01/29/2026
What better way to launch my coach’s page than to talk about your approach to the plate as a pitcher AND a hitter!?
Long rant but worth the read.
Have you ever wondered what makes the difference between a good hitter/pitcher to an ELITE hitter/pitcher? Well, the simple answer is HOW you approach your strike zone.
I love visual aids as an instructor so before beginning my discussion with my hitter and/or pitcher I lay out balls on the plate as seen below. We have them “painted” from left box to right box.
To put it simply, we want our hitters to work inside the zone to outside the zone and our pitchers work the opposite working outside the zone to inside the zone.
As a pitcher, we want the hitter to chase OUTSIDE their zone while as a hitter we want to make our pitchers work INSIDE our zone.
I always say, whoever makes the first mistake of their zone is the one who loses the battle of the at bat.
First, as a hitter, we have to know where OUR zone is. If I, as the batter, am ahead in my count I am swinging at MY pitch and MY pitch ONLY. Personally for me, wayyyyyy back in the day, was up and in because I knew that was my home run ball. So, consequently, I didn’t swing at any pitch unless it was MY pitch when I was ahead in the at bat. Then, as the pitcher works the count even or to their advantage, I had to expand my zone to protect my zone.
Now, think about this as a pitcher. When I begin an at bat. I am sticking to MY zone. As a pitcher I worked better vertical than I did horizontal. So, I threw to my zone and away from the plate. Then, depending on the count I worked my zone more wide or more narrow.
I tell my hitters, you want to work that pitcher to over the plate. Ultimately, as you become more advanced you’re hittting that pitchers MISTAKE. So, the more we work her into OUR zone the more she will give us what we want.
Now, I tell my pitchers, you want to work that batter to your river and beginning of your batters boxes. NEVER over the plate. You want your batter to swing OUTSIDE of their zone and sell your pitches like they’re over the plate but actually are nowhere near it.
This mentality and this approach inside the circle as well as inside the box is what makes that player DANGEROUS. Skill and a “perfect” swing will only get you so far. But, working your zones is what takes you to the next level as a player.
Thank you for reading through my long rant. I hope it was insightful and you enjoy my new page and new content!
This was inspired by a “rant” between another coach and myself at DBat, Coach Brittany! We share the same philosophy and teach our athletes in the same way!
You can book lessons with me through our webpage and/or the DBat app!
Availability is one Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-9pm and Saturdays from 2-6pm or by special request.
