Getting Jammed

Number One, He's pretty young so I wouldn't be too concerned. I would check to see if he strides to the ball, thus, making that inside pitch up his alley. Check to also see if he swings while striding . If so try to get him to learn to have his hands back and stride down BEFORE the hands come forward. He'll get better if you work with him on timing. Once he gets to the big field then you really need to work his mechanics. I'd check to see if he's wrapping the bat behind his head as well. These are all things that I see in my teachings.

Coach,

I've filmed him quite a few times and watched his swing. He definitely does stride first before swinging. When his front foot touches his hands are at his right shoulder (he's RH). As far as wrapping, his bat head moves up behind his helmet but I wouldn't call it excessive. He never seems to be really late or really early and hits most balls between the gaps.

The one thing I'm curious about is your question "I would check to see if he strides to the ball, thus, making that inside pitch up his alley." I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Perhaps this is an issue for him but I will need you to clarify your question. Should he stride to the same spot on each pitch or should he stride, say, a little open if the pitch is inside? Is that what you're getting at?

Thanks for your help.

Jon

http://home.fuse.net/kystorm/Game%201%20pics/Jake1.JPG

See if you can view this picture of him.

Jon

Check to see if his rear elbow is up high in the launch position. This can cause a long looping swing and make it easier for some to extend too early.

Extending too early can also cause handle hits.

Work on fixing it now. It just gets harder when they get older.

Thanks for the reply. He does not start with a high back elbow though I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. He does a good job, even if he's fooled, of keeping his hands back. In this next picture it's a change up and though his back foot has come up, his hands are back. The pitcher left it up and he hit this pitch into left center for a double.

http://home.fuse.net/kystorm/Game%201%20pics/Jake2.JPG


Jon

Since his back foot is up on the change up, it may be a tip that his weight is on his front foot when he makes contact.

I'm sure it allows him to see the ball better, so the high pitch is hittable.

Have him keep his weight on his back foot when he swings and let the weight shift with the swing bringing it forward.

Willj, the advice you are getting so far, is nowhere close to what you need to know......There are no quick fixes, your son needs to learn efficient swing technique......I would suggest you contact Steve at this e-mail address.....setpro25@yahoo.com...

He can get you started on the right track.....

Yes, I'm starting to realize that.

will

The best advice you you got was above- he is young don't get too concerned at this point--

I see it this way--if he is hitting for average and with power don't try to change what isnt broken--as he matures mentally and physically he will adapt to things that he may not now--sometimes we try to get too "smart" and too "technical"

After all he is just 12 years old

Well I really don't want to overwhelm him with technical stuff, especially since he hits the ball pretty well. He has asked me how to handle the inside fastball and I don't have an answer except to open up on it which I'm not sure if the best approach. Should he open up when he strides, or should he just start open? Or should he do neither of these?

Jon

will,

You cant tell much from a still picture - but alot of younger kids (and some older ones too LOL) - particularly with aluminum bats - do not load.


They keep their hands/arms/shoulders stationary and then they just drop or throw the bat on the ball - and if they have any strength - it works with middle and away pitches.

That is what aluminum does.

It doesnt work with a little heat inside.

Does he load as the pitch approaches?

I'm not a technical expert on swing mechanics but I'll describe what I see him do...as he takes a small stride (his front foot moves forward very little), he keeps his weight centered and turns his upper half back toward the catcher a bit (I call it an inward turn). As you can see in the first picture I posted, he has put his front foot down on the ball of the foot but the heel hasn't hit yet. His upper half is still slightly closed.

Would you call that loading? Or is it just window dressing? I can't feel what he's feeling, I can only observe what he's doing.

Will,

Like I said - you cant tell much from a still picture - but in the first photo - if he did swing at that pitch - I dont believe his hands/arms were in the best hitting position - given where the ball is.

There is one fundamental factor that no one has mentioned yet (those responding may have assumed this was being done}.

Is he making contact with the inside pitch while it is ~12-18" in front of the plate? If he is initiating the swing too late, then he would seem to be getting jammed.

He did not swing at the first pitch. He swung at the second one, which was a change up that fooled him pretty badly.

I'm not sure if he's getting the inside pitch early enough. Most balls he hits are between the gaps. Occasionally he'll turn on one and drive it to straightaway left or down the line. The balls he hits down the LF line do not hook. They are straight down the line.

Not sure if any of the info tells you anything or not.

And I forgot, when he's jammed, he hits those between the 2B and SS, where most of his hits normally go. It's very confusing (at least to me).

willi - all I am saying is to make sure he gets his "hands/arms/shoulders into proper hitting position". He looks like a big strong kid - and at that age - if they have balance - some hand/eye coordination and they get themselves loaded - they will knock the **** out of the ball.

Good luck.

He's actually very athletic, even with the size. His hand-eye coordination and concentration are excellent (you can see him still focused on the ball in the first pic) and he can pick up the spin on the ball very early. I test him by throwing curves and making him call the pitch out as soon as he can.

There are a few kids on his team bigger than he is but he hits it harder than all of them. He's never had a formal hitting lesson. We've just focused on 2 or 3 key things for him to work on and it's worked great to this point. But for him to play high school baseball like he wants to he will have to continue to work to improve. The great thing is he is receptive and wants to learn. But I only know so much and so I think perhaps it's time for me to take him to someone who knows the swing better than me.

Thanks for your help.

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by willj1967:
The great thing is he is receptive and wants to learn. But I only know so much and so I think perhaps it's time for me to take him to someone who knows the swing better than me.

Thanks for your help.

Jon

Jon,

The fact that he is receptive and wants to learn is great.

And the fact that you realize that it may be time to get someone to help him is even better.

Just make sure you do your research on the folks you choose to help him.