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Is there a proper grip?

W wedge10+ posts
Son has been going to a hitting instructor for 3-4 years. Every week he gets 1 private lesson. My son has not put the bat down for more than 1 week in those 3-4 years. He works on his swing every day. He has gone into "minor" slumps here and there over the years. This summer in travel ball it seems like 1 prolonged slump. After making adjustments, it seems like when he fixes one thing, something else goes out of whack.
1 week ago his instructor noticed he has the "wrong" grip. After talking to other parents and players, everyone else said yeah you need to grip with your "knocking knuckles".
I know this grip helps to stop rolling over the ball but I am just surprised that it has taken this long to notice. In addition to his instructor, he has been to many camps where nothing was said about his grip.
Spoke to a local college player who was helping at a camp my son attended and he said they(head coach included) were all suprised he puts up big numbers with his whacky swing and grip.
My son has always hit well above 400, this summer he is probably around 200. Needless to say my son is very distraught.
Is this knocking knuckle grip "thee grip" that all players use. I might add that my son is 16, if that helps.
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I IEBSBL1,000+ posts
I finding knocking knuckles to be to weak of a grip to use. I prefer to have top hand knocker knuckles between the Gorilla Knuckles and knocker knuckles. On a separate note I am also a firm believer in if it is not broke don't fix it. You need to be very careful about allowing people to "fix your son". There was an outstanding article in SI about Andrew McCuthen of the Pirates. They saw flaws in them but never sought to change them until he began to experience failure. Another article I read was about Brandon Belt of the Giants. When he cam into HS an assistant coach asked the Head Coach, when are you going to change his swing? HC answered, "When he slumps." He never did. Your son is a paycheck to a private coach. He will always find something wrong.


P.S. Before I get blasted by all giving private lessons I understand that not every private instructor is like this, but a great deal are.
B bostonbulldogbaseball100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
99% of MLB players DO NOT use a door knocking knuckle grip.

It's a cruel myth. Don't listen to what 'experts' say. Look at pictures of actual players in a game.

I would run away from any instructor that doesn't know this basic item.

This is the typical MLB 'box' grip.


We have a parent on our team that freely gives out advice about pitching and hitting. He was telling me my son needed to grip with the door knocking knucles in line.

I picked up a bat and showed him how uncomfortable this grip is and that almost every MLB player does not use this grip.

What is more alarming is that the OP's son takes batting instruction once / week for the past 4 years.

Hitting instructors only get paid if believe there is a flaw and need it fixed. Like lawyers most instructors will constantly find flaws to keep the cash flow going.

Buy the book "Science of Hitting" by Ted Williams, learn it backwards and forwards, and then you will know more about hitting than 99% of so called hitting instructors.
Low FinishLow Finish500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by bostonbulldogbaseball:

Hitting instructors only get paid if believe there is a flaw and need it fixed. Like lawyers most instructors will constantly find flaws to keep the cash flow going.

Buy the book "Science of Hitting" by Ted Williams, learn it backwards and forwards, and then you will know more about hitting than 99% of so called hitting instructors.


I agree with your book recommendation. I'd like to add that some of the best hitting instructors I know don't charge a dime for lessons. And, others provide so much free information through their websites or videos that lessons would be a bonus, IMO.
Low FinishLow Finish500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
quote:
Originally posted by Low Finish:
The correct grip is the knocking knuckles between the large and knocking knuckles.


Do you have some pictures of more than one MLB player with this grip?


You're looking at one in this thread. Again, teaching grip is generally a waste of time. Keep it out of the palms.
Low FinishLow Finish500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by IEBSBL:
Low...I do not agre that Cabrera is lining up small knuckles with big knuckles. If you take a look at the picture you will see that on his knuckles is a blue color from the batting gloves. If they were lined up that blue color would make a perfect line but in this picture it is staggered.


As I said earlier, I agree. The big knuckles do not line up with the small ones. We are in agreement that the proper grip is with the top hand knocking knuckles in between the large knuckles and the knocking knuckles of the lower hand.

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