In-Game Hitting Adjustments
Giving Instruction Without Giving Instruction
🎯 Your Opening Hook
"The bottom line is, many of you, realistically don't have the time to be a swing coach. Your time would be better spent being an actual hitting coach. Because hopefully your team is trying to hit — not have whatever swing they're never gonna attain anyway."
Hitters killing it in the cage but not in games
Are we teaching for in-cage success or game transfer?
"When your hitter says 'I figured it out' — you've mastered this approach."
1
The Problem with Direct Instruction
The Scenario
Hitter pulling off the ball
You've got 30 seconds between innings
Most coaches default to mechanical instruction = information overload
20-30%
Performance decrease from mechanical thoughts during ABs
Why Traditional Coaching Fails
Paralysis by Analysis — conscious control disrupts automatic movement
Working Memory Overload — high velocity demands all cognitive resources
Swing decision: 150-200ms — no time for mechanical processing
"The hitter who rakes in BP but freezes in games"
"The coach's voice in my head" phenomenon
In-game brain vs Practice brain = Different processing modes
2
The Indirect Coaching Framework
Strategy 1: Environmental Adjustments
Change the SETUP, not the swing
Box position
Stance width
Hand position
Closer/farther
Up/back
✓ Say This
"Try standing here instead"
✗ Not This
"You need to stay back"
Let the environment force the adjustment
Strategy 2: External Focus Cues
Focus on OUTCOMES, not mechanics
✓ Target-Based
"Hit it to right-center"
✗ Mechanical
"Stay through the ball"
✓ Outcome-Focused
"Make the pitcher work low"
✗ Negative Cue
"Don't chase"
Simple timing cues: LATE → EARLY → UNDER
Strategy 3: Rhythm & Timing Resets
NO STRIDE
Works as individual AND team adjustment
Simplify the timing mechanism to reset the swing
Strategy 4: Competitive Game-Situation Cues
Shift focus from mechanics to STRATEGY
"This pitcher hates when batters are patient"
"They're playing you to pull — show them something"
"Make them come to you"
Engages competitive mindset vs analytical mindset
★
Your In-Game Cue Toolkit
🎯 Setting Principles
From Practice to Pre-Game to In-Game
4 or 5 things or cues MAX
Be short — say it in 2 seconds
🗣️ Verbal Cues — Timing & Setup
Get your foot down on time
Going no stride, when?
Leave it up
Catch it out front
🗣️ Verbal Cues — Box Position
Toe the line
Front of the box
Back of the box
🗣️ Verbal Cues — Adjustments
Higher hands
Less posture
Take it to right
🗣️ Verbal Cues — Timing Problems
When Late
Get started earlier
When Early
Let it travel
When Under
Stay on top
"You got the green" 🟢
🤫 Non-Verbal Cues
✋✋ Two Hands Down
Pushing down motion
🤲 Two Hands Parallel
Level it out
👍👍 Two Thumbs Up
You got this
👉 Point at Them
I see you / focus
☝️ Index Finger
Number one / one thing
👀 Look Away
Relax / you're fine
3
The Question Method
Questions vs. Statements
✓ Ask This
"What did you feel on that swing?"
✗ Not This
"You pulled off"
✓ Ask This
"Where was that pitch?"
✗ Not This
"That was outside"
✓ Ask This
"What's your plan here?"
✗ Not This
"Look for fastball"
Questions create ownership.
Statements create dependency.
Statements create dependency.
🔑 The Three Magic Questions
1. "What are you seeing?" — Perception Check
2. "Where do you want this result?" — Outcome Focus
3. "What's one thing you want to try?" — Ownership
The 2-Second Rule
If you can't say it in 2 seconds, save it for practice
4
Practical Application
Reading Your Hitter
Overthinker
Needs simplification
Free Swinger
Needs one focus point
Feel Player
Needs imagery/analogies
Consider: Verbal vs Visual vs Kinesthetic learners
Situation-Specific Adjustments
0-2 Counts: Simplify to one thought
RISP: Process cues, not mechanical fixes
Slumps: Change approach, not mechanics
Two-Strike: Adjust without mechanical overhaul
Between At-Bat Communication
Dugout Touch-Base: 15 SECONDS MAX
On-Deck Prep: Don't overwhelm — one thought only
Non-Verbal Power: Fist bump confidence speaks volumes
Less is More: Sometimes the best coaching is a confident nod
5
Building This System
Build It In Practice
Train multiple solutions to the same problem
Create adjustment vocabulary during practice
Promote pitch-to-pitch adjustments in practice
Practice the question-and-answer process
Build trust in indirect methods
Getting Buy-In
Explain the WHY to your hitters
Show them their practice vs game swings
Track success rates: direct vs indirect coaching
Start small — one hitter, one game
Remember
You're not giving less instruction —
YOU'RE GIVING BETTER INSTRUCTION
YOU'RE GIVING BETTER INSTRUCTION
Goal: Hitters who can coach themselves
In-Game: Guidance, not rebuilding
In-Game: Guidance, not rebuilding
Final Thought
When your player says "I figured out I need to stay back" instead of "Coach told me to stay back"...
YOU HAVE MASTERED THIS APPROACH.
YOU HAVE MASTERED THIS APPROACH.
