the h/school coach dont like my swing !!

Be very respectful and tell him you are currently working with someone. You feel very comfortable with the way you are hitting and to give you (?)number of at bats and if your not successful you'll work with him on some of those changes.
Hopefully you'll hit so well he won't want to change any thing

I would not say anything about working with another coach. I would just say "yes sir" and keep on working away. You will get the opportunity to hit in a game soon enough and if you produce he will soon forget about it. JMHO

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I would just say "yes sir"

I've had so many different hitting coaches over my career, all of them good, and they've all told me different things. Obviously you can't make everybody happy, so here's my advice.

1. Listen to what your coach has to say, even if you disagree with 95% of it, he may say one little thing that you may find useful.

2. Be respectful, and i would let him know that you've been taking lessons, that would give your ideas more credibility in his eyes.

3. Swing the way you know best, and MASH! If you show the results, he'll back off.

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Originally posted by Coach May:
I would not say anything about working with another coach. I would just say "yes sir" and keep on working away. You will get the opportunity to hit in a game soon enough and if you produce he will soon forget about it. JMHO

Great advice, "say yes sir" and "opps" I did not mean to hit the homerun.....I am trying to do better.

First of all be thankful you have a coach that "teaches", I've seen very few (that "I've" seen very few).

We had a similar issue with pitching. My advice to my son was take what you can use, incorporate it, and work around the rest.

My son has endured this for years including his current college team. Here is what has happened at every level (including college): He listens respectfully and then continues to swing the way he knows how without making changes. Every time (and I mean every time), the hitting coach has complimented my son on successfully implementing what the coach wants!

Translation: These coaches don't know what they're seeing. Worse, they see only what they want to.

Do what you've been successful at doing with two caveats: First, my son has learned something from nearly every coach he's had. Usually it's been something about the two-strike approach or how to recognize a pitcher tipping off his pitches, how to mentally prepare, etc. The point is that there is something, most of the time, to be learned from any coach. Second, good coaches coach at two levels. The first is the level you're at; the coach wants you to be successful right now. The second is for the next level up. Most high school swings that I have seen will not work well at the next level. Changes need to be made to be successful. This is true at all levels until you hit the major leagues. And even major leaguers continue to improve their swings and refine what they do. Nobody successful ever stops learning and improving.

So be aware of these two caveats, and continue to be respectful of your coach.

so what do coachess do? had to ask. As far as the coach not liking your swing. In my experience the proof is in the pudding. If the kid is hitting leave him alone. If it aint broke dont fix it.

Will

I agree--- you dont mess with what works--when the kid goes into slump them you talk about what he can do to help himself and he will be more acceptable to the advice

Hi Jim,
You use the words "old rotation" and " "bug squish" ". First of all, didn't the bug squish term originate from the Lau era? And second of all, when you talk about the "old rotation" style, are you talking about the way Barry Bonds, Pujols, Griffey or any of the top major leaguers hit today?

Perhaps your new coach is trying to help you swing like these big leaguers. If there is any possibility that you have the desire and ability to play professional ball some day, then swinging like the best professionals as soon as you can will probably serve you well. If on the other hand, your career will be ending at your current level, it's probably not worth it for you or your coach to pay the price it's going to take to learn to hit like these pros.

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Originally posted by TRhit:
Will

I agree--- you dont mess with what works--when the kid goes into slump them you talk about what he can do to help himself and he will be more acceptable to the advice

What will be difficult is when a player goes into a slump and you start changing things at that point, you will most likely compound the problems. I prefer establishing good mechanics off season and when slumps happen, stress what has worked in the past and get back to what he has been trained to do instead of changing things at that point.

There are not good or bad styles. But there are styles that it works for you and others doesn't.
If you are doing well with the linear hitting you have to keep it, but that doesn't mean that the rotational style it is not good.
I am going to agree with some of the posters that said:
Say yes to the coach, and do what you want to do, if you hit, he will let you along.

As some of the posters have said always listen to what the coach says. Ask him what he sees that needs changing. Discuss it with the outside batting instructor. Take what you can use.

Last night the coaches were trying to change my sons swing also. I told him exactly what is being said. Always be respectful, take what you can from what they are telling you and continue to hit the way you know how. Once the games start and you hit they will leave you alone. He also has followed the Charlie Lau theory of hitting, including releasing the top hand a lot after contact which is what the coaches have an issue with but if you keep your head on the ball at contact you have to release after.

If you were being taught to squish the bug, you weren't being taught rotational in the first place. If you were, someone didn't understand the process. Being taught Lau or any other method linear or roational has a lot to do with what you believe in, how hard you work to practice it and how precise you are in your reps. Personally, I'm a rotational coach. You'd have a lot of trouble here if you weren't successful. However, I'd give you that chance to fail first.

One additional thought. If you are so convinced in your method, it'll prove itself on the field. If not, those that hit in the coache's prescribed manner are going to play and you're going to sit.

BTW, where (state) do you play? We can't start for another couple of weeks.

Coach I think that is all any kid can ask for is a chance. However, when a coach trys to change something without ever seeing a kid on the field in game situations that I believe is an issue. It sounds like you give a kid a chance to be successful with what he is comfortable with. If he isn't than he has to change and should want to change but if he is than you would leave him alone. I guess that what I'm getting at is there is no cookie cutter way to hit or pitch in your program.

Big1toe, no we don't believe in "cookie cutters." We do believe in taking a hitter and letting them run with what they do. However, in the end, we have a "base" which I've often alluded to in hitting posts that we will bring them to when it's time for change. From that, we let them be individuals. Pitching is much the same way although we've identified some traits that we think are dangerous. Our opinion. We would sit down with that player and their parents to show video to discuss proposed changes if we think that what they are doing is dangerous. (One example throwing in a manner where the finish after release involves the thumb on the pitching hand to be "up." If so, that pitcher is probably throwing with slider spin and could hurt their arm. If we can make a change in mechanics fine. If we have to redo everything (drastic change), time for a talk.

FWIW… A couple things

First… It was mentioned the swing was refined with Charlie Lau for two years. Just wondering if that meant using Charlie Lau’s techniques or actually working with him personally?

Next… This is a problem that pops up once in awhile every year on here. It’s a tough one to answer without knowing your coach. As a general rule… young players are usually best off thinking “The coach is always right” even when he is not right! Easier said than done sometimes.

Last… A personal experience. My second oldest boy was a flat out great hitter with awesome power in high school and college. He still holds about every hitting recrord at his high school. I would watch him hit and shake my head. He was too straight up and down (narrow stance) and started from a still hands position (no load). I often thought about changing him, but he was the best HS hitter I had ever seen. I decided to leave him alone because he was having great results.

When he got to pro ball he couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag. That is when it dawned on me that I should have changed him years ago. They tried to change him in pro ball, but his habits were very well established. He had problems changing what he had been doing wrong his whole life.

It was a live and learn experience for yours truly. I should have apologized to him, but got caught up in all the early success. Deep down I knew his swing wouldn't work in professional baseball, but I convinced myself that he might be the exception.

Coach, you would sit down with him and the parents? I get the impression they don't want us involved at all and quite honestly I don't think I should be involved anymore. If what is wrong could cause an injury then it has to be pointed out. My son works hard on his pitching also which is really his goal but he doesn't want to just pitch in HS. What do you think of releasing the top hand on the bat after contact? Is it wrong? Charlie Lau did teach it this way.

PG great point what works in high school may not at higher levels and then it's too late.