The AMBA Next Level Hitting Assessment
At Athletic Mission we know you understand that it takes more than talent and skills to be a next level hitter. So we start our evaluation process focusing on how you’re hitting on game day and your mindset.
Everyone knows how important confidence is for a hitter, so we start there and have an honest conversation about how you’re thinking and how it affects how you’re hitting.
The AMBA Next Level Hitter ‘Dominate The Plate’ Program is a step by step system to help you easily understand everything it takes to be an elite hitter, a framework for how to think about hitter development, game day preparation & performance and how to barrel up great pitchers.
We focus on 5 key areas of Hitter Development that you’ll need to master.
1. Mindset: What do I need to believe to be a confident and give me a strategic advantage over all my competition?
- Taking Ownership
- Being Self Reliant
- Surround Yourself with Smart People
- Compare & Convince Mindset
- Compete & Contribute Mindset
- Strategic Advantage Mindset
- Lost?
- Defensive?
- Curious?
- What are your beliefs around being a Big Game Pitcher/Hitter?
- What is focus? Setting intent or thinking hard?
- Train the Brain, The Mind – Body Connection
- Talent & Tools vs. Game Day Performance
2. Off-Season Training: What do I need to do to get the starting role I want for this upcoming season?
- Relationships & Information
- Strength
- Conditioning
- Nutrition
- Mechanics
- Velocity/Exit Velocity
- Transition to Pre-season
3. Pre-Season Practice: What do I need to do to make sure my baseball skills are game ready?
- Drills vs Skill Batting Practice Plan
- Game Ready Approach
- Max Velocity Barrel Control Process
- STKS
- Set Up
- Stance
- Swing
- 12 Count Approach Test
- Situational Awareness Charts
- Role and Responsibilities
- Transition to In-Season
4. In-Season Game Planning: What do I need to do to prepare a plan for each hitter or pitcher I will face this season?
- What they know about me
- What I need to know about them, each team
- What I need to know about him, each pitcher
- Pre-Game Scouting Report
- In Games Cues and Clues
- How To Ready a Pitcher (PVML)
- Patterns, Habits, and Tendencies
- Power or Finesse
- Control or Wild
- Loses his mind? What Situation and Counts?
- What pitch(es) is you trying to get you out with? Situation and Count?
5. Game Day Performance: What do I need to do to confidently execute my game plan vs each hitter/pitcher I face?
- Pre-Game Routine
- Situational Count Awareness
- Proactive vs Reactive
- Early Count K’s Attitude
- In Game Adjustments
- Post Game Routines
- Post Game Evaluation
- Transition to Off-Season
5 Core Problems Areas we help Hitters Identify and Solve
1. Mental / Mindset / Confidence Issues
- Coaches don’t trust you
- You don’t trust your coaches
- You don’t trust yourself
- Lack confidence
- Feel Pressure
- Constantly comparing yourself to others
- Feel stressed out
- Over coached
- Feel like you’re faking it, just going through the motions
- Feel confused
- Feel overwhelmed
- Lack focus and intent
2. Bad Mechanics
- No plan / approach
- Not seeing the ball
- No consistency in barreling up baseballs
- Consistently late on pitch
- Swinging and Missing too much
- Pulling off the baseball
- Consistently rolling over
- Striking out too much
- Constantly making swing adjustments
- Do know how your swing plays
3. Lack of Velocity / Exit Velocity / Explosiveness / Athleticism
- Lack body awareness
- Low exit velocity
- Hardest hit balls is weak
- Inconsistent mechanics
- Lack athleticism
- Lack strength
4. Poor / Unfocused Practice Habits
- Over coached
- Under coached
- Mindless practice
- Constantly changing methods and tools
- No measured and tracked progress / improvements
- Lack approach
- Lack adjustments awareness
- Generic routines and practice plan
5. Lack of Strategy
- No pre-game preparation for the opponent
- Don’t study individual pitchers
- You have glaring holes in your approach
- You are an easy out because of your lack of discipline
- Coaches take the bat out of your hands in certain situations and counts
- Don’t make in game adjustments
AMBA Next Level Hitting Program Plan
Core Job Responsibilities:
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- See The Ball / Be On Time / Discipline / Barrel Up The Baseball / Don’t Miss Your Pitch
- Have A Strategic Advantage Mindset
- Do the Right Work
- Earn Your Confidence
- Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You
1. Off Season Plan: August, September, October, November
Core Focus: Competitive Advantage
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- Physical Measurables
- Strength & Conditioning Plan
- Nutrition Plan
- Mechanics Mastered
- Swing Metric Training
2. Pre-Season Plan: November, December, January, February
Core Focus: See Pitches & Master Approach
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- Command Hitting Program & Calendar
- Visualization & Mental Simulation
- STKS
- 12 Count Approach Test
- Set Up / Trigger
- Situational Count Awareness
- Pre-Pitch Approach
- Attacking Pitches
- Game Planning Batting Practice
3. In Season Game Planning: February, March, April, May, June, July
Core Focus: Strategic Advantage Mindset
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- Self Scouting Report
- Opposing Coach / Team Philosophy
- Game Plan for each opposing Pitcher
- Study each Pitcher
- Read each Pitcher
4. Game Day Performance
Core Focus: Get Hitters Out
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- Pre-game Routine
- Execute the plan
- In Game Adjustments
- Post Game Evaluation
