oldschool, do you teach hitting the top of the ball to generate backspin?
I would have an extremely hard time changing instructors. For one, his son is just too successful to ignore.
I’d still like to have a definition of my son’s swing, as I have described it - is it rotational/linear/hybrid? I will videotape it this spring, once it’s fully developed.
Last year my son played two years up for a weaker team (he was a 13U in a 15U league). He batted as a #3 or #4 hitter. In a AA tournament, with his old upper body swing (not really a lot of uppercut though), he hit a shoulder high pitch no more than 30’ from a 350 marker (I think it was more like 20’). I know there’s guys that hit farther. He hit a little over 500 on the season. We have played in tournaments in FL and at 12U he attended a practise with the 12U Jupiter Diamondbacks one year. At 12U he was on a Buffalo team at Cooperstown that beat three California teams (one that made final 16). Last year at March Break, he pitched a no-score inning against a 16U FL team (did the rest at 1B). I am saying this so you know that he’s been on a baseball field before and has a sense of competition levels in different places.
He will turn 14 next week (6’/180, R/R). What I cant believe is how explosive his hips are and how fast to the ball he is. It is such a difference from 5 months ago that, he will have to completely re-learn his timing. His confidence in the new approach is very high. He “feels” 50’ to 100’ more right now.
The weird thing is… we really abandoned hitting a few years back. He was heavy set and his feet pronated – I had a hard time believing he would ever be able to run a 60 yard fast enough. We took up hitting with this guy because it was fun and my son has enjoyed it ever since.
The funny thing is there is a lot in these lessons that I believe will help his pitching. The psychology part between swings is very compatible with that of between pitches. I’ve also heard that “separation” (hips before hands) is desirable for a pitcher. Now that my son knows the feel of separation as a hitter – can it be compatible in some way for his pitching? Or is the timing just so different?
I’d still like to have a definition of my son’s swing, as I have described it - is it rotational/linear/hybrid? I will videotape it this spring, once it’s fully developed.
Last year my son played two years up for a weaker team (he was a 13U in a 15U league). He batted as a #3 or #4 hitter. In a AA tournament, with his old upper body swing (not really a lot of uppercut though), he hit a shoulder high pitch no more than 30’ from a 350 marker (I think it was more like 20’). I know there’s guys that hit farther. He hit a little over 500 on the season. We have played in tournaments in FL and at 12U he attended a practise with the 12U Jupiter Diamondbacks one year. At 12U he was on a Buffalo team at Cooperstown that beat three California teams (one that made final 16). Last year at March Break, he pitched a no-score inning against a 16U FL team (did the rest at 1B). I am saying this so you know that he’s been on a baseball field before and has a sense of competition levels in different places.
He will turn 14 next week (6’/180, R/R). What I cant believe is how explosive his hips are and how fast to the ball he is. It is such a difference from 5 months ago that, he will have to completely re-learn his timing. His confidence in the new approach is very high. He “feels” 50’ to 100’ more right now.
The weird thing is… we really abandoned hitting a few years back. He was heavy set and his feet pronated – I had a hard time believing he would ever be able to run a 60 yard fast enough. We took up hitting with this guy because it was fun and my son has enjoyed it ever since.
The funny thing is there is a lot in these lessons that I believe will help his pitching. The psychology part between swings is very compatible with that of between pitches. I’ve also heard that “separation” (hips before hands) is desirable for a pitcher. Now that my son knows the feel of separation as a hitter – can it be compatible in some way for his pitching? Or is the timing just so different?
There is no such thing as rotational, or linear, hitting......Simply, doesn't exist....
quote:What happened in 2008 when Kinsler hit .319 while Young hit .284? Can you point to a mechanical flaw that caused a 3rd year player to hit 31 HRs and drive in 86 runs (in 2009)? Do you believe that Kinsler is trying to hit fly balls?
Everyone knows that Young was banged up for most of 08. He ahd a lingering thumb injury that was never 100%.
No, I do not believe that Kinsler is trying to hit fly balls. He has a powerful swing, I believe he gets caught up in trying to hit the long ball, thus letting his top hand drop a little early at times. JMHO
Kinsler's Career Stats
Avg .279
OBP .350
SLG .477
OPS .827
Young' Career Stats
Avg .302
OBP .349
SLG .449
OPS .798
And the 23 points higher batting average, is considerably better in the end, might be a deciding factor, if careers are long enough, for HOF decisions.
