Best hitting system for little leaguer?

I wouldn't worry about his form at this age.   Just let him go out there and have fun and just focus on making solid contact.   I would recommend getting him the Ultimate Hitting Machine.  Check it out on eBay.    http://www.ebay.com/itm/baseba...;hash=item2a4df54422   Here's a video of it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZk9-Ggf0ok  This is a great hitting aid for young kids.   Kids love to hit off it, and they can go out in the back yard and practice hitting on their own.   I would also recommend getting a net to hit into so he won't get tired of chasing balls.   Great product for kids to use to get a lot of swing reps in daily.  I can guarantee he will love it.  

The replies are coming from Dad's who can look back with a bit of perspective.  After 3 sons, two already in the working world, and one a freshman in high school I am glad I didn't know about (or could not afford lol) lessons, instructors or travel ball. 

Patience is the hardest virtue to master with son's that are young and playing a sport.  

My 3rd son is still learning since we just arrived at 60/90 fields a year ago.  

Been going through this process for the past five years, starting when my son was 8.  We enjoyed studying the guys in the Bigs, and watching what they do with their feet, knees, hips, trunk, wrists, stance, etc, when they swing.  It was and is something we still enjoy doing. We started working on our own when he was eight years old.  Just the simple things like knocking knuckles and proper grip, stance etc.  Each year going forward, we have corrected something different and have fine tuned his swing.  We started with some lessons when he was 10, and did those off and on for about two years (until we felt we had the basics down, we could study the good guys online, watch lessons online, and fine tune on our own).  Our goal was/is to try and fix one - two swing flaws per year (in the off season).  Doing it this way, has allowed him not to become overwhelmed, and the changes are easy to make.  I have read and heard that it is hard to break bad habits, the older the player gets.  Your son is young, and probably not in need of lessons, but that doesn't mean you can't start introducing some of the basics (proper grip, etc.) so he develops good rather than bad habits that you have to correct later (when it is harder and frustrating for the player).  A good swing entails many different things.  From the ground up, certain things have to happen.  Good technique must be repeatable without thought.  That is the goal.  We never tinker with any swing changes during the season, but we always pick out something that he could be doing better, set a goal, and work to make that change in the off season.  So far, so good.  We enjoy our time together, and his swing is pretty darn impressive.  One more year until high school ball.  Then the fun really starts (as I have read on here).  Good luck, and have fun with your boy!

Wiffleballs.  He can play all day long with his friends, it's fun, and even travel teams in h.s. use them. 

I always see this.  Not sure why.  My son would tinker in between innings

My son decided to change his swing with the first LL all star game when he was eleven. It was then he decided to wave the bat and swing from his heels like Gary Sheffield. In the stands I said to myself, "What the hell are you doing?" He hit a one hopper off the fence for a double. 

A friend with a son on the team knowing I wouldn't yell anything asked if I wanted him to yell something the next time my son came up. I responded, "Yea, go Sheffield."

The next at bat he tripled off the fence followed by a homer that cleared the maintenance shed behind the fence for his first LL homer. He never used that swing again. He went back to his traditional swing the next game and continued hitting well. 

Get one of these:


http://www.amazon.com/Bow-Net-...&keywords=bownet

One of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Rawlings...eywords=Rawlings+tee

And these:

http://www.amazon.com/Rawlings...s=Bucket+of+Baseball

And just let him hit...

My older son uses a SwingAway.  I think using it on its own to get daily swings on their own coupled with soft toss might help a youngster alot.  Can never go wrong with tee and ball.

Raffy Palmeiro's dad used to make him take 200 perfect swings every day.  Regardless of your stance on PED's, he had a beautiful swing.  Please don't hijack the thread on PED use.

When my son turned 12 I installed a batting cage in my back yard, much to the dismay of my wife. initially cost me about $300 (pipes from Home Depot used net on Craigslist). Since then I added lights. Now give lessons on the side have more than paid for it. Best investment in my sons hitting I ever made. 

I fondly remember when 3 friends and I were coaching 6--7yo LL teams.  We would compete amongst ourselves coming up with new ways to make ground balls, fly balls, etc fun for the kids by using competitive games to keep repetition from being boring.

I think the best I came up with was a whiffle ball game I continued to play for years with my two sons in the front yard of our house.

The name of the game is One Strike.  You pitch a ball to the batter at the maximum appropriate speed for his age and ability.  If he hits it, you give him a single, double, etc based your judgement of the quality of the hit, (there are no outs for a ball hit fair; in our yard, a HR needed to go over the house)  and you keep a running tally of men on base and runs scored as you continue to pitch.  If the kid misses or hits a ball foul, that's a strike,  he's out, and it's the next kid's turn. 

You can play with one kid, or a bunch,  but 2 or 3 is best for a fast-moving competitive game that the kids will keep playing until your pitching arm falls off.

I have been working at D-BAT facilities as an instructor for the past 2 years, and have seen many 6-7 y.o.'s in lessons with instructors.  80% of the time it's a waste of time/money for the player/parent, and the instructor is usually glancing at the clock frequently waiting for his next lesson (which hopefully isn't another 6-7 y.o.).  On the flip side, 20% are VERY productive.  If a kid at that age can have fun while learning mechanics and competing, then at a young age the player can start to learn how to be a leader on his team while being a very solid player with (hopefully) a concept at the plate.

IMHO, figure out how your kid learns most effectively (by seeing, by feeling, or by hearing), then find him an instructor who can work within that realm while you set an expectation for the instructor to primarily teach in that manner.  For example, if your kid is very active and doesn't necessarily learn well in a sit-down, chalkboard fashion, I wouldn't recommend an older, lower energy instructor who talks for minutes at a time to explain things, but rather a younger, more energetic instructor who can keep your son moving and learning at the same time.  Most importantly, though, if your kid isn't excited about his lessons or is even indifferent about the whole process, then forget it - if he isn't begging you to go hit and talking about his lessons all week, it isn't worth it.

And don't worry about finding an instructor who will put him on a long-term system... Eventually he will sound just like dad when he's coaching your son

Take it easy the kid is 6!  To me just getting him exposed to the game is important.  His power will come as he gets older.  Working of the tee and live BP on a regular basis will build a good foundation for him.  Good fundamentals work and building his love for the game is important at his age.  Enjoy!!!