Hitting Instruction

I'll start: Last summer The Kid played up and we ran into some pitching. Results were mixed but we knew we were going to have to do something or we would fall behind.

He's always been able to get on - great eye, contact hitter with speed. No or very little pop at all.

We looked around on the 'net and decided on Englishbey. A lot of it because he made sense and because he is in an area where we go anyway once a year.

We got the videos, joined the website and got video critiqued, then went for a visit.

I have never been a hitting instructor and was surprised about what I didn't know.

I have also looked at Epstein videos and they make sense as well.

I understand coaches don't have a lot of time to teach and even if they did, they would likely get lynched by parents of they tried to change anything. I was really reluctant to do it because he had success previously. We talked about it and the downsides. And they happened. It took longer than even I thought, but we are starting to see the results on the field now.

I don't know of another way to do it except for outside help. If they don't how long will they be competitive?

I really appreciate boards like this that provide feedback, as there are a lot of options out there and a lot of information, both good and bad. Hitting instruction has come a long way since my day.

One of the best things I ever did was get The Mental Keys to Hitting and make him read it. It really helped get us through the rough patch as we changed the swing.

Just some random thoughts about our experience over the last 6 months or so.

I have stated this many times over. If a player expects to go to the next level, now a days, just playing high school baseball will not get it done. This is unfortunate but gone are the days of multiple sport athletes. My goal is to aide in getting my players as far as they can and if that means they do better with a private hitting coach then they do better with a private hitting coach. There are so many types of swings and approaches that I think the worst thing a coach can fall into is an "approach". A coaches approach is what he comfortable with and is go to in a time of need. What if "the approach" doesn't work with a specific kid and his needs? I have a lot of players that use private hitting coaches. All I ask is the parents are honest with me and that I can verify that the private coach is on the up and up. I attempt to work with every hitter within there context. As a varsity coach I can never forget what put them on the map in my eyes. To many times coaches forget this and try to change a hitter into what they think they should be. I will always attempt to work within the boundaries of a hitter. Now this is never all peaches. I have had to tell parents face to face that they need to pick. My way or the highway and I will not deny this. I have only had to say it a couple of times and it was only because the kid continued failing over and over again because he was using the approach that the hitting coach was preaching.

Good stuff Coach. Do you have parents that ask for recommendations for hitting instructors? Do you give them? DO you talk to the instructors?

I see here and hear a lot of coaches complaining about parents (not saying you are here). I think the dynamic has changed at least in part because of this requirement for outside instruction. Parents have a lot of money and in some cases time working with the instructor - who will often listen more than a school coach because he is being paid directly if for no other reason.

They put this work in and then see it going another direction, so it's not hard to see why that is frustrating.

What I don't see is a lot of interaction/communication between the instructors and the coaches. Maybe we aren't there yet, but I feel like it is going to have to happen eventually.

As far as the multi sport athlete being gone, I'm not so sure it is unfortunate. With so much competition for their attention now, maybe it was inevitable. If they choose and aren't pushed to a particular sport, how else are they going to see their potential?

We only play baseball. His choice. I was happy about it, but if I had had to, I would have done the same thing in any other sport. It's our thing we can do together. I was lucky.

The Kid and I usually go early to practice to get hitting work in. We were working a specific drill one day and the Asst Coach of his summer team walked by and physically tried to move his hands in set up. He had no idea what drill we were doing, what the purpose of it was or anything else. Practice hadn't started yet. I was not happy.

My philosophy with the school coaches has always been "It's their team, you do what the coach says." Then I talk to the coach when given a chance. conversational about what we're doing, what he's been working on, what the coach would like to see. It seems to work ok but I have the time. And I know he can't do it for all the parents - they mostly aren't there.

I think a lot of the problem is communication.

I am not a high school coach, but a parent. Local school has a very good baseball program. Players are free to work with any outside instructor they want to, but the head coach is clearly the boss when you are on his field, playing for him. He realizes it is counterproductive to try to limit outside instruction, to be a control freak. He is a very good coach and baseball man. I think that if someone was getting bad instruction from the outside, they would be told as much. Coach has a lot of goodwill and respect. He sees outside instruction as a good thing since it is going to improve his players.


You could say there is a "preferred" hitting instructor who has access to the high school facilities. My son is pre-high school and we use the HS facilities with the instructor in the winter.

From what I read on this site, we have a very functional situation.

Indeed it would appear you do. I think it's great that your coach is on board. Thanks for sharing.

Texas1836,

You have a great program. My kids HS coach does not allow outside instruction. Why....don't know...ego?

See if this sounds familiar to anybody?
Coach does not want outside instruction but they don't really instruct their players very much at all. Players pitch to each other in the cages and maybe one pitch in 10 is hittable. So they get about 15 good swings a day. Some days they bring out the batting cage on the field and they each get two ABs. The instruction... after they finish hitting, one of the coaches tell them what they did wrong.
Why in the world is the coach against outside instruction? Any instruction would be better than what they do. I think kids sneak out to get instruction and the HS coaches pat themselves on the back thinking it's them that are making their players hit so well. In fact I know that's the case.

Have you tried asking him his reasoning?

Yep... "they don't want the players learning anything that's different than what they teach".

If I had told them that they don't really teach much of anything, they could take it out on my kid or not play him. After talking to other parents in the area with kids at different schools, they all say the same thing I'm saying.

Mmm, not good. Does he coach football as well?

Has he seen what the outside guy is teaching?

You're right of course, a fall out could very easily affect the player.

No he doesn't coach football.

I don't know if they ever found out what the other guys are teaching.

What do you guys think about the HS coach putting out a memo saying what his philosophy is, what he's looking for and some examples of those that teach that kind of hitting?

NDD - That may work. Needs to be worded so that players and parents do not feel like they have to pay outside $ for instruction. I take it you mean philosophy on outside instruction. Clarity is always a good thing in my book.

Providing examples of sanctioned instructors could get hairy depending on the specifics. But I can see the reason for doing so if the coach feels like he has to. I am probably naive as I do not see how or why people would use a bad or subpar instructor. All a person has to do is develop relationships in the baseball community and will find out who is trusted and legitimate. Like parents care (or should care) who their kid hangs out with, they should care about things like instruction whether it is hitting, piano, swimming or whatever.

I don't know about other areas but here in the Philadelphia tri state area most public school coaches are teachers who may or may not have played beyond high school themselves. Most probably wouldn't know rotational hitting from oscilating hitting. My point is they really don't know enough to instruct a kid on hitting. And I don't thing they really try to. Like someone above stated they do BP every day but with no instruction.

At my son's high school the coaches were nice enough guys but knew very little about the game or hitting. They seemed more concerned with how the team behaved in the dugout than winning sometimes. If a player wanted to improve his swing he has no choice but to go to an outside instructor. And I don't think the coach cared at all.

IMO the bottom line with this outside instructor option is that if a player is producing during the season, his high school coach doesn't care much what the kid does on his own time. And he shouldn't.

If I were a HS coach who didn't know much about hitting I would recommend hitting instructors to my players. If the players hit better, the team could do better and it makes me look better. Win, win, win.

Well, yeah, philosophy on outside instruction, but I was thinking more about hitting philosophy. Agree on wording it so they do not feel obligated.

Also agree about suggesting being complicated. The potential for misconceptions is high. Perhaps suggestion as examples at a higher level. For example, "My philosophy on hitting is XYZ. And example of an instructor that teaches this type of hitting would be the John Doe videos." Then if they ask the coach he could give some names of people in the area if there are any. Real general like.

I guess my point is it can be frustrating if one spends the time with an instructor just to find out the coach has an opposing philosophy. It hasn't happened to me, but it seems to be an issue.

quote:

Originally posted by fillsfan:
I don't know about other areas but here in the Philadelphia tri state area most public school coaches are teachers who may or may not have played beyond high school themselves. Most probably wouldn't know rotational hitting from oscilating hitting. My point is they really don't know enough to instruct a kid on hitting. And I don't thing they really try to. Like someone above stated they do BP every day but with no instruction.

At my son's high school the coaches were nice enough guys but knew very little about the game or hitting. They seemed more concerned with how the team behaved in the dugout than winning sometimes. If a player wanted to improve his swing he has no choice but to go to an outside instructor. And I don't think the coach cared at all.

IMO the bottom line with this outside instructor option is that if a player is producing during the season, his high school coach doesn't care much what the kid does on his own time. And he shouldn't.

If I were a HS coach who didn't know much about hitting I would recommend hitting instructors to my players. If the players hit better, the team could do better and it makes me look better. Win, win, win.

thanks for sharing. I agree that many coaches don't have a problem with it and are probably very glad it's happening. but as we can see it ranges from that one end to prohibiting it completely.

My guess is most probably land somewhere in the middle: Recognize the need and want the kind of instruction that will integrate into the overall philosophy of the team.

As far as the highschool is concerned my son is very fortunate. The coaches philosophy and mine are the same. He uses epstein drills as well as a few others that teach this same philosophy. My son started learning this when he was 8 and he is 12 now and he played freshman ball this year so I talked to the varsity coach for an hour 1 night and got a great understanding of his approach.

His thing is with the rec league. Most of the coaches are swing down extension guys so he has alot of work every year trying to get his players back where they were. He has tried to work with the league but they refuse. But he doesn't tell them not to play unless you are on his legion team.


I had a big fight with my sons rec coach over it. He was trying to change what he was being taught and told me not to teach him.I had to explain the philosophy and he had no clue that is what is being taugt even though his son plays on the same freshman team.

tfox,
Thanks for sharing. I know experiences are different everywhere. In our area rec ball is fine for a lot of players that are playing for fun, to have a summer activity, to socialize. It is, IMO, a disaster for those players that want to play seriously.

I appreciate fathers that take their time to volunteer. But the things I've heard and still hear as they watch the HS games from the stands.

"Throw your hands at the ball!" "Swing level!" and my all time favorite "Be the hero!"

I asked the other day if it happens in football as well and was told yes, but you don't notice as much because they are further from the field.

Your HS coach coaches your Legion team? I think that's great.

The one thing about Legion that I don't like: If during the Legion season your son goes to a showcase or pro tryout he becomes ineligible as a legion player.