ok gurus,,,just one drill to stop a kid from "dropping" his hands.
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It's 100% fool proof.
Have him start them there.
Have him start them there.
Wow, maybe he asked how to stop him from dropping his hands because he doesnt like it. Starting them down sure isnt going to help. Sounds like you are saying hit rotational.
Chameleon
Shantzee
huh?...
quote:It's 100% fool proof.
Have him start them there.
Shantzee
quote:Sounds like you are saying hit rotational.
huh?...
quote:Originally posted by deemax:
Chameleonquote:It's 100% fool proof.
Have him start them there.
Shantzeequote:Sounds like you are saying hit rotational.
huh?...
I agree with Chameleon. If that is where he feels comfortable swinging from, then let him swing from there. The big question is, why does he want him to stop dropping his hands? Probably because he is late getting to the ball. My other question would be, how old is your Son?
I wonder how good this guy would be if he'd just stop dropping his hands.
What leads you to believe dropping his hands is the problem?
It is possible to do better?
somehow i knew richard would put up the bonds clip..when he drops his hands he cant hit for any power..when he keeps his hands up he hits the snot out of it...thats why i would "ASSUME" thats the problem..
So where are his hands when his hips explode?
Similar Q but where are his hands at launch?
Just one suggestion but could try starting his hands lower and out away from chest area and then have him bring them in during load.
quote:Originally posted by wogdoggy:
somehow i knew richard would put up the bonds clip..when he drops his hands he cant hit for any power..when he keeps his hands up he hits the snot out of it...thats why i would "ASSUME" thats the problem..
Have him take 100 swings a day off of a pitching machine. If he drops his hands, hit him in the head with a chin strap off of a football helmet. He will either stop dropping his hands or you'll have another Joe Frazier! They say it takes 1100 reps. to change a habit, so in about two weeks he should be fixed! Seriously though, instant feedback and practice are the only way to change a bad habit. You could always have him put a tee behind his left ear, take his change out of his left pocket and put it in his right, and turn his hat around backwards. It worked for Tin Cup! NOTE OF CAUTION: DON'T TRY TO FIX SWING PROBLEMS DURING A GAME!!! Film his games and let HIM see what he is doing.
the positive is the kid knows now when he does it,, and after the weak hit he runs back and says.."i know dad I dropped my hands"..of course my reply is if you know why,,,why are you doing it? ...im supportive like that..lol..
seriously i have him practing just tipping a wee bit instead of dropping..tip dont drop seems to be helping a little..
seriously i have him practing just tipping a wee bit instead of dropping..tip dont drop seems to be helping a little..
A little off topic...ok a lot off topic, but does anyone know length/weight of Bond's bat?
quote:Originally posted by wrstdude:
A little off topic...ok a lot off topic, but does anyone know length/weight of Bond's bat?
I know he swung a 29" for many years, but I believe it is longer now.
I don't know if this helps, but my son dropped his hands big time so we had him wrap the bat around his neck when he was 10. He is now 12 and drops his hands sometimes when he gets two strikes. He doesn't even realize it when he does it. He always dropped his hands to try to hit the ball up for the oohs and ahhs of the crowd when he launched it up, up, and away. It is a bad habit but it was caused by the desire to hit a homerun. He doesn't have to wrap it around his neck anymore, but sometimes I would like to wrap it myself. 
He is still working on it.
I also recommend having someone besides his Dad tell him not to drop his hands. My son seems to listen better if it comes from his coaches.
He is still working on it.
I also recommend having someone besides his Dad tell him not to drop his hands. My son seems to listen better if it comes from his coaches.
quote:Originally posted by micmeister:quote:Originally posted by wrstdude:
A little off topic...ok a lot off topic, but does anyone know length/weight of Bond's bat?
I know he swung a 29" for many years, but I believe it is longer now.
I've got $100 that says he never swung a 29" bat as a big leaguer.
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:quote:Seriously though, instant feedback and practice are the only way to change a bad habit.
Instant feedback is the worst way to teach something such as hitting!!
Instant feed back is often also called “results oriented feedback.” An example would be the coach that sees the player drive a ball and then reinforce that swing by saying, “good swing.” However, such is often not the case. Sometimes that “hit” was simply a fluke and that hitter can not reproduce a successful swing. Quiet often coaching comes down to those that are “results oriented,” and who can not define any kinetic series of events that will enable their player to increase their chances of success. One example of this is taking a swing down to a basic format. For instance what happens either with a stride or no-stride technique when the front foot heel hits? Where is that portion of a swing where “connection” ends? Well, you get the point. I do feel that “results oriented coaching” has a place but more so when the player can explain either what did or did not happen. JMHO!
BlueDog, a perfect example of how one coaches can be view in your thread on "Hips." Wow, 180+ responses and yet, such vast misunderstandings on the process. However, there were also some outstanding responses. You'd think that we could all agree on what the hips do and can place their positions in relations to that heel placement.
BTW, if I'm going to discuss one drill, I believe that the best results are always gained by having a hitter hit from the front and with a coach that can place the ball in exact locations. One of my favorite drills is to run a black electrical tape at an angle on a plate, set up three catch nets or even cones and have the hitter hit a progression on balls tossed to them. This enables a hitter to understand how to let the ball get to them, how to hit balls gap to gap and how to recoginize and turn and burn on those balls on the inner half. BTW, this has nothing to do with helping a kid stop dropping his hands. Sorry!
BTW, if I'm going to discuss one drill, I believe that the best results are always gained by having a hitter hit from the front and with a coach that can place the ball in exact locations. One of my favorite drills is to run a black electrical tape at an angle on a plate, set up three catch nets or even cones and have the hitter hit a progression on balls tossed to them. This enables a hitter to understand how to let the ball get to them, how to hit balls gap to gap and how to recoginize and turn and burn on those balls on the inner half. BTW, this has nothing to do with helping a kid stop dropping his hands. Sorry!
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
Well said, Coach!!
The player must do it 'cause he deems it the best way to do it....
Not 'cause his coach said do it this way!!
What if the coach says that "Instant feedback is the worst way to teach something such as hitting"?
What does the player do then?
Does he listen to the coach - or does he do what he feels best doing?
Which one is it?
LOL
its, really the coach can't do anything unless the player "smells what the coach is cooking" anyway. (Ok so I took a line from the Rock!) I can think of a player whom I was coaching that simply didn't buy into my "smack." So, we're done. I won't coach that person anymore. (My daughter's summer team where I volunteer.) It takes two to tangle.
CoachB,
As you probably know by now - I am not a believer in absolutes when it comes to physical skills and performance.
With few exceptions - like being in the best possible shape - and some other very basic traits - each player is different physically and each player responds differently to instruction.
IMO - This is something that many new age gurus just cant deal with - and certainly cannot accept. It is diametrically opposed to their claim that they have "the answer".
Failure to recognize these differences - to me - means that the person advocating it is either lazy - and/or egotistical - and/or just trying to sell something.
Just my opinion.
As you probably know by now - I am not a believer in absolutes when it comes to physical skills and performance.
With few exceptions - like being in the best possible shape - and some other very basic traits - each player is different physically and each player responds differently to instruction.
IMO - This is something that many new age gurus just cant deal with - and certainly cannot accept. It is diametrically opposed to their claim that they have "the answer".
Failure to recognize these differences - to me - means that the person advocating it is either lazy - and/or egotistical - and/or just trying to sell something.
Just my opinion.
quote:Originally posted by itsinthegame:
CoachB,
As you probably know by now - I am not a believer in absolutes when it comes to physical skills and performance.
With few exceptions - like being in the best possible shape - and some other very basic traits - each player is different physically and each player responds differently to instruction.
IMO - This is something that many new age gurus just cant deal with - and certainly cannot accept. It is diametrically opposed to their claim that they have "the answer".
Failure to recognize these differences - to me - means that the person advocating it is either lazy - and/or egotistical - and/or just trying to sell something.
Just my opinion.
I totally agree! I do think there are those kids that think they already have "it" though and won't listen period, but those are few and far between. If you can get a hitter to feel the power or see the consistency they WILL listen! No, it doesn't matter how you get them there either!
quote:Originally posted by CoachB25:quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:quote:Seriously though, instant feedback and practice are the only way to change a bad habit.
Instant feedback is the worst way to teach something such as hitting!!
Instant feed back is often also called “results oriented feedback.” An example would be the coach that sees the player drive a ball and then reinforce that swing by saying, “good swing.” However, such is often not the case. Sometimes that “hit” was simply a fluke and that hitter can not reproduce a successful swing. Quiet often coaching comes down to those that are “results oriented,” and who can not define any kinetic series of events that will enable their player to increase their chances of success. One example of this is taking a swing down to a basic format. For instance what happens either with a stride or no-stride technique when the front foot heel hits? Where is that portion of a swing where “connection” ends? Well, you get the point. I do feel that “results oriented coaching” has a place but more so when the player can explain either what did or did not happen. JMHO!
Coach,
This is why I think video taping a hitter is so important. Let them see what they are doing first and see if THEY can fix the problem. If they can, great! If they can't, you have to get them there, however you can. I break a swing down into 4 parts and work it 1 to 4 then 4 to 1. If they are having trouble with one step, then we work on that step and then from that step. That is instant feedback, IMO. I want them to FEEL the problem and then let them try to fix it first, since I won't always be there during a game if they have a problem.
Itsinthegame, the answer? Like most, I think it's out there and so, I keep searching for it. LOL! As I'm sure you do, I have my opinions about who is closest to the answer and go from there. Do I believe in "cookie cutter hitters?" NO. Do I believe in a "base" that you can work from? Yes. BTW, if you ever find the pot of gold, please let me know! Take care.
McMeister, video is real important in working with hitters. I have the RVP program and use it for both pitching and hitting. However, even in that, there are flaws since knowing how to interpret video is also a skill. An example would be a video of a kid who demonstrates a poor swing and with whom a coach might critique their at bat without also understanding that the pitch was a change. All hitters get fooled in the course of a game.
McMeister, video is real important in working with hitters. I have the RVP program and use it for both pitching and hitting. However, even in that, there are flaws since knowing how to interpret video is also a skill. An example would be a video of a kid who demonstrates a poor swing and with whom a coach might critique their at bat without also understanding that the pitch was a change. All hitters get fooled in the course of a game.
Look at that Bonds clip again. He drops his hands but brings them back up to start his swing. He doesn't drop his hands and then swing. Doesn't that make it more of a trigger mechanism for Bonds? I think the original question starting this thread was referring to the kid dropping his hands to start the swing.
Wogdoggy,
I have used this with success with kids that are dropping the hands and swinging under the ball. If this is the problem you are having try setting the bat on the shoulder and then swinging from that position. Or start there and lift the bat during the load phase. Also, setting up a tee and hitting into a sock net from about 50-60 feet with wiffle balls helps to correct the problem on his own. If the hitter swings up too high it goes over the net, swing down and it goes into the ground. Swing on a line and bingo!
I have used this with success with kids that are dropping the hands and swinging under the ball. If this is the problem you are having try setting the bat on the shoulder and then swinging from that position. Or start there and lift the bat during the load phase. Also, setting up a tee and hitting into a sock net from about 50-60 feet with wiffle balls helps to correct the problem on his own. If the hitter swings up too high it goes over the net, swing down and it goes into the ground. Swing on a line and bingo!
bat on deltoid.
see Epstein.
see Epstein.
Usually with this kind of problem the quickest fix is to roll up a newspaper, spank him and rub his nose in it... Wait, my bad, that's how I housebroke my dog...
A lot of kids that are dropping the hands are also dipping the shoulder, make sure thats not happening
too. I have dealt with this problem a great deal over the years and what works best for me is to just use a tee and soft toss. I will stand behind them to start and hold a stick under their hands so they recognize the hand drift. From there it is to the Tee(swinging without a ball). I want his focus totally on where the hands are when the front foot comes down. When he gets that down we go to soft toss taking easy swings still concentrating on the hands. When he gets it down with soft toss my work is done. It is now his job to get on a tee, take a thousand+ swings and commit it to muscle memory. This approach has worked for me many times, it is one of the easier swing problems to fix.
Note: I have seen hitters that FIRE from a low hand slot. To me, that is not a problem. I don't teach it but I kind of like it. Many of the old greats hit this way.
too. I have dealt with this problem a great deal over the years and what works best for me is to just use a tee and soft toss. I will stand behind them to start and hold a stick under their hands so they recognize the hand drift. From there it is to the Tee(swinging without a ball). I want his focus totally on where the hands are when the front foot comes down. When he gets that down we go to soft toss taking easy swings still concentrating on the hands. When he gets it down with soft toss my work is done. It is now his job to get on a tee, take a thousand+ swings and commit it to muscle memory. This approach has worked for me many times, it is one of the easier swing problems to fix.
Note: I have seen hitters that FIRE from a low hand slot. To me, that is not a problem. I don't teach it but I kind of like it. Many of the old greats hit this way.
An example would be a video of a kid who demonstrates a poor swing and with whom a coach might critique their at bat without also understanding that the pitch was a change. All hitters get fooled in the course of a game.[/
Coach,
I agree!
Coach,
I agree!
quote:Originally posted by tom.guerry:
bat on deltoid.
see Epstein.
Yep! This works too! Also helps with a looping swing and casting!
Bonds uses a 34" and anywhere from 31.2 - 32.5 oz bat from what I have read (and believe to be credible sources).
quote:Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
Bonds uses a 34" and anywhere from 31.2 - 32.5 oz bat from what I have read (and believe to be credible sources).
I posted earlier that Bonds used a 29" bat for a long time, but meant 29 oz.. He may be using the heavier bat now.
