Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast | ⭐Hitting Performance Lab⭐

Joey Myers
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BASEBALL
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Hosted by Joey Myers—Amazon bestselling author and founder of HittingPerformanceLab.com—the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast delivers powerful, science-driven hitting insights for baseball and softball athletes, parents, and coaches who demand results. Join us for in-depth conversations with MLB veterans, expert hitting coaches, biomechanics specialists, and mental game gurus. Each episode reveals actionable tips and proven techniques that help athletes unlock peak performance and consistently drive the ball farther.

  1. Pitch Recognition vs. Bat Speed: See-Decide-Swing Drills That Turn Practice Swings into Real Exit Velocity

    10/05/2025

    Pitch Recognition vs. Bat Speed: See-Decide-Swing Drills That Turn Practice Swings into Real Exit Velocity

    If you’ve been told “swing faster” all weekend and still watched weak contact in games, this episode flips the script. Joey breaks down why pitch recognition and decision-making—not just bat speed—unlock game-day power. You’ll learn simple vision cues to pick up spin earlier, a Green/Yellow/Red decision framework any youth hitter can use, and a 5-minute practice block that blends recognition with swing intent so your athlete isn’t just fast in the cage—they’re dangerous in the box. What You’ll Learn (Fast, Transferable, Parent-Friendly) Bat Speed ≠ Exit Velocity: Why bat speed is potential energy—and why collision quality, timing, and sweet-spot contact turn it into loud barrels on game day. See-Decide-Swing Framework: Three short rounds that wire the brain for earlier reads, better swing decisions, and confident contact under pressure. Green / Yellow / Red Approach: Teach “green swings, yellow manage, red take” to reduce chase, win counts, and raise Quality-Contact %. Heavy-Light-Game Progression: Pair recognition training with quick posture-safe bat progressions for gains that show up in games. 3 Metrics That Predict Improvement: Track Quality-Contact %, Pitch-Selection Success, and Competitive ABs in under a minute—no gadgets required. Actionable Drills & Tools Occlusion Training (Video Cut-Off Reads): Short sessions that force earlier spin/release reads to build “visual confidence.” Use at home on a phone or tablet. See-Decide-Swing (10 minutes): See it—call ball/strike or color without swinging. Decide it—prepare only on strikes. Swing it—score swings on decision quality + contact. Heavy-Light-Game (5 minutes): Heavy bat for control/posture, light bat for quickness, game bat to integrate—and then score Quality-Contact %. Mindset that Travels to the Box Train the read, not just the move. Under pressure the brain defaults to what it trusts—build trust in recognition and decisions first. A simple cue set—“See it early, name it fast,” “Green swings,” “Compete with two”—keeps hitters calm and effective when the lights come on. If your hitter looks like a BP hero but guesses in games, this episode is your new game plan. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and share with a coach or parent who needs a calmer, smarter path to hard contact. For drill libraries, 5–7 minute practice blocks, and programs built for busy families, visit HittingPerformanceLab.com.

    11 min
  2. Weighted Bats Done Right: Youth Overload/Underload That Builds Real Game Power (10–15% Rule + Heavy-Light-Game)

    09/28/2025

    Weighted Bats Done Right: Youth Overload/Underload That Builds Real Game Power (10–15% Rule + Heavy-Light-Game)

    Parents are seeing “sledgehammer swings” and ultra-light bat hacks all over social—and wondering if they help or hurt. In this episode, Joey breaks down exactly how to use weighted and underload bats safely for youth hitters so practice power actually shows up under the lights. You’ll get the 10–15% rule, the Heavy-Light-Game progression, quick readiness checks (head still, spine neutral, barrel awareness), and the “feel before force” principle that turns chaos into clear, repeatable gains. What You’ll Learn (Fast) Bat speed vs. collision quality: Why chasing a bat-speed screenshot can sabotage exit velocity—and what to train instead. The 10–15% window: How far to go heavier/lighter than the game bat to drive adaptation without wrecking mechanics. Heavy-Light-Game (HLG) mini-block: A 5–10 minute session that improves in-game exit velocity, not just cage numbers. Feel before force: How to coach coil-to-uncoil sequencing, posture, and head control so the body transfers energy cleanly to the ball. Sweet-spot widening: Use lead-arm leverage and posture to keep the barrel in-zone longer for louder, repeatable barrels. Parent-proof tracking: Three simple metrics that beat batting average for predicting progress: Quality-Contact % (loud line drives/well-struck balls per 10 swings) Pitch-Selection Success (“green swings, yellow manage, red take”) Competitive At-Bats (C-ABs) (extend counts, battle with two, punish mistakes) Rapid Implementation Guide Pick weights wisely: Stay within ±10–15% of the game bat. Example: 30-oz game bat → ~33–34-oz overload, ~26–27-oz underload. Run HLG for 2–3 rounds: Heavy x5 — maintain posture, coil-to-uncoil, chin steady. Light x5 — quick hands, same body angles. Game x5 — log Quality-Contact % and note feel cues. Readiness checks each session: Head still, spine neutral (no low-back arch), eyes level, barrel awareness on point. If mechanics leak, stop and reset. Why This Matters Now Social feeds are loaded with extreme bat-weight tricks and one-rep-max bravado. This episode cuts through the noise with youth-safe, mechanics-first guidelines that build real, game-transferable power—not just viral clips. Parents get clarity; hitters get louder barrels without risking injury. Resources Mentioned Swing Shift — 5–7 minute “done-for-you” practice blocks that stack posture, lead-arm leverage, and decision reps. RocketHitting Formula — A step-by-step plan with overload/underload guidelines, HLG sessions, and simple tracking in short, repeatable routines. If this helped you make sense of weighted bats and “feel before force,” follow/subscribe and share the episode with a coach or parent who needs a calmer, smarter plan. Then visit HittingPerformanceLab.com for programs, tools, and free resources that turn short practices into game-day power—and start logging Quality-Contact %, Pitch-Selection Success, and C-ABs tonight.

    10 min
  3. Bat Speed vs. Exit Velocity (Explained): How to Train Real Game-Day Power for Youth Hitters

    09/16/2025

    Bat Speed vs. Exit Velocity (Explained): How to Train Real Game-Day Power for Youth Hitters

    Parents hear “swing faster” and chase bat-speed leaderboards—then wonder why games still produce weak contact. In this episode, we unpack the real difference between bat speed and ball exit speed, why a light bat can inflate one but not the other, and the precise training switches that convert practice swings into loud, repeatable contact. You’ll get clear, science-backed fixes—no jargon—built for busy families who want results that show up under the lights. What You’ll Learn (and Use Tonight) Bat Speed vs. Exit Velocity—what actually matters in games Why a faster swing with a tee-ball or wiffle bat doesn’t equal higher exit velo with a game bat How to stop chasing screenshots and train for on-field hard contact The Catapult Loading System (spinal engine) in plain English Load–unload patterns that create real force transfer Posture that holds power (no head roll, no hyper-extended low back) Lead-Arm Leverage at Contact How a longer front arm extends the impact window and boosts collision efficiency Overload/Underload Bat Training—done right Simple sequencing to build strength + quickness without wrecking barrel control The “Michelangelo approach”: chip away inefficiencies until the loud barrel emerges Metrics that predict progress (not just pretty numbers) Quality-Contact %, Pitch-Selection Success, and Competitive ABs How to track them in 60 seconds—no gadgets required A 5-Minute Exit-Velo Booster Heavy x5 (stay connected, hold posture) → light x5 (quickness) → game bat x5 (score quality contact) Why This Matters Now Showcases and social feeds push bat-speed races, but coaches value consistent game contact, not lab sizzle. This episode gives parents and coaches a calm, repeatable blueprint to train what transfers: efficient mechanics, better decisions, and reliable collision quality. Resources & Next Steps Programs & Tools: Step-by-step systems for 5–7 minute practices, parent-friendly cues, and trackable progress at HittingPerformanceLab.com Swing Shift: Daily micro-blocks that build quality contact, pitch recognition, and two-strike compete (ideal for busy families) Detect & Correct Hitting Blueprint: Identify the exact leak stealing exit velo and fix it with at-home checks + smart sequencing If this episode gave you a clearer plan for turning bat speed into real exit velocity, follow/subscribe so you never miss a training breakdown. Drop a quick rating or one-line review—it helps other baseball and softball families find the show. Share this with your team chat, and visit https://hittingperformancelab.com/  for programs, drills, and tools that turn practice swings into confident, game-ready contact.

    10 min
  4. Turn Strikeouts Into Confidence: Progressive Failure Exposure for Youth Baseball & Softball (Quality At-Bats, Pitch Recognition, 2-Strike Compete)

    09/08/2025

    Turn Strikeouts Into Confidence: Progressive Failure Exposure for Youth Baseball & Softball (Quality At-Bats, Pitch Recognition, 2-Strike Compete)

    When a young hitter goes from BP hero to game-day ghost, the issue usually isn’t mechanics—it’s how we frame failure. In this episode, Joey Myers shows parents and coaches how to turn strikeouts and whiffs into learning fuel using progressive failure exposure, a five-minute Three-Miss Challenge, and three simple metrics that actually predict improvement—so cage swings finally show up under the lights. What You’ll Learn The hidden pressure loop: Why “fix-it” coaching after misses backfires and how to protect confidence without coddling. Progressive failure exposure: Treat misses like strength training for confidence—each failure becomes data, not drama. Ditch batting average as the compass: Track Quality-Contact %, Pitch-Selection Success, and Competitive At-Bats to measure real development. Two-strike compete framework: Reframe “don’t strike out” into “win the battle”—extend counts, fight off pitches, punish mistakes. Parent language that lowers stress: Short cues for the sideline and the one-word car-ride check-in that replaces postgame lectures. The 5-minute drill you can run tonight: The Three-Miss Challenge to normalize failure and free the swing. Real-world example: How a 10U hitter shed two-strike fear and found better contact once results stopped being the identity. Why This Matters Now Youth seasons are short, emotions run hot, and batting average swings wildly. Teaching kids to tolerate and learn from failure builds resilience, clearer decisions, and contact that shows up when it counts—today and long-term. Quick Start: Run This Tonight Three-Miss Challenge (5 min): Ask your hitter to “collect” 3 misses on tee or front toss. Celebrate each miss, log a quick feel note, reset. Watch tension drop and quality contact rise. Track 3 numbers for two weeks: Quality-Contact % (squared balls with playable trajectory) Pitch-Selection Success (green swings, yellow manage) Competitive ABs (extend, fight, move runners) Featured HPL Resources Swing Shift – 5–7 minute sessions that train progressive failure exposure, pitch decisions, and two-strike compete with pressure-free parent language. RocketHitting Formula – Short, repeatable game-sim sessions that turn process metrics into hard contact under the lights. If this episode helped you reframe failure and cut the postgame stress, follow/subscribe and share it with a fellow parent or your staff. For step-by-step drills, scorecards, and ready-to-run practice blocks, visit HittingPerformanceLab.com. Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep swinging smarter.

    9 min
  5. Are Parents Adding Pressure Without Realizing It? Smarter Support for Youth Baseball & Softball Hitters

    08/26/2025

    Are Parents Adding Pressure Without Realizing It? Smarter Support for Youth Baseball & Softball Hitters

    Most parents and coaches mean well. But could our constant tips, sideline shouts, and postgame breakdowns actually be draining our kids’ confidence instead of building it? In this powerful episode of the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast, I dig into the hidden ways we create pressure for young hitters—and what to do differently so they thrive. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: The unseen pressure problem: Why “helpful” coaching often backfires and silently taxes confidence. The 70% dropout crisis: Why so many kids leave sports by 13 and how to keep your athlete’s love for the game alive. Real-world examples: From players who freeze at the plate to families who transformed game-day stress into confidence. Psychology that works: Insights from experts like Dr. Bhrett McCabe, Carol Dweck, and Ken Ravizza on building resilient athletes. Simple fixes you can use now: The one-word car ride that replaces postgame lectures. How to praise process over outcomes. Metrics that matter more than batting average: Quality Contact %, Pitch Selection, and Competitive At-Bats. This episode is packed with actionable strategies that help parents and coaches shift from control to support—so hitters walk to the plate with calm focus, compete with confidence, and keep loving the game. If you’re ready to protect your athlete’s confidence and help them grow into not just better hitters, but stronger competitors, this one’s for you. 👉 Subscribe to the show, share it with a fellow parent or coach, and explore more step-by-step resources at HittingPerformanceLab.com

    10 min
  6. Why Your Kid Rakes in BP but Struggles in Games: Vision Training Secrets for Youth Hitters

    08/21/2025

    Why Your Kid Rakes in BP but Struggles in Games: Vision Training Secrets for Youth Hitters

    Every parent has seen it: your kid smashes balls in batting practice, but when game day comes, the results don’t match. It’s frustrating, confusing, and often leads to over-tweaking swings or second-guessing effort. The truth? Many times, the problem isn’t mechanics—it’s vision. In this episode of the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast, Joey Myers reveals why sharpening how your athlete sees the ball may be the missing piece to unlocking game-day confidence and consistent results. Key Insights & Takeaways The Hidden Culprit Behind Inconsistency: Why hitters can look unstoppable in practice but struggle against live pitching. The Science of Seeing the Ball: Depth perception, pitch recognition, and processing speed all play huge roles in hitting success. Parent-Friendly Warning Signs: Trouble with off-speed pitches, late swings, or chasing balls just outside the zone could point to vision issues. Real-World Example: How youth players have turned around their game performance by focusing on vision and decision-making rather than just mechanics. Actionable Vision Drills: Simple, at-home activities like focus-sharpening and colored-ball recognition games that improve timing and pitch selection in just a few minutes a day. The Confidence Connection: Teaching kids to control what they can—approach, decisions, and focus—while letting go of outcomes builds resilience at the plate. If you’re tired of watching your athlete dominate in practice but struggle on game day, this episode will help bridge that gap. 🎧 Listen now to learn how vision training can unlock consistent hard contact, smarter pitch selection, and a calmer, more confident approach. 👉 Subscribe to the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast so you never miss an episode. 👉 Share this episode with a parent or coach who’s searching for answers. 👉 Explore more proven drills, training systems, and resources at HittingPerformanceLab.com

    10 min
  7. Why Batting Average is Lying to You – Smarter Stats & Drills for Real Hitting Progress

    08/12/2025

    Why Batting Average is Lying to You – Smarter Stats & Drills for Real Hitting Progress

    Is your kid’s batting average telling the truth—or just messing with your head? In this episode of the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast, I break down why batting average is one of the most misleading stats in youth baseball and softball… and what to track instead if you actually want to see progress. As a former Division I Fresno State ballplayer, author of the Amazon bestseller The Catapult Loading System, and founder of HittingPerformanceLab.com, I’ve seen too many hitters judged on the wrong numbers. Today, we’re flipping the script and focusing on quality contact, smart pitch selection, and competitive at-bats—the metrics that truly measure growth. You’ll discover: The hidden flaws of batting average and how it can hurt a young hitter’s development. Three powerful alternative metrics that give a complete picture of progress without expensive tech. The two-zone tee game drill to instantly improve pitch recognition and decision-making. How to protect your hitter’s confidence while building timing, approach, and consistency. A real-life success story showing how a “low average” hitter was actually making huge strides at the plate. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this episode gives you a science-backed framework to track what really matters—so you can stop stressing over numbers that don’t tell the whole story and start seeing results that last. If you’re ready to move beyond outdated stats and build a better hitter, check out my Swing Shift program—a daily, bite-sized video series packed with drills and clear cues you can use immediately. Visit HittingPerformanceLab.com/SwingShift to get started. 🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and share this episode with a coach or parent who’s still chasing batting average. Let’s help more young athletes swing smarter, not just harder.

    10 min
  8. Why Your Kid Isn’t Hitting Bombs Yet—And Why That’s Okay: The Truth About Youth Power Development

    08/05/2025

    Why Your Kid Isn’t Hitting Bombs Yet—And Why That’s Okay: The Truth About Youth Power Development

    Is your kid falling behind in the power department? You’re not alone—and you're not doing anything wrong. In this eye-opening solo episode, Joey Myers—founder of HittingPerformanceLab.com—tackles one of the most common (and frustrating) questions from baseball and softball parents: “Why can every other kid hit bombs... but mine can’t?” If you’ve ever felt the sting of comparison on the travel ball circuit or caught yourself worrying about your hitter’s lack of home run power, this episode will shift both your mindset and your mechanics. 🎧 What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why power hitting isn’t a pass/fail test—but a developmental timeline The 3 core pillars of sustainable power hitting: biomechanics, physical maturity, and intentional training The dark side of social media: how bat speed envy is creating unrealistic expectations How top-hand connection and movement efficiency impact exit velocity more than brute strength The difference between early bloomers and long-term success stories A practical 5-minute drill (the Heavy Bat Bounce Drill) that builds precision and explosiveness from the ground up Why Dr. Carol Dweck’s growth mindset and Stoic philosophy apply more than ever in today’s youth baseball world Whether you're a coach, a parent, or both, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you stop comparing and start building the kind of hitter who develops power the right way—on their own timeline. 🔗 Mentioned in the Episode: ✅ Swing Shift Daily Video Program Transform your hitter’s performance in just 5 minutes a day. No over-coaching. No fluff. 👉 https://hittingperformancelab.com/swingshift ✅ AI for Youth Athlete Parents & Coaches – Basic Course Use AI to create smarter practice plans, track progress, and eliminate guesswork. 🎁 Use discount code AICOURSEPODCAST to get $20 OFF 👉 https://hittingperformancelab.com/AICourse 🙌 Enjoyed the episode? Tap Follow so you never miss a future insight Leave a quick review to help others discover the show Share this episode with a coach or sports parent who needs to hear it For more drills, resources, and no-fluff hitting instruction, visit: 🌐 https://hittingperformancelab.com

    11 min
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About

Hosted by Joey Myers—Amazon bestselling author and founder of HittingPerformanceLab.com—the Swing Smarter Hitting Training Podcast delivers powerful, science-driven hitting insights for baseball and softball athletes, parents, and coaches who demand results. Join us for in-depth conversations with MLB veterans, expert hitting coaches, biomechanics specialists, and mental game gurus. Each episode reveals actionable tips and proven techniques that help athletes unlock peak performance and consistently drive the ball farther.

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