quote:Originally posted by SoutherNo1:...how do you increase the top speed?...
Top speed comes from a combination of better mechanics, and better strength and conditioning.
You have to learn quickness first and then learn to develop speed within the frame work that allows your best quickness.
A major mistake 95% of all coaches make is searching for batspeed improperly. They search for the fastest bat at the expense of quickness. And, they look good for a while. Whether that is the youth league for many or the high school level for some. They help a kid reach top batspeed numbers and in so doing make him a worse hitter.
Because, at the level where your athletic ability is higher than your opponents, any mechanics will do as long as the bat is fast.
But, at such time that your athletic ability is no better than everyone else's, IF your mechanics are poor, you're doomed. Retirment time.
I've heard numerous posters say "you don't mess with someone who's hitting". Well, you're enabling his failure IF you know something about his future and don't tell him and don't ask him to (make him) work on it. And, this is 95% of all amateur baseball.
Because, most coaches aren't in it for player development. They love trophies. Their egos are really what they are about. They can't take a chance on "helping" a kid (which may mean 2 steps back before taking 1 step forward) because that will hurt their chances in league or districts or whatever.
Learn the mechanics of the quick swing at whatever batspeed you can generate. Even if its considerably less than in your old swing. Then, within those mechanics, train your body to generate more speed through strength and conditioning drills that "resemble" the swing movements.