Outline & Summary of Week 5 Hitting Program

1. Key Focus: Swing Path – 5 Ball Theory

• Objective: Teach hitters how to stay through the ball on a flat path.

• Drill Setup:

  • Place one ball on a tee.

  • Hold one ball with left hand (two ball lengths away toward pitcher).

  • Hold another ball with right hand (two ball lengths in front of the ball).

  • Creates a line of 3 balls held out, equal to 5 baseball lengths.

• Teaching Points:

  • Begin getting flat just before the first ball.

  • Stay flat through the fifth ball.

  • Too late = harsh swing with little room for line drives.

  • Too early = sweeping, long swing.

  • Use slow-motion reps: load → flat → follow through while hovering over the 5-ball path.

Instructional Video: 5 Ball Theory Swing Path

2. Weekly Preparation

• Players must watch video on swing path and 5 ball theory before practice.

3. Week 5 Practice Itinerary

• Format: 5 stations, 10 minutes each + 1 final group station (10 minutes).

Stations:

• Group A – Big Cage: Hack Attack curveballs, Three-Headed Monster drill.

• Group B – Cage 4 Drill Work: Front toss with screen parallel to plate; focus on staying through the ball. Hitters aim middle of field, avoid barring out into screen. Pitchers front toss to middle location only.

• Group C – Cage 3 Power Development: 4 x 10 tire flips (30 sec recovery). Between sets: 5 heavy bat swings into punching bag.

• Group D – Cage 2 Velo Station: 5 ball theory, slow-motion swings.

• Group E – Cage 1 Core Strength: Sumo slams (5 x 10).

4. Equipment / Setup Notes

• Hack Attack machine, 3 L-screens, 3 buckets of baseballs.

• Curveball machine angle for live reads.

• Tee + screen setup for extension/front toss drill.

• Tires for flips, punching bag for heavy bat swings.

• Medicine balls for core slam work.

Overall Focus of Week 5

• Refine swing path by training hitters to stay flat and through the ball.

• Reinforce timing: avoid being too early or too late into flat position.

• Blend mechanical focus (5 ball theory) with live curveball reads, power training, and core strength development.