Desperate, requesting any help

I deal mostly with pitchers, so I'm not going to be of much help with drills. But, I would suggest video taping his game swings and going over them with his hitting instructor (especially helpful if he has a computer video analysis program). Also, when he works with his instructor, bring someone in the throw quality BP so his instructor can help him make adjustments during "live" at bats. And, I know this is tough, but see if he can avoid taking player thrown BP at practice. Can he do T-work or flips or his drillwork instead? Player thrown BP is one of the biggest wastes of time and often leads to players sliding back into bad habits. We allow a VERY minimal amount of it at our HS.

Shouldn't matter who's throwing to him.......What does matter is for him to know why he dips.....He's obviously not getting weight shift momentum and he's not using his posture properly in his swing.......This is without looking at video of his swing....No telling what else he could do better.....My advice is to find another instructor.....this one ain't working out too good.....

First...let me reiterate, player thrown BP is about the worst form of hitting practice available...it often leads to more harm than good...it may not be the culprit in this specific case...but it usually is a contributing factor to players regressing into bad "old" habits...mostly because the BP is poor and there is rarely adequete supervision for the BP

as for my suggestion that someone else throw BP...it was so that the instructor could get a better perspective of the "live" swing verse the T or drill swing...it is awfully difficult to analyze from behind an L screen...yet...I know instructors feel the need to throw BP because that is what parents expect to see...

i am not ready or qualified to make an evaluation "online"...especially since there seems to be an understanding of the problem and an ability to correct it in drillwork...

i am also not ready to simply suggest dumping the instructor...that may be necessary...i don't know...i am not there...but it seems like the problem has been diagnosed correctly since there seems to be an ability to correct it drillwork...so at least on that score the instructor seems to have done his job...

however...taking drillwork corrections into game situations is often a problem...especially when the fault correction is rather recent...continually changing instructors is hardly ever a good path...if your son is comfortable with him...and you all seem on the same page as far as what needs to be changed...and there is positive progress in drillwork...i would suggest pushing the instructor to find a way to ease the transition from drillwork to actual at bats...

it sounds easy...but isn't always the case...remember...almost all changes require not just building new habits, but more difficultly--tearing down old ones...

good luck

"i am not ready or qualified to make an evaluation "online"...especially since there seems to be an understanding of the problem and an ability to correct it in drillwork..."

All right K13, let's see if there is an understanding of "why" the player is dipping.....

Ramjet, what is the instructor's explanation of why he is dipping?.....And, what is his solution?

K13, a question for you........

Ramjet asks......."Does anyone have any tips or drills specifically for preventing dipping his backside."

You say.....".....but it seems like the problem has been diagnosed correctly since there seems to be an ability to correct it drillwork...so at least on that score the instructor seems to have done his job..."

If you're correct, then, why is Ramjet asking this question?....And, why does Ramjet say this....."We are desperate and any help would be appreciated"?

We are very comfortable with our hitting instructor however, he only has him for 1hr a week to correct his mechanics and my son has about 6 days of unsupervised BP to screw his swing up. I work with him on my own after his high school practice doing tee-work and soft toss to try and help but my knowledge is very limited. I was just looking for some input on if there were some drills specifically for the purpose of keeping the "backside up" and keeping the bat as level as possible that have proven successful for others.

Ramjet, you may feel comfortable with him, but what is he doing?........Does he give you drills to work on?......Do they work?.......Has he explained to you what is causing the shoulder dip?......Has he explained to you what will stop it?.....Or, will it always just be more of the same?......

You need to understand that the batting practice is not the source of the problem before you have a chance of solving the problem.....

Ramjet, please answer.......

Here are a couple of suggestions that I have used with kids in the past that have been very effective. When you are doing tee work try these two drills: 1. Hit off the tee to a target or sock net that is set about 30 feet away. This will help him take a level swing and drive the ball. 2. Hit off of the tee into a trash can set up with the opening facing the tee and laying on the floor. This will prevent dipping and sweeping. Lastly, tell him to try to hit a ground ball at the pitcher's feet. This will usually help him take a direct path to the ball and he will end up hitting line drives. I hope this helps, best of luck.

Be careful what you ask for.......you might get it.

We hit high tee some which helps reinforce big on the backside.. I'm not being a jerk, but as a coach one of the biggest reasons i see kids dip is because they are selfish and trying to jack...Could that be it at all
? Just asking don't take it the wrong way.

Take a protective screen and move it off to the side (approx. 45 degree angle.) Then, put down 3 cones each about 10-12 feet apart. One cone straight in front of the plate and some 8 feet away from the plate. Place the others accordingly. Then Toss balls to your son on a line that runs from the front corner of the plate on his hitting side to the middle of the plate for a ball away. (This would be where the plate starts to go back to a point.) Toss straight balls to your son (Avoid the soft toss arc!) and have him hit line drives over each cone in succession. Check out his balance first. Then, you can progress from there to see what he might need to improve his swing and lose the upper cut. Keep in mind that he should be able to drive each location, stay balanced and 'finish high" without an overextended upper cut. Remember, all swings are going to involve an upper cut and that that isn't caused by a "dip."

I have seen this problem alot dealing with all ages in rec and in travel ball.
you ask why is he dipping?
it's due to a few reasons....
stance should be relaxed prior to pitch as the pitch is being delivered the batter then gets set and has hands and bat up shoulders, level and relax..as he loads bringing his bat back shoulders stay level and then swings level/down on the ball keeping his head level and on the ball,
He might be opening his front shoulder which will cause the hips to open also making him dip....
soft toss correctly performed by iether players < who should know how to soft toss by coaches teaching them > or coaches , will help him correct this
hope it helps good luck
hitides
asst coach
broward blaze 12 u travel team
ps thanks for all the good tips from everyone, it will help me when my son get into high school