All appointments are either with or without DDI staff assistance. Please inform us, when setting your appointment, if you would like staff assisted training. The only exception being that, while you choose the speed, pitch and pitcher the Pro-Batter will always be operated by DDI staff.

The Pro-Batter virtual reality pitching machine provides the best and most realistic batting practice available and is fast becoming an MLB mainstay. Already in use as the primary tool for BP by many MLB teams such as the Boston Red Sox, the Cleveland Indians, the New York Mets and the Pittsburg Pirates, it is likely to be in use by nearly every MLB team within five years.

The Pro-Batter consists of a PX2 (completely computerized pitching machine), a large 12’ x 12’ screen and a movie projector. It gives the batter the advantage of practicing in a game like situation where he can watch the ball out of the pitchers hand. In a matter of seconds the PX2 can be programmed for left or right handed pitching, left or right handed batter, speeds from 40 to 100 mph and any one, or a combination, of 8 different pitches. Even the pitch location can be programmed so you can work on specific zones you’re having trouble with.

If you want to hit well, you have to practice and the closer that practice comes to what you’re going to encounter in the game the more prepared you’re going to be. If all you see in practice is a fastball then a fastball is all you’ve prepared yourself to hit. Likewise, if you practice hitting at one speed; you are likely to have a difficult time adjusting to the varying speeds you’re going to see in the game.

Diamond Drills, Inc. has the most up o date, state of the art, PX2 Pro-Batter anywhere around the Dayton area and we operate on a by appointment basis so you won't have to be concerned about waiting in line.

TEE STATIONS :

There is nothing like live pitching to prepare for hitting in the game; however, for those who are just learning proper swing mechanics or those needing to reaffirm them … there is nothing better than tee work to help form good habits. Any tee work is better than no tee work in such cases; however, there are specific tees to help develop specific elements of the overall swing that is proven to be best.

The Schutt tee is a tubular tee which provides a level path through the zone. Hitters that drop their hands and swing up on the ball and those that have a tendency to chop down on it will have extreme difficulty getting the bat to the ball. Using this tee on a regular basis helps level your swing.

The advanced skills tee is much like any standard tee but with an added device (armature) that adjusts to force the hitter to learn how to shorten their swing. Those who swing “all arms” will have the greatest need for this type of tee work; however, any player that needs work on hitting pitches on the inside part of the plate can benefit from using this tee regularly.

The standard tee is the beginning point for all new player training and is an excellent way for even the best hitters to get in extra swings. From the feet to the head and everything in between, the standard tee is where all basic mechanic work should begin.

While the design and ease of use of the power bag is relatively new to the world of BP, the principal is not. The most common drill for practicing to power through (follow through) the ball is the old “basketball drill”. The real difference is that, with the Power Bag, you don’t have to chase basketballs all over the room. The primary objective of the Power Bag is teach players to swing all the way through. This tool is also very useful in teaching hitters to bring the hips through correctly because it is nearly impossible for most young players to power through this relatively heavy bag without doing so.

Soft toss is a great tool for developing hand and eye coordination before beginning live pitch training. There are many excellent drills which can be performed via soft toss; but the following are the ones we believe to be the most advantageous.

Standard soft toss is our preferred introduction to a new hitters first introduction to hitting a moving baseball. It is simply one person sitting off to the side of the hitter tossing a baseball across the middle of the plate.

Two ball soft toss is done precisely the same way as standard soft toss except that two balls are tossed at once and “top or bottom” is called out as the balls are thrown. Because the hitter has to make a very quick adjustment to hit the correct ball, this drill is excellent not only for hand and eye coordination but for developing fast hands as well.

The small ball drill is most commonly performed with a shortened broom handle and plastic golf balls. Because of increased difficulty of hitting a small target with such a small bat (stick) this drill is used for more intensive hand and eye coordination.

As suggested in the above material; what’s right for you depends upon where you are now. If you’re a beginning hitter your best starting point will be the standard tee and you’ll progress as you’re ready to do so. If you’re basically a good hitter but are experiencing some mechanical issues, you should work on drills that focus on your problem area then put the results to the test in the Pro-Batter cage. If you’re already doing well in all areas then the Pro-Batter cage is recommended to maintain game readiness. 

Whatever your goals may be and regardless of your current status, we can evaluate you and design a custom training plan to meet your needs. Our owner/manager is an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and our training plans include everything from the drills to suit your needs to a good exercise regimen to better prepare the body to perform. We also include a short video of your performance on CD. Please let us know, at the time your appointment is set, that you will want a CTP (customized training plan) so we will have our video equipment ready.