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BVSA Teaches: Bat Dummy Drill

BVSA Teaches: Bat Dummy Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the bat dummy drill. Hey guys, another good drill for contact. Here I am with my buddy, my college roommate, my Demi. Let’s get plenty and separate, all right? I love this. Now, it’s tough to do with just your student in you. You usually need somebody to hold this, or you need to put this against the wall. But I love this for contact point because, again, so many times, kids are reaching out to hit the ball way too far out here.

If you put this dummy here, we have a little baseball drawn on here. Give them an idea of this is where your contact point is on that particular pitch. Figure out what it feels like when you’re in that position. Firm front side, your head’s in behind this, your arms are still bent, and then you pull it in. Meanwhile, maybe move it out just a little bit, and make them understand that they have to get over to this and get the barrel of that on the ball to keep it fair. 

Same thing with the outside pitch, but when they’re hitting this really hard again, somebody has to hold it, or you put it up against the wall, they really get the feel of where their body is, and again, if you take some videos and show them where their body is versus where they’re making contact on the ball that’s traveling, that might click for them and get, we’re doing everything we can to make it click. Hook yourselves.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Contact Point Recognition

BVSA Teaches: Contact Point Recognition

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about contact point recognition. Contact point is a crucial aspect of the teaching process in baseball. Although we create solid mechanics, kids often lose it when they try to take the swing out to the ball. Generally, there are many things that create bad contact points in a bad swing, but there are also some kids that have pretty good swings. To address this issue, we use a device with baseballs glued to a board numbered one through eight. We place this device on home plate in a similar angle to the contact points. The number one pitch is the inside pitch and the contact point is here. The outside pitch, the number eight, is out here, and the contact point is back there a little more. 

By going through some dry swings, we teach the kids to get through with their hands to get to that number one. Meanwhile for number eight, they have a little more time, and the contact point is back there a little more. This device helps students recognize that different points of contact exist. A good drill to do with it is to have them take a pitch from the coach and identify the contact point. We have two of these devices upstairs in my office.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Throw

BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Throw

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the med ball throw drill. Another helpful drill to teach the importance of extension through the ball is to use a medicine ball. It’s important to choose a ball size and weight appropriate for your student’s age and size. Place the right hand under the ball and the left hand on top (for right-handed batters) and simulate the swing with a load transfer, then release the ball as if throwing it back to the pitcher. This can be repeated multiple times, but make sure to do it in a safe environment to avoid any injuries. 

The focus should be on getting the proper extension through the ball, regardless of the pitch location. This drill can be especially helpful for younger players who tend to roll over too early in their swing. Make sure that they are comfortable with the size of the ball after one swing. If it feels as if they are struggling to throw it then switch to a smaller size.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Wiffle Bat Throw

BVSA Teaches: Wiffle Bat Throw

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the wiffle bat throw drill. Okay, so we talked about the importance of extension through contact in a good baseball swing. A lot of younger kids struggle with this aspect of the swing. Specifically, they may have a tendency to roll over too early or come around their bodies too much.

To help them focus on extension, a good drill is to use a wiffle ball bat and let them throw the bat in a slow-motion 3/4 speed swing. They should focus on loading and transferring their weight correctly, then letting the bat extend through the ball. This drill can be done multiple times, and it’s a good idea to video it so they can see themselves doing it correctly. This drill can help players who are struggling with rolling over too early and getting tied up in their swing. Go through this drill somewhere safe, such as in a batting cage with a back wall, to avoid any injuries. Good luck and keep practicing!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: L Screen Hold

BVSA Teaches: L Screen Hold

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the L Screen Hold drill. Alright, let’s talk about a drill for teaching the sequence and the kinetic link in a baseball swing. It’s important for young athletes to learn how to stay connected but avoid rotating the whole body at the same time. Instead, they should fire the lower half first and then the upper half. This is achieved through a good load and transfer.

One drill that can be effective is for the coach to stand behind the player. Then, have them go through their load and transfer. When they reach the proper transfer position, the coach can grab the bat or their hands. Then, have them fire their lower half, teaching them to get the lower half firing first. This can be repeated over and over.

Another way to do this is to use an L screen specifically.  Any other item that can be found to do something similar will works also. You are trying to get the kids to load the bat and go through the motion of firing the lower half while keeping their hands back. This can be done in a group setting.

Either way, it’s important to emphasize the separation between the lower and upper half and video recording the drill to show it back to the players can be a helpful teaching tool.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Modified Skater Lunge Drill

BVSA Teaches: Modified Skater Lunge Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the modified skater lunge drill. Here’s another interesting drill that could be used for several different things. For some kids, it may not even work, but it’s worked for others. You don’t need the bat for some kids. Some will have a tough time with their load and feeling where their weight needs to be. Also, their transfer and feeling where their weight needs to be is important. Understanding that fire and that use of the ground getting off that backside and rotating. I just have them drop the bat, get in a nice athletic stance while keeping their head right over their belly button. You don’t want them rocking back and forth. Just have them hop on the balls of their feet back and forth so all your weight stays in here.

Rocking Method for Feel

Now, obviously, this doesn’t happen in the swing, but when you are going back, that’s kind of how you should feel when you get down before your load. And when you get forward, that’s kind of where you’re getting to when you transfer. Also, if you do it a little bit more explosively, it’s kind of like the feel of getting off your back foot. So that’s not really what happens during the swing. For a kid who really can’t get the feeling of transferring that weight while staying balanced, I just have them hop back and forth to get that feel. You try everything you can to get the kid to feel what they need to feel.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Tee Base Drill

BVSA Teaches: Tee Base Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the tee base drill. Okay, so here’s a drill or device mechanism to help you get that lower half and backside going. We did our load, we did our transfer and got our hands are in the right position. Now we get our body in the right position, and we really want to explode off that back foot and rotate the body, getting that energy going up and into the hips. It’s all one big thing, not just up; it’s an explosion. Pushing off the ground with that backside that goes that way and up and through, beginning the whole rotation.

Some of the kids have a tough time really getting off that backside and making that happen. One of the things that I like to use is the base of our tees. You want to get their heel on it, not too much, but their heel on it, and their toe has to be on the ground. It just kind of gives them a little bit more of a kickstart to get going, rather than being totally flat. You still have to push off of that tee and fire and get things rotating and going upward.

Using A Baseball

With just that little bit of an angle, you can also do it with a baseball. We’ve done it many times where you just put a baseball under your heel just to get that whole thing going. In conjunction with that, I’ve also done this many times. Try this, but be careful. Talk to the kid, tell them what you’re going to do. While he’s here and he’s trying to get the feel for that and he’s not really exploding and firing off that, you get down on the ground behind them and get your hand underneath his foot, and you actually push and fire and let him feel that explosive move, rather than that old school where kids just kind of spin and squish the bug and rotate around their body. So use the tee, the base of the tee, or if you’ve got to get down there, but maybe give the younger kids a wiffle ball bat when you do that.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Stop Transfer)

BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Stop Transfer)

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the bosu ball drill (stop transfer). Another good drill for improving the transfer is using a Bosu ball. It can help you start your transfer, as well as prevent kids who tend to go too far out from doing so. You can work on your stance, balance, load, transfer, and stride into the Bosu ball. If it slides, you must put something against it or your foot to stop it. This will give you the feel of where you should stop, with your head over your belly button. Also, it will put you in a good balance position, without falling out past it. 

Other Uses

The Bosu ball can be used for both the front and back end of the transfer. Basically, it can help improve the transfer and also make it stop. The bosu ball is such a great tool for improving your swing in many different aspects. Take a look at our other video about using the bosu ball to start the transfer. 

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Start Transfer)

BVSA Teaches: Bosu Ball Drill (Start Transfer)

The Transfer

Evidently, there are guys that aren’t striding with their whole body and are just striding with their legs. They are not getting their weight transferred properly, the bosu ball will help you get moving forward just a little bit. This drill is very simple and can help hitters a lot. Just make sure that they aren’t striding past their front foot and maintain a firm front side. This is a drill that can be repeated each lesson or clinic a few times before starting to actually hit.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Drill (Loading the Hands)

BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Drill (Loading the Hands)

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the med ball drill (loading the hands). When we’re talking about transfer, most of the focus is on getting the weight shifted and taking a move towards the pitcher, getting into the position to hit. But there’s also the part that we talked about the hands and that at the highest levels there tends to be less movement. Meanwhile for these younger guys that we’re teaching we definitely have to teach some type of load with those hands. The hands when you’re striding forward and transferring forward you’re loading a little bit too. We need to get those hands backing up just a little bit, just a little subtle move.

Med Ball Effectiveness

So, we talked about how you’re kind of walking away from your hands to get to that proper hitting position. The drill that I find effective is using a light med ball that you can put in your palm with your other hand against it, simulating your stance. As you load and transfer you pick that ball up and move it back. This subtle move can put you in a better hitting position. The feeling with this may be easier than with a bat at first, especially for kids that may not get it instantly. If you put the mirror right in front of them, they can see it and have an easier time doing it correctly. Once they get it, they can progress back to the bat with that little bit of movement. Don’t let anything get flat behind your head to get to the ideal launch position.

BVSA Teaches: Med Ball Drill (Loading the Hands)

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com