, there is increased offensive production at your fingertips! Take a moment to re-evaluate the mental concepts you are conveying to your athletes. More verbal cues, such as “drive the ball hard,” “do damage to the ball”, “aim just over the fenceline”, helps establish fastpitch softball hitters’ intentions. College softball home runs are on the increase – don’t limit instruction just making contact and protecting.

Should batting be taught the same way for the softball swing vs baseball swing? This question is a popular topic among coaches and parents. Click the link below for our free article:

https://www.buildingromeseries.com/softball-swing/

01/25/2022

The where and how baseball and softball hitters move their hands from a neutral position in front of the rear shoulder, in their stance, to a separated (muscle stretched, loaded) hitting position varies significantly among successful hitters. The where and how should be Fit to Player and support the type of hitter they are or want to be. See all the options at:

https://www.buildingromeseries.com/loading-hands/

01/11/2022

Dipping under the ball is a common youth hitting issue.

This hitting article identifies how this unproductive dipping habit arises along with drills and concepts to quickly improve the swing pattern.

This hitting article identifies how an unproductive dipping habit arises along with drills and concepts to quickly improve the swing pattern.

01/09/2022

Here is an article detailing some significant power-hitting fundamentals and associated drills we teach to fastpitch softball and baseball hitters alike. Find this article and 67 other free articles on our book-selling website (click below).

https://www.buildingromeseries.com/hitting-for-power/

Also, learn more about our affordable softball and baseball hitting lessons and softball pitching lessons on our instruction website: www.benddimaondsports.com.

Our fastpitch softball and baseball lessons build skills in an easy-to-follow progression, explaining the what and why of fundamentals used by the best players.

12/31/2021

See our new article dedicated to fastpitch:
Softball Hitting Drills for Power and Productivity.
Use these challenging drills to train your players efficiently and effectively.
https://www.buildingromeseries.com/softball-hitting-drills/

Five innovative softball drills to improve batting skills: inside pitch, pitch selection, head steady, timing, and a skill building team game.

12/31/2021

We just finished updating all articles in our Swing Analysis and Metrics blog, including:

- Quality At-Bats (QAB) Improve Batting Performance
- Time to Contact Measures Quickness
- Launch Angle in Your Cage
- Attack Angle (Swing Plane) for Hitters
- Exit Velocity: Measurement and Speed by Age
- Bat Speed: Measurement and Speed by Age
- Measure Approach Distance
- How to Evaluate Hitters – Improvement and Goals

Click below to view our blog and read the above free articles:

Discover the why and how of the most crucial batting metrics in the swing analytics blog. Use metrics as a progress report for your player.

09/19/2021

Here are some of the most common swing improvements we have been making at the Bend Elks in July and August:

- Positioning in the batter's box (usually too far from the plate thereby dramatically reducing the rate of contact for the outside corner strike).

- Inadequate core and shoulder rotation. We use radar to measure bat speed and see an immediate improvement in power when our students learn to turn on the ball aggressively.

- Downward swing path (negative attack angle) where the plane of the swing is not in the trajectory of the pitch resulting in 90% ground balls and more mish*ts, especially on the low pitch location.

- Timing issues and swinging under when pitching speed is slightly increased to the speed of good pitching at that age level.

- Swinging from a non-athletic position.

- Pulling head during swing ex*****on.

On the positive side, our students are focused and dedicated to rapidly becoming better hitters. Our reward is to see the confidence and love of the game grow from lesson to lesson.

09/19/2021

A quick update from Coach Gary. We moved our fastpitch softball and baseball instruction from the facility (our shop) we used in Salem for 20 years and started offering lessons in Bend in July at the Bend Elks Fieldhouse.

The families and students we have met so far have been wonderful and we want to thank them for their support. We are excited to help youth reach their goals and grow confidence. We continue to offer one on one instruction (baseball and softball hitting, softball pitching, softball slapping, and baseball and softball defense) at an affordable rate for families ($40 includes batting cage).

The Elks has been closed for much of Sept but reopens Monday, Sept 20 with hours from 2:00 to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. The Elks Fieldhouse has the only cages in the area so we are at their mercy for scheduling. Our lessons times (50-minute private lessons) coincide with Elk cage times: Monday - Friday at 2:30, 3:20, 4:10, and 5:00. With school in session, we understand earlier times usually won't work unless the kids have a day off. Let us know if you would like to get started or we can answer any questions.

Call or text Coach Gary at 503-999-0171, Coach Abby at 971-218-2457, or email us at [email protected].

09/09/2021

$20 Private Hitting Lesson - Introductory Offer!

Now is a great time for baseball and softball players to improve their games. Off-season allows time to experiment with various techniques to identify those which improve power and raise batting average. Or, really take on that habit which has needed changing. Or, do ground-up fundamentals check. Whichever the case, Coach Gary Barr is offering an introductory lesson for half price - $20 for a 50-minute private lesson at the Bend Elks. Your $20 includes the batting cage fee.

Call or text Gary at 503-999-0171 to schedule a lesson. Lessons are available Monday through Friday at 2:10, 3:00, 3:50, or 4:40 at the Elks.

For further information, see our website at www.benddiamondsports.com

Our fastpitch softball and baseball lessons build skills in an easy-to-follow progression, explaining the what and why of fundamentals used by the best players.

06/30/2021

Coach Gary and Abby both use a variety of methods and training aids in their private lessons. Please click the link the link below to go to our free blog for an article describing what we have available:

https://www.buildingromeseries.com/hitting-training-methods/