Tagged With "hitting"
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Re: Hitting Tips
Turn into the pitch? Must be a confusion of terms. Faced with a pitch off the plate inside, a right handed batter will tuck his left shoulder toward the catcher. Correct? I would call that turning away from the pitch. Reminds me of a kid I had in LL Minors. Big kid, bad attitude; had some potential, but was only there because his parents made him. I was showing him how to turn away from a pitch and wear it on his back so he wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't hear of it. He said that if he was...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by JCG: Turn into the pitch? Must be a confusion of terms. Faced with a pitch off the plate inside, a right handed batter will tuck his left shoulder toward the catcher. Correct? I would call that turning away from the pitch. Reminds me of a kid I had in LL Minors. Big kid, bad attitude; had some potential, but was only there because his parents made him. I was showing him how to turn away from a pitch and wear it on his back so he wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't hear of it.
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Re: Hitting Tips
Yup, I'm used to same terminology as Standball but just semantics. Dadcoach, everyone from at least HS JV up (if not younger) teaches and encourages players NOT to avoid HBP (unless at the head) but instead, how to get hit properly. Sorry, good hitters do not avoid HBP. OP is a teen and struggling with fear of HBP. The last thing he wants to be thinking about is to move to avoid being hit. You must be dad of a pitcher
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Re: Hitting Tips
Cabbagepatch, My son is actually a hitter, a sophomore who is leading his HS Varsity team in average and slugging so far this season. Scouts are fairly impressed with his approach and the training he has received. One of the keys to coaching is listening very careful to a player who is asking for help. You are right about HBP to the head. But this player has admitted he has true fear of the ball which is a special issue different than a regular hitter.It sounds like you have not coached a...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by cabbagedad: Originally Posted by Dadcoach: Cabbagepatch, My son is actually a hitter, a sophomore who is leading his HS Varsity team in average and slugging so far this season. Scouts are fairly impressed with his approach and the training he has received. One of the keys to coaching is listening very careful to a player who is asking for help. You are right about HBP to the head. But this player has admitted he has true fear of the ball which is a special issue...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Yes- we need to hear from RyyMann for his age and level of play- I am guessing around 16. There is a fascinating chapter in the book "Three Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger where Tony LaRussa's view on the HBP and beanbballs are a factor. The chapter highlights how this can have a huge and permanent impact on the mental approach of a hitter. Until I read this book I never understood the "Self-Police" approach to paybacks and what it was about from a managers perspective. The book is a...
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Re: Hitting Tips
One of the things we did when I played was actually practicing getting hit by pitches. We would start out with a Juggs Lite Flight machine, just to get techniques down. Then we would then move on to an actual pitching machine set at about 65 with real balls. It helps you realize that it doesn't really hurt that much and it gets you over the fear.
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Re: Hitting Tips
Wow, cabbagedad has posted an impressive resume and his experience is still questioned and from movies. Ted Williams was HBP 39 times in his career. While that isn't a lot, he was dinged a few times. "Getting out of the way" means so many things to good hitters. For example, with my child, one drill we do is called "The Progression Drill." In that drill, I throw at her front hip, throw one down the middle and then throw one away. She protects herself or "gets out of the way" on the one to...
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Re: Hitting Tips
Originally Posted by Dadcoach: Yes- we need to hear from RyyMann for his age and level of play- I am guessing around 16. There is a fascinating chapter in the book "Three Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger where Tony LaRussa's view on the HBP and beanbballs are a factor. The chapter highlights how this can have a huge and permanent impact on the mental approach of a hitter. Until I read this book I never understood the "Self-Police" approach to paybacks and what it was about from a managers...
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Re: Looking for a hitting instructor in the Union County NJ area ...
Corey Smith of Upper Deck is excellent.
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Re: Looking for a hitting instructor in the Union County NJ area ...
hi there - have you used him before ? what makes him so great ?
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Re: Looking for a hitting instructor in the Union County NJ area ...
My son (15U) has gone to him during off seasons for about 5 years. Very good communicator - he stopped playing only recently and communicates as an older peer rather than as a coach figure. Works with kids individually and does not impose the same swing on everyone. Teaches them how to diagnose their own issues and analyze themselves based on results.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Have you had his vision checked lately? Why did you use the term "yips"?
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
I would recommend you find other hitting coaches that would be willing to look at his video. I am betting that there is either some mechanical change that has taken place either naturally or prescribed by a coach that is effecting his ability to make solid contact or he has always has had a flaw that is going to be more apparent as pitching velocity increases. Having success in a cage or batting practice has little to do with success at the plate...especially as pitching velocity increases.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
A vision check is always a good thought (and he's due next month), but since he's hitting in the cage and at practice, I don't think that is it. Not sure if you are asking what "yips" means or just why I used the term here. I think the term was originally from golf: for a player who suddenly can't hit short putts. In baseball, it's used for throwing--typically a pitcher or an infielder who one day finds he can't make a throw to first without sending the ball 6 feet over the 1B's head. I used...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Everyone struggles with results and confidence, but that is a long period. In addition to vision check, I'd consider taking a break, getting away from it for a while. (If it was me, I'd also consider a hitting coach change even though the coach might be doing everything right.)
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
T-work is a good start. Agree with the others to have video taken. Extra BP could help him get down timing and get confidence as well.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Does he take any pre-game batting practice? Perhaps some pre-game tee, side toss and live pitch BP can help. Also, is he using any type of relaxation technique? If not, prior to stepping into the box, he should pick out a small point on the bat (small number, letter or mark). While focusing on that point, take a deep breath then exhale. This will help him clear "inside or outside noise" that may be affecting his concentration. Reset with this technique if he goes deep into the count, fouls...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
I asked because yips to me means the whole muscle/nerve/twitch thing is off. It looks terrible and unusual. What you described sounds more like he's just missing the ball. Is the barrel in the zone at the right time? Does it still look like a decent swing if you remove the ball? Freshmen often go through growth spurts. I talked to someone about this the other day. Son lost the feel for his CB. The kid's hand had increased in size by about 30% in the last six months. Imagine any grown pitcher...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
I was also going to say have is vision checked just to rule it out. (Which I see you are doing). Depending on the speed of the pitches he is see in the cage, it may be why he is hitting better there. Slower pitches will give more time for his eyes to pick up the ball, focus on it, and make better contact. I have seen this with a middle school level player. Cage great, games not so good. Had his eyes checked, got contacts, now hitting at game the same as he does in the cage.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Hitting in the cage/BP ---- is that at game speed? Likely not I would agree with COACHLD that there is likely a hitting mechanics issue that is making it difficult to connect with velocity at game speed. I would absolutely change hitting coaches. This one clearly isn't working.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
I echo many of the ideas suggested so far. I'll also share some unusual advice given to me when I really struggled at the plate (happened way more than I care to admit). This came from a player a couple years ahead of me who had an illustrious MLB career. His suggestion? Pretend you have a hit and run on and slash the ball the other way. His reasoning? He said when you're pressing, you get anxious and tend to leap out after the ball. Thinking about taking it the other way, as if the coach...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
I have seen this phenomenon. In my experience, it has been an issue of the kid "guessing" at the pitch instead of actually tracking it with his eyes. Solved it with soft-toss from the side, using 2 balls thrown from the same hand. Just as I'm releasing, I tell him which one to hit (top or bottom, as balls are stacked in my hand). I've also used the very small balls that have different color numbers on them. Batter has to call out the number or color before swinging. I think that works...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
My son took private hitting lessons for several years with the same instructor and there were a couple of things ingrained into his mind. "Keep It Simple", "See Ball - Hit Ball". Every day he used to take 50-75 swings without a ball, just in the air in the backyard or garage. Not full fast swings but slow swings, concentrating on the mechanics: elbow/arms, knees , hips, rotation shoulders, follow through, head etc. Purpose is for MUSCLE MEMORY and repetition. You break down each part of the...
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Thanks to all for the advice. In BP and cage, the boy looks fine. But in games, even against weak pitching, he's at sea.
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Re: dealing with hitter's "yips"
Lots of good suggestions here...I'll add one more. Give him a reason to believe that the slate has been wiped clean and he is starting fresh. Whether its a new instructor, a change in stance, a gain in strength or anything else - provide him with a reason to believe that now is a different time and what has gone on before is meaningless.
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Re: Hitting/Infield Resources
Just writing to bump this thread, but I was just looking for any books, podcasts, or good film to watch on hitters. I am going to devote a lot of time to my hitting this summer and anything would help.
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Re: Hitting/Infield Resources
Not sure what you are looking for hitting wise but #fridayfielders is a great infield resource on twitter and will give you some ideas you can practice with your buddies or a family member.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Thank you, I'm going to try "The Mental Game of Baseball" and "The Science of Hitting" books and see if they help. Then look into a sports psychologist if those can't get me through this.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Do you usually take the first pitch? Most of the kids I see with this issue have trouble pulling the trigger early in the count. Next thing you know they are down in the count and then swing at bad pitches for fear of striking out.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Steve Springer used to be active on this site! https://qualityatbats.com/ I bought the audio tapes (CD?) for my son when he was in high school. Good luck!
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
What is the role of the hitter? Check your dominant eye, back off the plate “See the 🏀 “ Sent from my iPad > On Sep 11, 2022, at 7:24 PM, HS Baseball Web < alerts@crowdstack.com > wrote: > >
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Find a sports psychologist. They can help you greatly. A lot of Baseball is mental
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Rippen what is your dominant eye? Do you bat with open or closed stance? Bob
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Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Hi all, I need help and hope someone can give me some advice. I am great hitting everywhere outside of the game like BP, tunnels, pitching machines, soft toss, even practices. My family has even hired hitting coaches and I've hit off of college level pitchers in cages. But in game I struggle. This isn't a slump, it has been like this for years through AA/AAA club ball, Jr. High, JV, and now high school ball (I am a HS Junior). TBH I feel like I haven't been being cut from the team because...
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
My son had a coach who told them to take the first pitch and they couldn’t swing at a curveball until they had 2 strikes. Finally got both of these habits broken and he’s been a good hitter ever since. He tries to barrel the first strike he sees. His OBP is down a bit because he doesn’t walk as much but he also doesn’t strike out.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
This is such an awesome idea, thank you! It makes sense, my club ball coach trained us to always "take" the first pitch and I think it's something I do out of habit without even realizing it. And you're exactly right, I always wind up with a full count and then either strike out looking or swing at a bad pitch near the end. I am going to try swinging more aggressively on the first pitch to see what happens.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
If you can hit everywhere but in the game the polite response is it’s all in your head. On the field you might want to try going up to the plate attacking every pitch near the strike zone. Off the field you might want to try a sports psychologist. You might want to purchase The Mental Game of Baseball by HA Dorfmann.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Lots of good advice here. My comment is about preparation. You should discuss a hitting approach plan with your instructor and practice it. You should have a plan of attach for each pitcher you face. I assume you are not at the top of the lineup so you should be analyzing all the pitches at both warm up and beside judging if you can time the FB and how much the break is in the strike zone, you should be looking for a "tell" or a pattern to take advantage of.
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
As a hitter, I Never recognized a 3 & 1 take sign. “Sorry coach, I missed it” Remember there are 11 ways to score from 3rd base with less than 2 outs. Pre game infield /outfield always told me the story of the opposing Coach and his team. Bob
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Agree with 2022NYC. Do you feel like you have a solid plan of ATTACK for every pitch situation? There isn't necessarily one right or wrong approach but you have to have one for yourself that you can commit to fully. If you are looking at strike threes a lot, that's an indication that you don't have a good two-strike approach. With two strikes, get closer to the plate (taking away the outside corner), get your foot down early and be 1000% committed to getting the barrel on the ball any way...
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
My knucklehead during HS and his recruiting phase took too many BBs. I felt it hurt his recruiting, since he took too many early FB strikes that were off the black (yes umps do call strikes way off the edge). When he asked for my feedback, I did not hold back and told him he lacked confidence on hitting the outside FB and talent evaluators expect you to mash those if you want to be recruited to their team. Walking is not useful when trying to showcase, because they probably can't get past...
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
My son is a picky batter with a big strike zone because of his size so he gets behind in the count a lot. His approach for a while in HS was to only swing at something he could drive and he struck out way more than he should have/wanted to. His minor league coaches have encouraged him to be more aggressive earlier in the count which has helped a lot. Also make sure your approach is to all fields. If you are only looking for something you can turn on you might miss the pitch you can take...
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
Older son hit great in travel and struggled in HS. Coach would not allow him to swing at the first strike and not swing at the first curve. After two pitches, he was down 0-2. When the coach finally took the training wheels of and let him hit, he hit over .400. I always thought his first swing was a timing swing. He would foul it off but would time up the pitcher. The second swing was the aggressive swing to do damage. The third strike is just survival. look up the batting average on each...
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
PT great advice. Confidence is the key. When Bob Gibson pitched, survival was my goal. My confidence was the winner. I belong in the moment. Bob
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Re: Htting EVERYWHERE but Game
I would like to add to this great advice, as long as your coach doesn't get on your case for not taking the first pitch or making an example out of you. With no strikes you should only swing if that is "your pitch", you are looking for location and type of pitch, something you can barrel and drive. If it's a strike but not what you are looking for then take. I've seen players be aggressive and swing at a strike that is marginal (but still a strike). Often if they put it in play it results in...