- Paul Petricca

Please read Webball commentary on first page before advancing to what makes the Petricca approach unique. This first page however, contains good advice now standard for all hitters and coaches.


When the pitcher is about to release the ball, the last thing hitters should be  thinking about is the position of their feet. The hitter should be concentrating on the ball and nothing but the ball. Some hitters may choose a slightly closed stance, while others my prefer a slightly open position. Either is acceptable. Likewise, the distance between a hitter's feet should also be up left to the personal preference of the hitter. However, hitters with a wide  stance should still have room to stride as the pitch is being delivered and the  hitter with a narrow stance should be careful not to over stride. The key is comfort because comfort leads to confidence.


To determine whether a hitter has a solid stance, a coach, instructor or fellow teammate should firmly push the hitter in the shoulder area in an attempt to knock him or her off balance. If the hitter actually takes a step or two backwards after this friendly nudge, then it should be apparent to the hitter that the stance is not yet solid. This exercise should be repeated until the hitter stays relatively stationary. Martial arts instructors would equate a solid hitting stance to students finding their 'center' which is where they believe power begins. Remember, good pitchers can usually identify good hitters just by observing their stance. Psychologically, this fact should work to the advantage of the hitter. In addition to a solid stance, good hitters will always stand on the balls of their feet before, during, and after the swing.  Hitting is very reactionary. If hitters are flat-footed, they will have more difficulty adjusting to the flight of the ball and will also sacrifice a significant amount of power.



To generate as much power as possible at the point of impact, hitters should to be in a position to shift their weight from the back foot and leg to the front foot and leg. This launch position is the point where the hitter has a comfortable, solid stance, and a good portion of the hitter's weight is on the back foot and leg. Good hitters only use their front foot and leg to keep their balance before the pitch. It is also important that both knees be bent enough to effectively harness the precious power in the hitter's legs. While striding towards the pitcher and into the ball, hitters should feel the power of their lower body exploding forward.


No matter how much body movement there is during the launch and the swing, it is critical that a hitter's head remain as still as possible. Try moving your head at a slow rate of speed back and forth. If you pause for a moment before moving the other direction, you will find that your eyes will not completely focus until the movement of your head has completely stopped. A hitter will not be able to completely focus on the pitched ball until the head is still.


Practice how and where to pick up the ball as it is pitched. The longer we stare at objects, the less we are able to maintain a high level of concentration. A hitter should not look at the pitcher's release area until just before the ball is released. I recommend that hitters keep their eyes on the pitcher's throwing shoulder prior to the pitch. When the ball is about to be released, the hitter's eyes should then quickly shift to the pitcher's release point with the eyes focusing on the center of the ball. This same technique can be used for fielders and pitchers who throw to targets.