What causes the most frustration while teaching hitting?

Player or parent not having enough patience to let things work out.  I have given lessons for some 25+ years.  My daughter is now giving them as well.  She is working with some young ladies that have a lot of ability and, in doing so, is trying to build a base for them or what I taught to her.  What we call a "fall back swing" which is the base and then you can add stuff in like tip and rip from there.  I'm so thankful that this group of parents, her first group, have the patience and do understand what she is doing.  So many come and want a quick fix.  It isn't that easy.

Recently, I had a dad who wanted me to work with his child.  I don't charge anymore and do lessons as a way of having some fun.  He had so many issues he wanted fixed and then he wanted them all addressed in one day.  He was a "natural athlete" according to him and caught on to everything fast.  (Yeah right.)  He wanted one lesson for a couple of hours.  I worked with the child for a couple of hours but gave the hitter breaks in between to do some fun drills where the hitter could laugh at themselves some.  One is a great drill you may have seen where you do side toss and they hit off of the back leg.  We were making great progress but the dad thought he was wasting his time.  So, since I am free, I told him he'd better find an expert.  LOL!

simply put.  lack of focus by the athlete as well as the parent and the impatience to do the necessary hard work to not only get better but become an educated hitter.  people generally are looking for "quick fixes" that will work today and not tomorrow.  very annoying.

Go hit,

understanding that the pitch speed and location dictates where you will hit the pitch.

Study the great hitters on utube. Really study!!

Bob

GoHit,

I get the feeling you’re very frustrated about something and are looking to see if anyone else shared that feeling. If I’m correct, tell us what it is that you’re finding frustrating. If I’m not, you’ll be the 1^st baseball coach I’ve ever come across who is frustrated at nothing.

Maybe I misunderstood what you meant when you said “teaching your players how to hit”. Even a lousy high school player knows how to hit. What they likely don’t understand is how to improve their hitting techniques.

Stats4Gnats,

Honestly, I don't know where to begin with some of the frustrations....  I have coached high school seniors that don't know how to change their approach at the plate if the count is 0-2 or 3-1.  I grew up in Ohio and coached in Michigan - some of the guys up north just don't get enough games in per year so they never really develop the fundamental understanding of the game (ex. different approaches with different counts, how to lead off correctly, shifting defensively, etc...).

Respectfully, I disagree that even lousy players know how to hit.  Lousy players know how to swing a bat, while hitting is an art.  Any person can put paint on a canvas, but artists place paint on a canvas strategically and with a "feel" for it.  I understand that some high school players may not have the physical ability as other, that can't be controlled.  However, teaching players the correct approach at the plate and basic mental fundamentals can be coached and unfortunately I think that's missing.

Thanks for the great convo!

GoHit,

I understand about the relationship of baseball to the north. I grew up and played in Ohio. I also agree that there is a limited number of games that can often be played, but only in relation to HS ball. Where out here in the land of fruits and nuts our HS teams play anywhere from a low of 20 games to as many as 40, that’s just not how it is everywhere.

You may schedule 20 games in a state like Ohio, but it’s a real crapshoot as to whether the games can be played, or if the weather is more suited for hockey than baseball. So in that sense there is definitely a problem in the snow-belt areas during HS baseball. But I can tell you this, May and June weather is pretty good everywhere for the most part, but I’d much rather play ball in a snow-belt state during July and August than in any sun-belt state, where there’s more worry about heat stroke and dehydration, than playing ball.

As I said, I grew up and played ball in Ohio, and I learned enough to get offered a contract back in the 60’s, so it isn’t that it can’t be done. IMHO, the issue is that baseball isn’t the center of the sports universe that it was then. Out here, with so many kids, there’s plenty of room for all sorts to get their share of top athletes, where back there I can see how it would be something that had much more of an impact.

In the end what it means is coaches back there face different “challenges”. Its unfortunate, but that’s part of the game.

When I said Even a lousy high school player knows how to hit, I was being very specific. I said HS player because no matter where you are, if a kid makes a HS baseball team, he’s one of the best players. The best ball players anywhere know how to hit. They may not know all the subtle things that classify it as an art, and they may hit very well, but they know how to hit.

If where you’re at the kids aren’t getting taught at lower levels how to approach the game, I suspect its something more local than general. Sometimes though, what happens is there are a lot of things that need work and only so much time to work on them. In your case it may be that more time is spent on pitching and fielding, but there’s no way to tell.

As I said, a lot of what you’re describing can be put under the heading of baseball not having the same place in America’s sport psyche. Its unfortunate, but times have changed.

Since you grew up in Ohio and now live in Michigan, how torn were you watching “The Game” yesterday? That was one GREAT game!

Stats,

Not torn at all - I graduated from UM and will always be a Wolverine despite how bad the football team is

Go,

do you live near Adrian or MSU? Did you play at UM?

Bob

By the time they get to the varsity level, it's too late.

Same with varsity golf.

Most good varsity hitters and golfers are the product of years and years of practice and competition.

There's no short-cut or substitute for that.

Parents!  Kids are normally great to work with.  I think the biggest emphisis is that they should be swinging daily.  Either tee work, front toss or live BP.  A good habit like brushing your teeth.... hahah