by Richard Todd, WebBall Head Coach

A lot has been researched and written about the mechanics of hitting. Every coach/instructor has his teaching methods for hips, trunk, shoulders, head.

But, there is one aspect of hitting - both mental and mechanical - that I see covered very little. And that's how game circumstances can/should change the hitter's plan of attack.

You might know the results of this attack when it happens properly by another name: "the big inning". 

I've witnessed some big innings recently - both for and against teams I support, at both the youth and pro levels. And out of this have come some key observations. No doubt some of these have been seen and commented on elsewhere. And this list is not complete. But these are some of the common elements that can help create a plan of attack for the "big inning".

1 You can't play this game tense.

The worst thing about the big inning is that you may need it. And the worse time to need a big inning is right after your opponents have had one. In this situation you need those calming mental techniques. Breathing, etc. and each batter still needs to remember that the game is fun.

2 Don't over coach. 

Big innings start in improbable ways. We had one in which we were down by 4 runs in the bottom of the last inning and the inning started with a walk and double play - two out.

In a situation like that, a coach is inclined to assume nothing is developing and not over-coach. Good thing... we got the bases loaded, brought one run (now down by 3) then another, and with the bases still loaded one of our sluggers hit a bases clearing double to the fence. Simple. The key was not to over-run 3rd, not to try for too much too soon, keep the inning alive. Of course, in a very similar situation 2 weeks later, and it just didn't happen for us. I suspect you've had similar scenarios, which leads to the next observation...

3 Prepare for it but don't expect it.

While we can coach proper mental approach by the hitter, and alert base-running techniques, there are no guarantees. I can't recall even a single "big inning" that wasn't mostly a surprise.

So, given that, how can we talk about a plan of attack at all? It goes back to productive practices. If your practices are all about mechanical/physical drills, you are missing the mental training your players need. These are not two isolated events. Combine focus techniques with batting practice. Combine reading pitchers with training pop-up slides. Teach the concept of the hitting zone (narrow then widening) when you teach quick hands to the ball and whipping the barrel for more bat speed.

It still isn't about expecting the big inning, but you'll have more confidence that hits and walks and steals can all happen in sequence and that all your players are geared to do their best.

4 Change your hitting approach. 

We never want to rush ourselves out of a potentially big inning. So it also depends on when in the game the circumstances are favorable, and your hitters must understand this.

For example, early in the game - or in any inning - you might not want your hitters chasing bad first pitches. But later in the game and/or with runners on base, what changes? The pitcher's approach.

As the pitcher gets tired he's going to try to be more efficient - human nature. In fact a lot of training routines call for repetition approaching failure - on the principle that as the body tires it will seek more efficient ways to accomplish a task.

So consider that tiring pitcher...

• He will want to get the inning over with.
• He will then have a tendency to fire more first pitch strikes.
• An aware hitter will be all over them.

Also, whether tired or not, if there are runners on base, at some point the pitcher is going to get anxious and want to get out of the jam. Again expect first pitch fastballs in the strike zone. 

I don't know why but there's this pervasive mentality in youth baseball that a pitcher who has just walked someone is probably going to walk the next batter, too. Maybe. But the likelihood of 8 straight balls in the dirt or high and outside is rare. And if he is missing out of the zone, he could just as easily miss in it, giving you that one fat pitch you need to push the big inning forward.

In other words, every pitch / any pitch could be THE pitch. Teach your hitters to look for their pitch. Coach your hitters to be ready on every pitch.


Come on, it's baseball, you've still got to play it out. But with a plan of attack and a confident attitude, you'll know you've done everything you can.