Top Hand Release

10 year old is young and with top hand release there is always a chance he will over stretch the front shoulder.

IMO,don't change what comes naturally.If they are hitting with 2 hands,then let them do it as long as it comes naturally. If they aren't doing it naturally,then why make them?


My son is 10 and has been releasing his top hand since he was 7.When he went to an instructor he looked at him and made sure he wasn't releasing too early and let him be.

I agree with tfox not only on this issue, but just in principle. Why just change something if not harmful to the swing? If something is natural or comfortable, unless it is limiting power or chance of contact, why work to change it?

I guess I need to clarify. My 10 year old is taking lessons and the instructor believes in top hand release(after contact with the ball). He just made a 10u team and I was talking with the coach, who said he used the same instructor for his boys. So I was feeling good about that, then he said his son was at some college showcase event and they told him his son shouldn't be doing a top hand release. So he switched hitting instructors. Can't remember the specifics but I'll ask again and find out the reasoning. My son does says it feels more natural when he releases the top hand and likes it.

You will hear a thousand do's and dont's as he comes up.

Many schools of thoughts on the simplest of things.


Have him learn how to hit with his core and let the rest develop naturally.


Really,what does it matter if they release the top hand or don't.IT IS PREFERANCE and only the person swinging the bat can make that call.Don't overcoach it or overthink it.

As he gets older,he will make that call if he likes it or not.

Of course I am nobody and this is my OPINION.

i have 2 boys ,about 2,5 yrs apart. a very good instructor had my oldest release top hand, not the younger one.
because the older one was bigger in the chest and this limited a full swing.
if you look back at most of the really good mlb hitters,, they released the top hand. hard to believe until you watch some old video.

i agree with letting your son find his swing, still young.

Here's probably the four greatest hitters ever....They didn't release the top hand...

Quite simply, don't do it...

Pujols is one of the greatest today and when he is finished will most likely be remembered as one of the best ever,he releases his top hand.

So does Alex Rodriquez,Chipper Jones,Manny Ramirez,Alphonso Soriano,Josh Hamilton,Ryan Howard.The list goes on and on.

Hijack

In the clips above looks like Ted and maybe Ruth are stepping in the bucket slightly.
Son does this and I'm on him to fix it even though his instructor (Gary Gaetti) says he's fine.

Leave him alone?

Forget the term "stepping in the bucket".....Aaron had a slightly closed stride....Williams and Ruth had a slightly open stride.....

Doesn't matter......

However, releasing the top hand does matter for alot of hitters.....If they haven't learned how weight shift should work, and the large majority of hitters haven't, they will not have the proper swing sequence.....

Welcome back! I Enjoy your clips and commentary.

what does stepping in the bucket mean?

Stepping or striding away from the "hitting zone" (or plate)while swinging.

I agree, let him develop his finish naturally. As a hitter, there are so many things to teach mechanically before/at contact, for a 10yr old, top hand release is not a huge worry. I can show you a few more relevant clips, kids closer to your son's age, PM me if you are interested.

Just my .02 worth..... GED10DaD

Would I "teach" it? No way! Would I stop it if someone was already doing it successfully? No way! The only problem I see with it at all, is if the hitter is doing it before full extension (which is what many young hitters do when they try to emulate the move).

quote:

Originally posted by powertoallfields:
Would I stop it if someone was already doing it successfully? No way!

But if a kid is already not very successful. I'd change it.

quote:

Originally posted by powertoallfields:
Would I "teach" it? No way! Would I stop it if someone was already doing it successfully? No way! The only problem I see with it at all, is if the hitter is doing it before full extension (which is what many young hitters do when they try to emulate the move).

I agree 100%

In my son's case and lately my daughter's.They aren't trying to emulate anyone,they can't help it.It is second nature.

My son has tried not to do it but it limits his swing.

Knapper1: make sure your son's/daughter's swing mechanics are not forcing him/her to release the top hand--this could signal limited hip and shoulder rotation needed for optimum bat speed. It the release is a natural reaction AFTER contact, then it should have no effect on the quality of contact. I'd suggest concentrating on pre-contact and moment of-contact mechanics first; the follow-through on a mechanically-sound swing has absolutely no bearing on the flight of the ball

For young hitters I would say do not teach top hand release. Too many things can go wrong when teaching this. It can create some serious issues in the swing. Players swings evolve over time and if they are an accomplished hitter and evolve into a top hand release guy then no big deal. But teaching top hand release is a def no no in my book. If your teaching it then they are thinking it. They make it part of the swing process and not a natural thing they do on the finish.

There is no useful purpose in teaching top hand release.

As long as Knapper1's son is getting the barrel of the bat through the contact zone with the greatest bat speed he can generate with both hands on the bat--and on the right swing plane--releasing the top hand or following through in the traditional two-handed style is irrelevant. Why worry about teaching or not teaching something that happens AFTER contact is made?

no offense, Dirtbags. I simply love talking about hitting

Why would I be offended?