RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy

When your habits and routines build proper direction, and you can stay on the baseball in advantage counts, the CF fence is always in play. Seeing practice and game patterns line up = ?????? . Tony Silva off to a strong start in 2025 for Colby College . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy . #hitters #hitting #baseball ##hittingcoach #train #nescac #collegebaseball

- BackNet Direction Rounds - How hard can you drive a ball with backspin up the middle. Regardless of pitch type/release height/pitch shape. We typically precede open skill training segments with this constraint. Demo'd here by Joliet Slammers Professional Baseball Club all time hits record holder and resident RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy pro Liam McArthur. . Pro guys don't chase velocity in their training work. We strive for effortless, repeatable velocity from compression at contact . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy #hitters #practice #battingpractice

Gap to gap line drives. When feeling lost, out of control, and out of sync, a powerful fix is simply controlling the load, getting to a balanced position on time, and hunting/attacking the inside half of the baseball . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy

Pitch framing is the art of a catcher receiving a pitch in a way that makes it more likely for an umpire to call it a strike -- whether that's turning a borderline ball into a strike, or not losing a strike to a ball due to poor framing. The effects of a single pitch can be huge; in 2019, hitters had an .858 OPS after a 1-0 count, but just a .631 OPS after an 0-1 count. . Statcast's catcher framing numbers are primarily based on the edges of the plate (or the "Shadow Zone" in this image), the area that is the width of two baseballs (one inside the zone, one outside) all around the edges of the strike zone. Statcast's catcher framing is adjusted both for park and the pitcher. . Depth of knowledge in mobility, technical skill, quickness, and reaction are all critical components in helping to train catchers to be the best versions of themselves in game. Shadow percentage framing and accuracy is tricky in that you are seeking to improve your chances of convincing an umpire of an outcome, while orienting your approach within the context of your pitcher's arsenal and pitch profiles. This can at times seem like a trade off between physical readiness for mistakes/physical orientation solely for presentation to the umpire. . Regardless of your opinions on catcher mechanics, the ability to convert more peripheral pitches to called strikes can help create more outs and empower pitchers to live away from the heart of the strike zone. Internally, we have been charting and tracking pitch framing success this winter with internal tools/video collection at Rax Hax. . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy #catching #catchers #framing #pitchframing #defense

For all hitters, the transition period between off-season cage work and live at bats is critical. This is particularly relevant for division 1 hitters, who are typically dealing with only about a month of time between first on-campus practice after winter break and opening day in late February. That's a rapid 180 from training in a relaxed setting to competing with the lights on and statistics that count, not to mention with intersquads in between in which your own coaching staff's evaluation may dictate your position on the depth chart. . So what kind of issues tend to present during this adjustment phase? . A commonly recurring problem is being late against pitch timing as opposed to being on time for bp or machine work. Most hitters have been told this early on in the spring. "You're late, gotta get going earlier, smooth and early, etc" Hitters might try to process this info and go EVEN earlier with their bodies into the gather, but neglect to address the root cause and get even more lost in a spiral and have a hard time adjusting and moving forward. Such a critique is nominally accurate but not focused enough. . More specifically, it is the lack of getting the hands to a quality launch position on time that is causing the lateness. The key for 'gather-first' hitters is feeding the hand load so that the entire loading mechanism is organized to hit game speed velocity. . Many players who initiate their load with a gather fall into the trap of overlooking the time needed to separate out of the gather in order to get to launch position during their practice work. This is often exacerbated in their practice work as a result of the training environment being too relaxed and not challenging enough. There is no pressure to force hitters to organize their gather AND their hand load on time to a real fastball. Hitting too much slow front toss and unrealistic bp helps to drive a false feedback loop where hitters can make up for their lateness solely with bat speed, as the pitch shapes and speeds aren't driving game like timing habits. . Here is an example of excellent timing for an early spring live at bat in an intersquad practice; gathered, controlled, and organized to a good fastball without sacrificing flow . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy #hitters #hittingcoach #hitting #baseball ##baseballcoach

Challenging hitters to command the outer edge of the strike zone can create powerful postural/directional habits. If we can backspin a cutter or 2-seam along the outer edge, and maintain that same posture to more middlish mistakes, we can be more versatile in our tactics/approach. Elite positioning allows for owning mistakes AND covering the edge/shadow zones when needed . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy #hitters #baseball #coaching #hittingcoach

Directionally focused work. Hitter home for college winter break came in for a reassess and quick training block. Assessment drove focus on angular data and spin quality. here's how we attacked in one of our sessions: . - Early Work: Swivel Control w/step back to the middle of the field with CamWoodBats - BP ladder: execute from gap to gap - ArmSide rhp Machine 2 seam/front door slider decisions . Only tight turns will be rewarded . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy

Ground Force Patterning - Stride Direction - Exit Velocity Gains . Over the past month, after analyzing in-season game tape and trackman data, I have been integrating valslides into my early work routine in an attempt to study the effect on my front side landing mechanics / ground force pattern / lead leg blocking patterns. Results have been notable, with avg + peak exit velocities per session up 3-4 mph over the previous month, and 4-5 mph over the same period 1 year ago. All training variables remaining constant. . The intention behind the use of the valslides has been to study the relationship between ground force, ground pressure, ball flight, and exit velocity. As an individual who has fallen into the trap of overstriding at times, I wanted to tinker with my stride direction to see if I could manipulate sequencing and gain power without sacrificing direction to the baseball. In our research, we have found inverse correlations between linear stride length and barrel direction once stride length reaches an unsustainable level, and depending on a hitter’s movement profile, certain candidates would benefit from taking a diagonal stride towards home plate in order to leverage a more explosive lower half pattern from load to rear hip launch. In season, I have never intentionally stepped across towards the plate. I noticed on some of my most optimal outcomes in 2024, I did just that. I wanted to test this theory in my training facility. For more depth into our findings, please feel to reach out to me directly. . In simple terms, as many hitters would tell you, they may feel most powerful from taking a longer stride and larger loading move; but it is hard to control said move and be accurate with barrel in game speed conditions if you are “too long”. Establishing that threshold would require insight into an athlete’s movement profile (movement screens). I have used the valslides in three ways: - under front foot -under rear foot -under both feet . What I have gained from using the valslides is an understanding of: -When I am shifting weight optimally from loaded position -How to use my loading mechanics to gather more sustainable force, and where pressure needs to be to maintain direction - How my front foot landing mechanics impacts my lead leg block - How to separate front hip / pelvic direction from weight shift into front foot - How to lock in on initiating a better load in order to set up sequencing from foot strike to contact . To note, I am a 31 year old pro who just finished their 8th season. My weight has remained constant to within 2 or 3 lbs variance since I was 23. A velocity bump as such is significant. . For anyone struggling to get hitters to maximize their athleticism and loading mechanics without sacrificing accuracy, hope this helps! . RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy #hitters #blastmotion #measurement #baseball #hittingcoach

Early fall work has involved pairing swing profile metrics from Blast Motion with batted ball profile information. Our team is diligent in testing/tracking/recording outcomes including angular data and exit velocity and looking for patterns within the context of pitch profiles/locations. We look for correlations and patterns in order to understand hitter tendencies / exit velocities+batted ball profiles sorted by: - locations - pitch speeds - pitch types - pitch sequences - release point / pitch approach angles . We are seeking to use this information and data to best help hitters prepare for their seasons by having a thorough understanding of strengths and weaknesses. Video below was an LHP sweeper during open skill machine work . Stay tuned as we continue to share insights both here and on our socials RaxHax Baseball + Softball Academy https://lnkd.in/e78qpd_t https://lnkd.in/eFBtjjQt . #hitters #hitting #Baseball #baseballcoach #playerdevelopment

4 Buckets to Hitting Mastery: - Swing - Physical Conditioning - Tactics (Strategy + Approach) - Emotional Control Each has a unique value, yet none are optimized without the others. Many will throw $ and time at showcases, travel tournaments, club teams, yet how many environments and programs are helping you develop each of these? There is a reason hitting is the most difficult thing to master in all of sports. . Show me a quarterback that plays who completes 30% of their passes. Show me a shooter who hits 30% of their shots on the court. In Major League Baseball, collecting hits 30% of the time gives you a shot at a batting title these days . If your training or your coaching doesn’t address each of these things, you are failing to fully prepare . Since 2017, we have had 58 hitters move on to collegiate baseball programs and 39 earn scholarships at the D1 or D2 level. We have had 14 players sign professional contracts. Are you feeling stuck in your development? Feeling lost in your training or your competition? Our performance staff can help you get on track remotely or in-person here in New Jersey. Contact us at www.raxhax.com for more information or fill out an application at the link here: https://linktr.ee/raxhax . #hitters #hittingcoach #newjersey #baseball #train #workhard #baseballcoach #practice #swingcoach #playerdevelopment