ONE DRILL

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.

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.

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!

bat on deltoid.

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.

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!

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.