high school swing mechanics

I'm totally not picturing what you're describing but I have a feeling whatever it is would not be a good swing.

I tried to find a video online of bad swing technique and couldn't find it.  I might video my son at home demonstrating it and then post it here. 

I feel like I'm in a bad dream.  

Some of the kids heads were literally looking back toward the catcher after their swing. Just imagine trying to walk toward the pitcher during and after your swing. 

Kid in our organization who was eventually drafted used to "go take a dump" when the coach was teaching them something wrong.  

 

But it here's the thing.  Your season starts in a few weeks, right.  What make the coach think he can change these kids swings in that short time?  Sounds like a complete waste of time.  Good luck.  

Based on some of the kids swings at batting practice the coach is doing a good job at changing swings. 

It's so bad that I'm going to be embarrassed watching our team play against other teams if most of the players swing the way the coach is teaching them.

All I can do right now is make sure my son keeps swinging the correct (and only) way.   

It sounds like he is teaching a technique used for slow pitch softball where you actually drive so hard forward that your back foot slides forward with the swing. Think of it as a follow through.That technique is based 100% on timing the pitch properly. I have a feeling some kids are going to look pretty bad on off speed pitches.

 

I'll see if I can find some videos and post them here.

That is interesting you bring up softball because the baseball HC was the girls softball H.C. for about 10 yrs.  

Well then... that is exactly what he is teaching them then. It won't work for baseball for two reasons. 1) The softball batters box is larger so "walking the box" can be done and you stay within the box. 2) Pitching styles and ball movement is completely different and will make your batters look stupid.

I agree and now I'm not looking forward to the baseball season.  I just feel like someone gut punched me. 

By the way, to hit with power in slo-pitch softball requires the same rotational technique that MLB baseball hitters use.  

http://youtu.be/dUVxpr7tUdE

 

Curious, baseballmania, how long has he been coaching the baseball program and has he had success?

I was thinking something similar to what Coach Sampson said but there could be other explanations in play here.

Sounds like it was just a drill to me - step through for balance, open hips.

I have never, ever seen a drill like what I witnessed.  If you can find me a picture or video clip that demonstrates forward momentum during and after the swing with the back foot coming forward ahead of the front foot after the swing please show it.  

Please, someone make this nightmare go away.  Cookies and warm milk did nothing for me. 

I am trying real hard to give the benefit of the doubt but it is extremely difficult.  I will have to video my son demonstrating the "technique" and post it. 

Seriously, if I was demonstrating how not to swing a bat I would emulate what is being taught to these kids. 

CatsPop, Exactly. 

There are times when we will drill our pitchers to throw almost straight down to reinforce the feeling of staying on top of the ball.  Certainly not the desired pitching mechanic but a useful drill.  At times, we will instruct hitters (who have too much upward plane in their swing) to swing downward, driving the ball at the base of the front-toss screen.  While this is not ultimately where we want their swing plane, it is effective in adjusting it slightly toward a more level plane.  There are times when we will use a version of the Happy Gilmore drill (similar to what is being described here) to help hitters who may be collapsing on their back side get a better feel for hitting against a firm front side.  While we ultimately don't want that much lateral movement, it is a helpful drill in moving a hitter toward a proper balanced swing.

 

Not saying that is what is happening with your situation, baseballmania, but something to be sensitive to.  I'm also curious... I'm sure you asked your son.  What was his explanation? 

This is the only one I could find with a quick search, but know it was something that was taught to my son by a former pro (as well as the step to or "Happy Gilmore"):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXL2D_rpUAE.

 

I know what the Happy Gilmore drill is (http://youtu.be/zd7Mvu1vg_Y) and even this drill stresses rotation mechanics at the point of contact with no forward movement after the swing.  In fact I taught my son to use this to demonstrate linear to rotational mechanics in the swing.  

I'm having a difficult time explaining it in words so I will get a video up to demonstrate what is being taught at practice. 

Bravo!  That's it!  My son did tell me that the coach said it came from Japan.

....................................OK if I have a 115 lb freshman who can make contact with wheels I might do this but to teach a team????  Not going to happen.  Doesn't / didn't Ichiro do this when he first came to MLB?

 

I've seen a drill off the tee where you walk through to hit (probably the one cabbagedad is talking about) but not a huge fan of it.

 

I'm not a big fan of going against a coach because of respect (and those that know me on here know I'm an overall defender of HS coaches) but what do you to here?  Obviously you can't do this and be successful.

 

Double check with your son to make sure he's teaching this as THE way to swing and not just a drill or something.

I've seen this as a drill, usually w a tee or soft toss. And usually younger kids.  It can get the kids "mind out of his feet", ie, when they are thinking too much about all the "swing thoughts" that get put into their minds by parents, coaches, etc.  Off a tee, it really feels kind of natural.  Just a thought.

Ditto that this is a drill I've seen used over the years. Seems like your son could tell you pretty clearly that it was a drill, as opposed to a "new swing" that the coach is changing every player to? Players often look silly trying new drills that are designed to isolate/exaggerate a certain movement, rotation, muscle memory.

What you have described is not how fast pitch softball hitters swing. So if he taught this in softball he was also teaching them incorrectly.

Slap hitting technique.

I was alarmed because it appeared the coach was correcting some of the players during hitting practice on the field.  I heard him say "let the forward momentum carry the ball farther".  

I would like an explanation how that drill helps in any manner whatsoever?  

I would want my kid to practice a drill that he can use at the plate.  

The good news is I just got back from watching practice and my son was hitting off of live pitching and using the correct technique. 

This thread seems like a pretty good lesson in why dads should stay away from their kid's HS baseball practices.

Your son was... but was everyone else? That would answer a lot of your questions.

Yes and no.  What hasn't been answered is whether or not this was only a drill to help with weight transfer or a hitting philosophy in and of itself.  That is something the kid should be able to comment on. 

There are others who could explain much better and likely more correctly than myself, but I've seen this drill used in a few ways: 1) to establish better swing rhythm (or disrupt bad rhythm); 2) to make hitters "feel" more aggressive hip firing ie quicker/fuller rotation; 3) to instill more aggressive attack in the hitter. Also, since you mentioned that this was day 1 of practice, the coach may have just been seeing what he's got for hitters... who can follow direction and step out of comfort zone... who is coachable and who might be less so. Lastly and as someone else suggested... he might have been looking to see which guys might make good slap hitters for when the situation called for it... guys who might be useful hitting at top or bottom of lineup. Think you have to give coaches the benefit of the doubt that they have an idea of what they're doing because they usually do. Evaluate them over time. Otherwise you start looking and sounding like the dads in Hoosiers!

My sons seemed to think it was a hitting philosophy.  In today's practice he said the coach had them doing it in all hitting drills.  He was told by the coach that since pitchers have a follow through to help with power that hitting should do the same (I KID YOU NOT)

My other comment that I've stressed before is even it was just a drill how could this benefit the player?  

This thread is a good lesson for Dad's to air out their gripes on this forum instead of to the coach. 

After the 2nd practice it appears that my son is allowed to swing with the correct technique.  

Rants over.  I got everything off my chest now.  Cold beer time. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JBh_L8nBeM

 

Watch this with the cold beer. 

Ok.  So as an AD what do you suggest a parent or student do in this situation? 

Happy Gilmore!

This drill looks very similar to what is sometimes called the "back hip over drill". The purpose of the drill is " as the hitter swings, he drives his back hip and back knee at the baseball releasing the back foot off the ground. The hitter has to keep his front side firm and hit against it. If the front side is weak in this drill, the hips will slide forward. The objectives of the drill is to get back hip involved, make sure the hips and hands are going toward the ball simultaneously, getting "through the ball" and keeping front side firm from starting the swing.

I guess my issue is taking the step forward which goes against staying firm but I don't pretend to know all the drills out there.

Also - you don't see it much but watch old clips of Stan Musial swinging - his back foot left the ground all the time - seemed to work out OK for him.

I would hope with me as an AD a guy like this wouldn't get hired.  I would talk with him in the interview about baseball things and realize he wasn't good enough.

 

Now that being said I'm not that experienced in a lot of sports so they might get by me in an interview that is not for football and baseball.  You would be amazed what the kids will tell you when they aren't complaining.  They are just making conversation and they tell you what's going on.

 

Even if I may not know a lot about a sport I know if a team / athlete is ready and able to compete.  If they cannot compete then it becomes my job to try and figure out why they aren't able to compete.  I will maybe drop in on practice to see how it's organized or what's being taught.  Have a conversation(s) with the coach to see what's going on.  Ask some self-reflecting questions and things like that.

 

Honestly, it's a process and will take some time.  The vast majority of parent comments are baseless complaints so I'm not going to just start looking into things because a few parents say they aren't happy.  Now if the vast majority of parents are coming to me then there might be something to it.  But in front of the parents I'm going to support my coach UNTIL I see for a fact he or she is not getting it done then we are meeting behind closed doors.

 

Ultimately, I've never been in this situation so there might be some things I do differently once I get into the particulars.  Also, at most schools it will come down to the principal making the decision to get rid of a coach based on my recommendation.  Tough spot to be in as an AD to be honest.

it you look at video most good hitters the back foot does leave the ground.

If by leaving the ground you mean when the batter starts running I agree.

 

The videos I saw of Stan Musial and Ted Williams had their foot on the ground at contact.

Actually with many hitters the back foot is off the ground or moving forward at contact.  That's the weight shift taking over.  But as the weight rotates around the back foot is back on the ground and stabilizes the body.  That's why your HS coach's swing doesn't make a lot of sense.  Nobody steps through.  

There's a pretty well-known flipbook of a vintage Pujols swing made by Chris O'Leary.  Check out frame 10 and the description there.  Matches what Old School says.

 

http://www.chrisoleary.com/doc...HomeRunSwing_001.pdf

 

And it's not just him:

 

Forward momentum is important.  Imagine swinging a bowling ball without it.

It sounds like he is doing a drill. If your kid can hit, he won't mess with him.

 

Learn to relax and enjoy.  You are no longer in control.  The coach is in charge.  I repeat. You are no longer in control.

The question is not 'do they have their back foot on the ground at contact?'.  It's 'is their front leg vertical at contact'?  This would mean their hips are sliding forward vs. rotating on a roughly stationary vertical axis.