12yo Hitting Clips

Thanks Callaway! I'll take a look tonight (hopefully).

Jason

Somwtimes i hate being brutally honest, but from thoe clips, they all look like he 'accidentally' made contact below the ball.


however for that age he has well developed mechanics for his age.

Not a good swing.

The good news is that he led the league in "accidental" contacts!

I agree w/ Mr 3000. For his age his mechanics are certainly developed. Now it's what does he do with them from here.

Of course he needs to continue to get stronger as all 12 year olds do. I would like to see him learn how to generate more through the glutes and lower half.

He needs to develop proper movement patterns. He some some well and needs work on others.

Do you use wood bats at all during practice? If so continue to do so. If not get one as it will assist in many aspects of his swing.

All in all I think it's a solid swing at this point. Can I ask what his results are? I would assume pretty good.

quote:

Can I ask what his results are?

He led the League in accidental HR's and accidental average.

Thats typical. He is 12 in a 12 and under league.

Lebron James was another athlete who was typical.

Vance34

I don't mind criticism, but how about something constructive? Thanks.

Vance,

I second Callaway's post.

While a video of the complete swing would be much better to make a complete evaluation, you throw out a phrase like "Not a good swing". If you have such an opinion, then back it up with constructive critiscm and possible drills or other methods to help this young player out.

NHF

Click the link for the complete swing.

I'm no expert and I can't tell for sure with that tank on his arm (just kidding) but it seems like he's locking his front arm and thats why on the inside pitch he really has to pull everything out to get the barrel on the ball. What I like is his bat control and his stance. Very quiet and simple. Just that front arm lock makes a long looping swing which for now he can probably get away with. He faces me when he gets older and I'll bust'm up inside and high.

Don't change a thing right now. His front elbow works up real well and hes using his lower half well for a 12 year old. It looks like he made accidental contact because hes only 12 and though hes probably a fairly big kid, hes not that strong. However, he will get stronger as he gets older and that swing will start to look a lot smoother because the mechanics are there for a smooth swing.


Edit: now that i look at it again his front half is collapsing forward through contact. have him work on pull back with that front side instead of going forward with the back side. that should alleviate the problem.
The arm bar is ok on him right now because hes able to get his hands inside the ball and his front elbow works well and allows him to do that even though he starts in a barred position. Take a look at Griffey, he starts with a bar but his front elbow works up often on inside pitches in order to keep his hands in and that is what calloway's son is doing.

I stand corrected. Sounds like lilbomber understands more than I do. He sounds right.

I'm sorry Guys. Callaway and NHF. I have seen his swing on all 4 shots. The full swing. So this guy is the next Lebron James of Baseball. Thats great! Keep up the hard work. Callaway, I've played the University course there in Columbia, I enjoyed it very much.

NHF fundamentals DAD. If you'll click on the word DEAD RED and LOW PITCH and INSIDE PITCH. You to can see the whole swing.

Vance, I didn't say he was the next Lebron of baseball. I've never met the boy, but I know that James played against kids his own age growing up and Jordan did as well. I wish my kid had hit 13 hrs this year, I think it's evident that the boy has worked hard on his swing. If you know of things he needs to work on be a good guy and help him out, that's what this website is for. I think you know quite a bit about baseball but don't let the guys who love to argue and pick at each other keep you from helping someone along who is looking for help. I get a feeling that some of the people who could give some advice are reluctant to share because somebody else will jump right in and want to argue.

I like having some additional eyeballs on his swing. Sometimes I get caught up in one aspect of his swing and overlook something that should be obvious. This boy works very hard to improve and we really do appreicate any and all opinions.

Thanks again,
R.

Here's my advice:

Most kids who play Little League baseball are done in organized baseball by age 15. If you don't believe me, dig up the list of kids who played in your Little League 12u division in 2002 and count the ones who're still playing at any level. Even among the league all stars, I would bet you at least half are done playing by age 15.

So, let your son enjoy these years. As much as you might like to dream, these years may well be his last in baseball. Nitpicking the swing of a Little League stud is a bit overboard if you ask me. And the tone of some of the comments above is truly uncalled for. Guys, I would've thought this was elementary, but you don't talk to or about a 12-year-old kid the way you do to a pro player, for Pete's sake.

Callaway, if your son shows over the coming three years that he has the love of the game and the desire to continue, at that point there will be plenty of time to focus on the finer technique points. Right now you and he should just be building happy memories. If he ends up shifting to another sport, or maybe becoming the best actor or singer at his school, or just deciding he'd rather work to make money so that he can chase girls at the mall instead of practicing every day, he can always look back with pride on this season -- as opposed to remembering it as a time when even 13 HR's wasn't enough to please some people.

The truth is that whether or not your son continues on in baseball will be a function more of whether he enjoys himself now, than of whether he swings like Pujols now. Hopefully he is enjoying the heck out of himself after a year like this one! Darned if I'd let anyone lay a big turd on that.

The only thing anyone needs to say to this kid is, congratulations on a great year, many happy returns!

ok Innocent bystander.

Here is my advice. Callaway, take his favorite hitter, whoever that may be. Now Emulate that swing from the stance/ start to completion.

Can you show me a big league swing from start to finsih like this one.

The secret is doing what the great ones do.

VANCE
\
Wrong--very wrong-- kids at 12 cannot do physcically what the MLB guys do-- the kids need fundamentals\\

By the way we are still waiting to hear from you as to who and what you are

Come forth from the shadows--I also love baseball but people know who and what I am, good or bad

Tough to take advice froma shadow

quote:

Originally posted by Mr3000:
Somwtimes i hate being brutally honest, but from thoe clips, they all look like he 'accidentally' made contact below the ball.


however for that age he has well developed mechanics for his age.

That's called swinging down to the ball and there's nothing accidental about it. Plenty of good ballplayers swing like this and hit home runs not accidentally.

I think he swings pretty well but I will add some suggestions since the OP asked for some.

The new rotational camp would say his swing is disconnected from the rotation of his shoulders. For more power, his swing plane should match the rotational plane of his shoulders as he spins. That is, we would see his swing be perpendicular to his spine so the swing would meet the ball with a slight uppercut.

In the low pitch vid we can see the disconnection clearly. He actually dunks his head and shoulders down at the last second to bring the bat to the ball. If his swing was always connected, all he needed to do was dip his spine lower when he read a low pitch.

I think his arms are a bit too extended in his stance, it looks a little strained to be that far behind. A little closer might ease the tension, quicken the swing, and make it easier for hitting inside pitches.

Looks good and have fun!

More good advice from MidloDad. Give the kid a chance, but please keep this in mind.
If he does continue with his baseball, have him and your self keep an open mind as there are always adjustments that can be made to improve a young hitter. Just because he did it well at L.L., doesn't mean he can't make adjustments.
Good luck, great job and wish him the best.

Ross,

OMG!...what has happened? The width of the set up and the long lead arm. You would have to have a negative stride to hit from there with your greatest potential.

Very unnatural. DO you have early shots to go by this.

Need to take a close look at the loading process , the box , and the wide stance

Swingbuster

He can do a full split so the wide stance is not uncomfortable for him at all. But I agree that we need to shorten it up. The arm is deceiving because of the huge arm guard. It is not barred. He wears it because he pitches LH and gets hit every time he takes it off. It is there to stay.

What I believe he needs to work on most is a better load. The wide stance immediately helped him on the off speed stuff. He struggled with off-speed initially this season but now has no problem with CBs and CUs. He is crushing the ball and I like a lot of things about his swing but there are things that I don't care for as well.

R.

quote:

Swingbuster

He can do a full split so the wide stance is not uncomfortable for him at all. But I agree that we need to shorten it up. The arm is deceiving because of the huge arm guard. It is not barred. He wears it because he pitches LH and gets hit every time he takes it off. It is there to stay.

What I believe he needs to work on most is a better load. The wide stance immediately helped him on the off speed stuff. He struggled with off-speed initially this season but now has no problem with CBs and CUs. He is crushing the ball and I like a lot of things about his swing but there are things that I don't care for as well.

More feedback...


1. base that wide will restrict the fluid hip turn and limit weight shift.

2. If he is that wide I would pitch him letter high FBs. I would not pitch him down

3. He needs to stand up taller with a good spine angle and look down for the FB. The wider bases have less spine angle as a rule

4. The long radius from the shoulder to the wrist angle can be slow. I like the lead elbow bent to 90 as the shoulder load back. It will straighten some but he is close to turning the swing into a double pendulum like golf.

5. He creates the hinge angle( ****-s the hands) at the top late but he creates it.

I think he has an uncanny ability to hit the ball hard and always has had that.

The mechanics( mainly the posture, wide base ) should be tweaked. I don't think he gets hurt by change given his ability to make contact.

The upper body loading concerns me some. I would have to see him swing trying a few things to know how quickly he could or would benefit from any adjustment there.

Hard to fault results,,,good job

Donny

TRHIT, you are completely lost!

When I was young I could swing the bat like Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, Ralph Garr, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and on and on. Thats what we did everyday. Didn't matter if it was a backyard wiffleball game or a pickup game over on the lot by the water tower. We were always being a big league hitter. Hard to imulate hitters when you ONLY have PLAY STATION.

Young players can do whatever they want. I'm sure yours imulates your mannerisms both good and bad!!

As for what I do, I explained in another thread that I have been in the game ALL of my life and STILL AM! TRHIT, notice that I don't care what your pedigree is. It's obvious by your post that your clueless and haven't spent much time in the game other than seasonally. TRHIT, there is no need to challenge me. If so my responses will dictate pure sarcasim to you. BACK OFF, or leave me off your reading material. THANKS

Vance

I do not agree---the correct way is to do what is best for you and your physical abilities taking sdnippets from all of thsoe that fit what you want to do and fit your physical makeup especially for young kids

VANCE
For a guy who is AFRAID to tell us his background who take a very strong position--- I would say to you before you try to defame others and what they know check them out-- I never said I had a pedigree--you did--I actually do--great parents and great coaches around me all the time--to me that is pedigree

I find it difficylt to take advice and direction from anyone who is AFRAID to fill out a profile or say what his background is

I too have been in the game all my life--does that mean we both are equal in knoweldge and ability--I doubt it---

Baseball for me is not seasonal by any means--if you knew anything about me you would know that--AND NO I WILL NOT BACK OFF until such time as you prove you know anything--you are so off base in so many of your posts I think you might well not know anything--you might be a legend in your own mind-- tell us about yourself!!!1

TRhit, I don't know Vance, but he is right....

Emulation of great hitters is where it's at....

You would do well to understand this.....

BlueDOG

If you do not have the body and strength what are you emulating---you guys are typical cypersapce coaches--

I do not know about others but I am still waiting to see who and what you and Vance are--

Do you go to a new doctor without references ?---I dont-- same with with baseball instructors--

quote:

If you do not have the body and strength what are you emulating

I don't believe body and strength is the reason David Eckstein is playing MLB baseball......

But, then again, I don't run a showcase......

LOL! You think Eckstein and Pujols swing the same? You get funnier all the time.

TRhit, I think Vance seems knowledgeable about hitting....

You, on the other hand, don't......

Midlo Dad, you have been exposed as being incompetent too many times to count.....

Ouch! Insulted by Blue Dog! I'm mortally wounded!

If I didn't have so much company, it'd be mighty lonely!