My 13 year old occasionally will change up his at bats. For example he may or may not wear batting gloves or wear only one. Or he may borrow a similar weight and length bat from a teammate. I am not a baseball person but this seems like a habit he should break sooner rather than later. I know in basketball I was taught to go through the same motions when shooting a foul shot; same number of dribbles, etc. before shooting. Is there an analogy in baseball?
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He should be comfortable, focused and have a plan. How he gets there is up to him.
My son, who is admittedly superstitious, has the exact same routine every at bat. Crouches for his quick prayer, same number of two bat swings, same number of practice swings, steps in to the box the same way, everything. However, he did post a .487 BA this season, so it's working for him. Once you find something that works, stick with it.
Have you ever read Play Big by Dr. Tom Hanson? It talks about the mental aspect, which is what the at bat routine is all about, in my opinion.
as long as he has repeatable mechanics I wouldn't care about the pre-swing routine. Video tape a few a bats and look for consistency at the moment he loads up.
Not as seasoned as a lot of the guys on here, but have been at it long enough with my son, to add a few cents. I agree with sowilson (especially video) that pre-swing doesn't matter as much as load and go mechanics. However, the college and MLB guys (and my own son at this point) has proven that a consistent approach works. That way the thinking goes away, and focus is on hitting the ball. It is important to find what works, become consistent in a pattern, and stick to it. This goes for the physical, as well as the mental approach to an at bat. Study the MLB and college guys on TV. Consistency is what you see. Find what works, do the same thing, and think the same thoughts. Picture success, think middle/oppo, hit the ball hard. I think it would be really difficult to correct issues (when they arise), when you have so many variables in his swing approach. For that reason alone, I insist on consistency. At 13 y/o (getting close to HS age), he is almost to the age where the physical part of the game should be pretty well engrained and require less thought/more reaction. This will allow the focus to shift over to the mental part of the game (in my humble opinion). Good luck. Hit 'em hard!
Thanks for the replies. His mechanics are excellent at the plate and he is very consistent in his swing. He has done a ton of hitting so it is second nature at this point. But it does drive me crazy when I see him go to the plate with one glove, or two, or someone else's bat. "Dude, be consistent". Of course I'm the dad so I don't know what I am talking about. I think I'll mention this to his hitting coach, again.
it does drive me crazy when I see him go to the plate with one glove, or two, or someone else's bat.
Your son is blessed to have this temperament. Jump out of bed and hit.
one glove , two gloves no gloves. His bat or a teammates bat. Those are peripherals. It is his pre at bat routine and/or in between pitches that matters. And yes it should be fairly consistent. That lets you try and free yourself of tension which is the mortal enemy of any hitter.Show me a very good hitter and I will bet the farm he does the same thing every at bat. Be it how he waggles the bat, sets up touches his helmet. It will be the same. These are all keys that trigger what he should be doing that become muscle memory.
