The Step Back Drill is one of my favorite ways to help hitters understand what a quality load should actually feel like.
This movement helps hitters organize the body and establish a strong position before moving forward.
There are a lot of pieces we can work through within this drill:
✅ Shoulder angles
✅ Hip coil and internal rotation
✅ Separation and stretch
✅ Weight distribution
✅ Ground connection
✅ Explosiveness
Our goal is to carry that position into the forward move, creating the separation needed to rotate efficiently and deliver the barrel.
A good look at this drill with 15 year old Brennan Schultz from Northampton High School.
Up the Ranks Performance
Located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
• Certified Personal Training
• Professional Baseball Instruction
• Player Development
Up the Ranks Performance is excited to offer the Lehigh Valley and surrounding Pennsylvania areas, high quality year-round baseball and fitness instruction, certified skill development services and personal athletic training. From the prospective player to the competitive college athlete, we will design a student program built specifically to accomplish your needs and goals. All workout plans are
08/25/2026
THANK YOU, SUMMER 2026.
From Lower Nazareth to Moore Township to Freemansburg, our final three summer camps of the year welcomed more than 150 players from different ages, communities, and baseball organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley.
To every athlete who stepped onto the field with us, every family who trusted us with their son, every coach who gave their time and energy, and every Little League organization that partnered with us — thank you. None of this happens without you.
Our goal has never been to simply run baseball camps. We want every player who trains with us to leave more confident, more knowledgeable, and better than when they arrived. Watching that development take place throughout the summer is the ultimate reward and something we take tremendous pride in.
What you see on social media is the finished product… the pictures, videos, packed fields, and smiling faces.
What you don’t see are the countless hours behind the scenes. The planning. The preparation. The early mornings. The late nights. The field work. The communication. And most importantly, a coaching staff that genuinely cares about providing the best possible experience for every player who steps onto the field with us. That’s the part we’re most proud of and another reminder of just how far we’ve come!
We put an incredible amount of time, effort, and care into these events because they mean something to us. They aren’t just another camp on the calendar. Every player who attends represents a family that trusted Up the Ranks Performance with a small part of their child’s baseball development, and that is something we will never take for granted.
We poured everything we had into making this summer special for our athletes, and in return they made it just as special for us.
As summer comes to an end and our student-athletes head back to the classroom, we want to wish every one of them a safe, successful, and prosperous new school year. Work hard, enjoy the year, and continue representing yourselves, your families, and your communities the right way.
Thank you for an unforgettable Summer 2026. We’ll see you in 2027.
Let’s keep moving
The Hook’em drill is a great way to develop better body awareness and sequencing within the swing. The movement is intentionally exaggerated, challenging hitters to create a deeper coil into the back hip, maintain tension, and control the forward move before transitioning into rotation.
Kolby Miller
A lot of what happens with the barrel starts with how well hitters maintain direction and posture throughout the swing.
One-arm work is a great way to expose flaws in hand path and body direction. Take the front hand away, and poor movement patterns become much easier to identify.
Direction:
Keeps the body working through the middle of the field instead of pulling off the baseball too early. Staying on line creates a more adjustable path to different pitch locations.
Posture:
Keeps the body in a strong position to rotate while staying parallel to the pitcher. A stable head and controlled body position allow the barrel to work efficiently through the zone.
Back Arm:
The back arm plays a big role in delivering the barrel. As the body rotates, the back elbow works down and stays connected, allowing the barrel to work behind the baseball instead of pushing the hands forward.
Isolating the back arm helps the hitter better understand and feel that movement without relying on the front arm to compensate.
Another great day w/ Chase Jarrah
Let’s keep moving
08/06/2026
🚨 PRIVATE LESSON AVAILABILITY IS NOW OPEN THROUGH 2027! 🚨
Our schedule has officially been released, and Fall and Winter private lesson availability is already filling quickly.
Planning to train this fall and winter? We encourage you to book early. Due to high demand, we typically schedule 2–3 months in advance, and many of our most popular lesson times are already being claimed.
⚾ Reserve your lesson dates today! All scheduling is on a first come, first served basis. Once a time slot is filled, it’s no longer available. NO EXCEPTIONS. If your preferred day or time has already been booked, we’ll gladly add you to our cancellation list and contact you as soon as an opening becomes available.
💰 Looking to save money? We also offer discounted private lesson packages when paid upfront. These bulk packages are a great way to commit to your development while lowering the cost per lesson. Be sure to consider one of our lesson packages when booking your training schedule.
🔗 Click the online link below to access our scheduling portal and book your training sessions NOW:
https://www.uptheranksperformance.com/schedule-training
📞 Questions? We’re here to help!
If you have any questions about scheduling, lesson packages, or finding the best training option for your player, don’t hesitate to reach out.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Phone: (610) 739-8683
⭐ Trusted by thousands of athletes throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Since 2018, Up the Ranks Performance has become one of the region’s leading baseball development programs by delivering high-quality instruction, personalized coaching, and a proven system that helps players maximize their potential.
Don’t miss your opportunity to train with our experienced staff and take your game to the next level, both on and off the field.
Let’s keep moving
07/25/2026
Our 2026 Lehigh Township Summer Baseball Camp has come to an end, and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who helped make it such an incredible experience.
Thank you to all of the parents and families who chose to spend the week with us. We’re extremely grateful for your support and for the opportunity to work with your players. We never take that trust for granted and always want each event to reflect that.
To our players, you guys were a tremendous group to coach. 46 total athletes joined us throughout the week, there was no shortage of energy on the field. Your effort, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn each day made this an incredibly enjoyable week for our entire staff.
As always, a huge thank you to our coaching staff for another great week. We’re fortunate to have some of the best coaches in the Lehigh Valley who consistently give their time, energy, and expertise to make these camps run smoothly and create a great experience for every player who joins us.
A special thank you to LTAA for their hospitality throughout the week and for giving us the opportunity to host our summer camp at their complex. We’re grateful to have been able to bring this event to the Lehigh Township community and already looking forward to next year’s event!
Now it’s time to keep the summer rolling!
We’re heading to Coplay Sports this Monday, July 27th for our next summer baseball camp. If you haven’t joined us yet this summer, there’s still time to get involved!
Another great week in the books, and there’s still plenty of baseball ahead! This summer has been unbelievable, and we’re just getting started. Don’t miss your chance to join us. ⚾️
Let’s keep moving
07/22/2026
Thank you FBT Baseball,
As a locally owned business, it means a great deal to us to give back to the schools, sports organizations, and families that have continually supported Up the Ranks Performance. Being involved in our community isn’t just something we do, it’s something we’re extremely passionate about.
Since opening our doors in 2018, our companies mission has always been to provide athletes of all ages with high-quality coaching, personalized training, and proven player development programs where they can continue to learn, improve, and maximize their full potential.
We’re extremely grateful for the support, trust, and relationships we’ve built throughout the Lehigh Valley along the way. We remain committed to helping the next generation of athletes achieve their goals both on and off the field.
Thank you again for the opportunity to support and sponsor Freemansburg Athletic Association. We truly appreciate our partnership and look forward to many more years of working together.
Let’s keep moving
07/18/2026
Every adjustment starts with a clear explanation and a defined path forward.
Great coaching goes beyond instruction. It’s about educating players, building trust, and creating genuine buy-in.
When athletes understand the “why” factor, they become active participants in their development, allowing them to build confidence, embrace accountability, and take ownership of their growth.
12 year old Brayden Gercie has been training with us for a few months now and continues to make impressive strides forward.
We’re incredibly proud of this young man and everything he’s accomplishing. We can’t wait to continue supporting him throughout his baseball journey and watching all of his hard work continue to pay off.
Let’s keep moving
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501 Cetronia Road Suite #100
Allentown, PA
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