🚨 PGAPappas x Club Champion Summer Starts Pin High GIVEAWAY 🚨
🔥 Club Champion Iron Fitting and FULL SET of ANY Custom Built Irons You Want 👀
To enter:
✅ Repost
✅ Follow @PGAPappas and @clubchampmedia
https://t.co/i2k9YiMz7d
Major cheat code for hitting: Pay attention to the game because the game will give you the answers.
When there's a runner on second, watch how they pitch to the hitter before you. When there's a runner on third, watch how they pitch to the hitter before you. When there's nobody on, watch how they pitch to the hitter before you.
The game is constantly revealing itself.
Pitchers show you what they trust. They show you what they throw when they're ahead. They show you what they throw when they need an out. They show you how they attack certain hitters in certain situations.
One thing I've learned playing baseball for 25 years:
The game is an open-book test.
The problem is most hitters just refuse to study.
Jermaine Curtis
This player was...
❌️ Rolling over pitches
and...
❌️ Hitting a lot of ground balls to his pull side
The problem?
He was opening up too early.
So instead of giving him 10 swing thoughts, we had him do a simple drill.
We moved the tee deep and placed it on the inner part of the plate.
Deep enough that if he wanted to hit it hard, he'd have to drive it back up the middle.
If he opened up early...
Ground ball.
Miss-hit.
Weak contact.
If he stayed closed longer...
Line drive (through the middle)
The baseball gave him instant feedback.
The cool part?
After a few rounds, he started staying through the baseball longer.
The rollovers started disappearing.
And he even started driving balls to;
✅️ Middle of the field
and...
✅️ Right center field more consistently.
Not because we told him to hit the ball to right field.
Because the drill taught him to stay connected and stay through the baseball.
So here's what we did, and it's something you can try tonight if you're opening up too early.
1. Put the tee on the inner third of the plate.
2. Move it deep in the hitting zone.
3. Hit 10 balls back up the middle.
4. Don't move on until you can consistently hit line drives.
5. Then try to drive 10 balls to right-center (for a right-handed hitter).
One thing I've learned from playing baseball and coaching...
The fastest way to fix a opening up too early isn't telling a hitter to stay closed.
It's putting him in a position where opening up early no longer works.
Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis
P.S. - If you enjoyed this, and thought it was helpful, please share it.
(This tells me you want more content like this)
@CoachSwit Our city had to pull 8th graders to fill freshman/jv squad. There’s 3600 kids at the hs!! I don’t know the reason.
It’s mind boggling to me.
@JermaineCurtis Hey Jermaine,
This is what I got.
First one is 2 seam drill
2nd break the wall. The others are game footage.
I believe the drills are working. He had some “lungy” AB’s. But at least one really good one.
I sent this message to one of my players before his tournament this weekend.
Thought I'd share it here because I know there are other players who may need to hear it too.
If someone comes to mind, tag them below or send this to them. ⚾️
This is the message...
Hey W******,
Before every at-bat, I want you to speak confidence into yourself.
Say it out loud with conviction:
- "I'm going to hammer my pitch middle-away to the opposite field."
- "I belong here."
- "I put in the work."
- "I deserve to succeed."
- "I'm a hitter."
Don't just think it. Say it.
And say it like you mean it.
With conviction.
Your words influence your thoughts, your body language, and ultimately your performance.
When you get the result you want, remind yourself:
"That's me."
"That's who I am."
And if you don't get the result?
Don't let one at-bat define you.
Say:
"That's not me."
"I hammer baseballs."
"I'll get the next one."
Remember, confidence isn't built from results.
Confidence is built from what you know is true.
-You've put in the work.
-You've hit thousands of baseballs.
-You've earned the right to trust yourself.
-When you step into the box, keep it simple.
Don't worry about the crowd.
Don't worry about the pitcher.
Just imagine it's you and me in the cage.
See the ball.
Trust your swing.
Compete.
You've got this.
Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis
P.S. - If you enjoyed this, and thought it was helpful, share it. This tells me you want more content like this.
A parent asked me why his son wasn't barreling the baseball consistently.
He told me:
"A lot of pop ups."
"A lot of weak ground balls."
"He's getting frustrated."
The first thing I want to tell him is this:
The swing isn't bad.
In fact, there's a lot to like.
He gets the barrel to the baseball well.
He moves well.
He has a solid foundation.
That's why I don't think he needs a complete swing rebuild.
What I see is something much smaller.
His swing direction is causing his angles to get messed up.
Instead of staying on plane with the pitch...
The barrel starts working down and across the baseball.
When that happens, hitters usually do one of two things:
They hit weak ground balls.
Or they hit pop ups.
Why?
Because the barrel isn't staying through the hitting zone long enough.
It's getting to the baseball.
But it's not staying through the baseball.
Think of it like chopping wood.
If your axe travels across the log, you glance off of it.
If it travels through the log, you drive through it.
That's what I want him feeling.
Not across.
Through.
That's why every drill I'd use has the same goal:
Get the barrel working through the baseball.
Not around it.
Not chopping down on it.
Through it.
1. The 2-Seam Drill
Place the ball over the middle of the plate.
The goal is to hit the inner seam of the baseball.
Why?
Because it teaches the barrel to stay on the inside part of the ball.
Not around it.
Not across it.
Through it.
2. Split Grip Drill
Separate the hands on the bat.
This is one of my favorite drills for improving barrel awareness and solid contact.
The top hand learns to guide the barrel through the baseball.
Not around it.
Not across it.
Through it.
If the barrel cuts across the ball, the drill immediately exposes it.
3. Break The Wall Drill
Set the tee up where a good swing produces a line drive back through the middle.
The goal is to "break the wall" behind the baseball.
Drive through it.
Not across it.
Once he hits 5 good line drives through the middle...
Move the tee back about 6 inches.
Now the goal is to drive the ball into the left-center gap.
Why?
Because it forces the barrel to stay through the baseball longer.
It extends the swing plane.
It teaches him to let the ball travel.
And it prevents the barrel from cutting across the baseball.
If he cuts across it...
The ball won't go where he wants.
The drill gives immediate feedback.
Here's What I'd Do Tonight
✅ 10 swings — 2-Seam Drill
Focus on hitting the inner seam.
✅ 10 swings — Split Grip Drill
Focus on letting the top hand guide the barrel through the baseball.
✅ 10 swings — Break The Wall Drill
5 swings through the middle.
Move the tee back 6 inches.
5 swings into the left-center gap.
That's it.
30 focused swings.
Not 300.
Not a complete swing rebuild.
Just 30 reps teaching the barrel to stay through the baseball instead of cutting across it.
One thing I've learned:
A lot of players think they need a completely new swing.
Most don't.
Sometimes they just need a better direction.
A small adjustment can completely change the quality of contact.
Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis
P.S. - If you enjoyed this, and thought it was helpful, please share it.
(This tells me you want more content like this)
@CoachBeede I let him initiate the conversation. If he had a tough day there’s no need for me to pile on. Being negative doesn’t help and may make him hate baseball.
Usually he’ll ask “What did I do on this at bat? I’ll give feedback in a positive manner. Or “Hey what did you see here”?
@JermaineCurtis Hey Jermaine,
He doesn’t seem to be barreling the ball consistently. A lot of pop ups and weak grounders.
I’d like to see more solid contact consistently. He works hard,but he’s getting frustrated and pressing. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.