Consistenly Grounding out

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Do some long tee it helps me

Make sure that your front shoulder is not angling downward as you load. Sure way to drive the ball into the ground.

Floridafan, are you sure about this?.....

make sure you are finishing your swing. sounds like you have a short swing, but in saying that, you need to be short to the ball and long through the ball. Make sure the barrel of your bat stays through the ball. Keep your front side quiet and throw your hips and hands to and through the baseball.

AB

Budandbran, hitting through the ball is not good technique.....Neither is throwing the hips and hands to, or through, the ball........

The swing is finished as soon as the bat touches the ball.....Nothing matters after that point in time....The ball is gone and the swing is over......Just wanted to let you know......

Being long through the ball is the best way I know of to ruin a swing....

Bluedog,

Yes I am sure that dropping the front shoulder can and has resulted in driving the ball into the ground! And I know that the concept of hitting "through the ball" has the result of preventing early wrist roll, keeping the barrel of the bat square on the ball through contact.

These concepts are consistant with a "Linear" Approach to hitting.

MLB hitters don't do as you say....

Perhaps a simple thing such as moving up a bit in the batters box will help-- the batters may be too far back to hit the pitch that is probably in the 70's--thus you are hitting the top of the ball as it reaches the plate--just move up in the box and see what happens and dont change anything else

Blue Dog,
I was a major league hitter and that is what I say, and now I instruct future major league hitters along with Sixto Lexcano, former major league hitter who played along with Paul Moliter, Robin Young and George Brett, and that is what we teach our young hitters. Just wanted to let you know.

AB

quote:

Yes I am sure that dropping the front shoulder can and has resulted in driving the ball into the ground! And I know that the concept of hitting "through the ball" has the result of preventing early wrist roll, keeping the barrel of the bat square on the ball through contact.

If you want to keep from rolling over, keep your front elbow high and keep your front arm and the bat on the same plane (i.e. don't dogleg the bat).

Jon

quote:

For the last couple of games for my team all I have been doing is grounding out. I dont know what the problem is. Most of the ground outs are to the right side of the infield and I am a righthanded batter. could be because I do not have good bat speed or I am not starting my swing early enough? Idk any tips would be greatly appreciated

My son has gone through the same thing last year and into this year. He was late, hitting most everything to the right side on the ground. My observation was that he was striding too late and in the rush to start his swing, he was lunging or pushing his weight forward, then slapping everything to the 1B or 2B, occasionally getting a line drive.

Upon taking a couple hitting lessons, the instructor picked up on this immediately...and fortunately, we happened upon a drill that works for my son. He's been using it for about 3 weeks now with unbelievable improvement. In order to start the swing sooner, he takes a soft, short stride very early, well before the ball is released, and he lands on his toes and holds that position. At the same time as he takes this short stride onto his toes, he makes a slight inward turn of the front shoulder and to keep his weight back on the inside of his back leg.

Once he reads the pitch, he simply slams his front heel which starts the swing. Perhaps this isn't a great scientific discovery, but it has worked for him. He still exaggerates the short stride and gets out there really early, and he's actually done this in a couple games though it looks a little funny to see it so early. The timing was weird the first 3 or 4 hitting sessions, but now he's hitting it great, pulling pitches middle-in and hitting a good percentage of line drives and deep fly balls to left.

I think the two main keys for him are this...(1) he gets the stride overwith way early so there's less to do when he decides to swing....and (2) he focuses on keeping his weight back when he takes the short stride.

I hope this helps.

Jon

Two things......Stand as far back in the box as you can......Always..

BudandBran, what you are teaching is inefficient swing technique....

Also, a hitter should not stride to the toe and hold that position.....If you're gonna do that, why not just start in that position?...

ALLKNOWING BLUEDOG

If the normal HS pitcher is throwing the velocity will be in the low 80's or lower--thus the ball is usually dying as it reaches the plate thus it is at it lowest point when it gets to the catchers glove--by staying back in the box the hitter will continually be hitting the top pasrt of the baseball-- by moving up in the box and know the pitcher cannot and will not blow a pitch by you the batter is in a better position the hit the ball solidly not the top portion

Think about it logically and realize that others may know at least as much as you do if not more

quote:

Also, a hitter should not stride to the toe and hold that position.....If you're gonna do that, why not just start in that position?...

It's a training drill. He could do like Edmonds or Pujols and simply go up on his front toes then slam the heel. But my son feels more comfortable with a little stride.

Once the hitter adjusts to being way early, he can then work back to a more correct timing. It's much harder to get a kid to speed up his step and swing, and it's much easier to slow down the step once he's early. After my son gets used to the early timing, he'll adjust back to a better timing upon seeing the pitch.

Jon

A few things I would do:

-Load up earlier
-Widen your batting stance outa little bit
-Make sure you have a level swing,not swinging down
-Back shoulder doesnt dip down

hope that helps

AllKnowing One

Not denying that he is swinging late as he already admits that fact.

BUT

If the batter moves up in the box to hit the pitch before it dies he will cease hitting the top of the ball and begin to hit it squarely.

What will happen? He might begin to hit line drives thru the middle and to right field. And if he begins to do that his confidence will swell and who knows what can happen then

I truly love how you answer questions with questions---is that because you don't know the answers ? I think so

MLB hitters stand in the back of the box.....And, MLB pitchers are the best in the world at changing speeds.....Why do you think they do this?.....There is a reason.....

First of all ALL KNOWING ONE, we are talking about a HS kid who we know nothing about more than what he posted. The comparisons to MLB hitters and pitchers has no bearing here-- we are talking about a HS kid who is a sophomore and sees mainly pitchers throwing 77 to 82

And again with a question for an answer --you are some piece of work !!!

I know the basic stuff more than you realize I do MR ALL KNOWING DOG-- I only know what has worked for me with kids--not what is written on a website by some supposedly ALL KNOWING instructor

In my town Prognosticator, which is what you claim you are in your profile, means one thing BS !!! Weathermen are pronosticators and they have all the excuses in the world when they are wrong

Get my drift all knowing one

I will stick with what has worked for me at all levels thru HS.

We still dont know what level you have worked with--you never told us

I would question the efficacy of telling someone that their swing is over at contact. I take your meaning to be that all force is imparted to the ball at contact and after that the ball is gone. As true as this may be, the human body is not capable of stopping at that point as if it ran into a brick wall. To stop at contact, you would have to decelerate before contact, and that is obviously not adviseable. Telling someone that what happens after contact is unimportant is likely to result in someone misunderstanding you and failing to reach maximum bat head speed at impact.

To have maximum impact at contact, you would have to teach the hitter to continue his swing through the ball, in the sense of not beginning to slow the swing until you are sure that contact is over. In the same way, you wouldn't teach a pitcher to stop his arm action at the very moment the ball left his hand.

Bluedog, since the last time we had this topic of discussion about swinging through baseball and getting good extension I have done some research with a couple of professionals who have opened my eyes to your point of view about the nano-second after contact and they agreed with what you said earlier and believe me, they know...just trust me, they know all too well and even had film to prove it. The only thing they questioned me on about your theory dealt with the recoil factor opposed to nice high finish. Bluedog, you have got to see Mark Rogers of Brevard County Manatees pitch. I saw him tonight and he was simply unbelievable in mechanics and command of at least four pitches with unbelievable velocity on Fastball, PowerSlider and ChangeUp was absolutely the best I've seen this year anywhere. Not trying to hijack thread but I cannot stop thinking about what I just had the privilage of witnessing here at a FL STATE LEAGUE game. WOW!
Peace, Shep

O believe me Blue, you know I was and I always put myself mentally in batter's box of every pitcher I see for at least a couple of pitches and not saying he is unhittable and you know I would never enter an AB w/o "knowing" I can hit another pitcher but I do have to admit, this pitcher intimidated the piss out of me tonight.
Even the Shepster, can you imagine that ? peace, Shep

quote:

It's transfer momentum that is merely a coasting action of some soft arms and hands.....

I believe this too but do believe also that the bat-angles have changed since way back then with modern day hitters as well as mechanical approach (period) for purpose of survival of the fittest hitters. The hitters have been forced to make big-time adjustments in the past 25 years or so because of the pitching improvements all the way across the board. It is my opinion after watching miles of old tape of old hitters and pitchers, lets say 25 years or older, that the velocity, movement, command and variety of pitches has improved and changed drastically since the hitters we grew up to worship at a young age were so successful with in prior generations. This is not to say there weren't exceptions to this philosophy but speaking in a majority sense of change, I believe this more and more every day. peace,Shep

I agree Shep......

Also, not as many bad pitchers nowadays....

Bluedog, a lumberjack stops when he hits a tree because he has no other choice. A baseball hitter has a choice. In any event, you didn't answer my point at all. I'm pretty much on the same page with TRHit about your alleged expertise at this point.

After lots of reading and thinking, this is what I think:

The principles Blue Dog describes are right on and the best hitters do just as he says. Some of the difference of opinion or failure to communicate comes in the terminology and the lack of understanding that some of the best guys have in exactly what they do.

Some have natural talent -- they swing great from the day a bat is put in their hands. Others figure it out through trial and error and a few lucky ones encounter just the right instructor. Finding that right instructor is the hard part.

I don't know who Blue Dog might be or his playing and coaching background, but there is no doubt about his knowledge and his research to develop that knowledge.

I used to think he was too aggressive in his dealings with TR. Now, I believe the opposite might be true. TR is so upset with Blue Dog that he discounts whatever he says simply because of who said it, which is unfortunate for all of those who are trying to figure out what it takes to be a great hitter.

jemaz


WRONG --totally wrong--dont judge what and who you dont know

We are talking about why this young man is grounding out continually not making him a great hitter--by the way I truly belive great hitters are born with the talent and cannopt be created--- we know nothing about the young mans stance, his swing his bat speed etc--he may even be using the wrong bat size for all we know


Further anyone can research and regurgitate anothers writings and beliefs --that does not mean that are a good instructor nor what they preach is correct not does that mean he has knowledge. It only means he can regurgitate what another wrote or said

MR Dog has a huge problem in that he thinks nobody else knows anything and to aggravate it he never can answer a question without posing another question

As I have said many times before you can listen and beive what he preaches and belive him but I like to know the background of The Preacher< If I dont agree with The preacher it soent mean others have to follwo my lead--the idea of debate is to hear various views and draw upon them

If it were so easy to be a good hitter every hitter would hit the same way now wouldnt they--we will never see that happen

jemaz you are entitled to think what you want of me and that does not bother me

I have to say publicly and honestly that BlueDog has been a God-Send for me because he has helped me to discover so many important variables involved in hitting that I had never really thought of before. Sometimes he may be perceived by others as a bit challenging but until you develop an open mind to his ideas and put in practical application, you really don't understand his points of view and beliefs. I have put many of his ideas in practical application in the cages and on fields of late and here to tell you, BlueDog is right about the mechanical aspects of hitting and deserves more respect from all of us. peace, Shep

quote:

Also, a hitter should not stride to the toe and hold that position

Can you please explain why a hitter should not do this?

Thanks.
Jon

TR:

I believe that you are one of the great guys involved in baseball and that an incredible number of players and their families owe you a debt that can never be fully repaid. It would not be an overstatement to call you a national treasure.

That said -- and I understand why -- I think you have closed your mind to what Blue Dog has to say and I also think that he happens to be on the money with much of what he espouses.

I also agree with you that Major League hitters are born and not made and even if you fully understand all of the components of a great swing you may not be able to execute it at a speed fast enough to be successful.

I talk to my youngest son (14) about this a lot, which he does not really enjoy. His response is "Dad, what it comes down to is that you just have to hit the ball and hit it hard."

It is hard to argue with that. Nonetheless, Blue Dog makes a lot of sense, nicely or not.

jemaz

He has to realize that others may know as much or more than he does--that is the Dogs problem

As for me being a National Treasure forget it--I am just a retired guy who loves the game of baseball and only wishes to give back some of the things I have learned from my experiences.

I am fortunate to have had a great time getting to 64 years of age and doing a lot of things I enjoyed during the travels to this point. I have been blessed with healthy children and for a guy that was not supposed to be here I thank the Almighty for everything that I have had and hopefully will continue to have for many years to come..

One thing that is worth trying is raising your left elbow higher in your stance just a little bit. If you front elbow is too tight against your side, it can make you cut off your swing early and hit ground balls.

quote:

It would not be an overstatement to call you a national treasure.

Jemaz, Nice job in changing the subject but...

That in my estimation is a gross overstatement. Sorry TR, I can't stop laughing as I see the words NATIONAL TREASURE. How about another one of those NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD?

Please define cusp.

To elaborate, perhaps this will do some good for someone.....

In swinging a bat, the body's load/unload process should be a continuous dynamic process of muscle activation.....

The body loads by stretching muscles in a certain direction, then unloads by stretching those muscles in a different direction....It's an eccentric, concentric process.....The reversal action of the muscles during the load/unload phase needs to be instantaneous in order to be efficient....IOW, you don't load, wait, then unload....

quote:

As for me being a National Treasure forget it--I am just a retired guy who loves the game of baseball and only wishes to give back some of the things I have learned from my experiences

TR, your being modest sir. Think about the hundreds or possibly even thousands of kids you have helped. Jemaz is right, IMHO, about you being somewhat of a legend in many circles
Peace Brothers,(I Mean, All of ya'll!)Shep