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 If you’re ready to move beyond outdated stats and build a better hitter, check out my Swing Shift program—a daily, bite-sized video series packed with drills and clear cues you can use immediately.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.