Your thoughts on this swing

Great looking kid, as noted by some others don't over coach him at 10 and make sure he has fun.

Here is a photo for comparison and he looks pretty dog gone good to me.....but what do I know I am a pitching guy....he is batting lefty that is good!

Wow! It's amazing how you can get all of that from a still photo! Oh...that's right...you are just giving estimates. Kaos, if you want real advice, post a video. Based on his finish position, you may be right on, but you still need to see how he got there. He doesn't look 10 though. As far as the back shoulder dipping, it should dip.

I do realize a video would be much better but would like to get some more opinions/input on this isolated picture of this 10 year olds swing.

THANKS!

Kaos - feel free to PM me with any specific questions and I will help you anyway I can.
GED10DaD

quote:

Originally posted by kaos:
I do realize a video would be much better but would like to get some more opinions/input on this isolated picture of this 10 year olds swing.

THANKS!

Sorry, the picture of your Son didn't come through the first time I saw this thread. I was looking at the picture BOF has all the lines on. I would say that your Son's contact position is perfect. Again, I don't know how he got there, but it doesn't get any better than that, IMO.

Agree with PtoOF's:

Couple of things I noticed. Catcher is too far back (like all kids at this age) Nice Dugouts. Kids are actually watching the game, not grabbing each other...pretty good for 10 YO's.

I stand by my first comment don't over analyze at 10.

- Point of Contact looks pretty good... Maybe needs to let pitches get a little deeper.
- Lower body is excellent.
- Cannot draw a straight "power-line" from lead foot through top of helmet.

Here's a shot of GED10, at 9 years old, but from the right side, maybe a little better comparison.

I think you've got a live one there with KaosSon! They look very similar and he looks like he's got alot of natural talent, even at an early age.

And, as BOF said, have fun - they grow up so quick! GED10DaD

BOF please don't take this the wrong way but I got a question about your photo and the box that says "Ball / Bat contact area"

Was this picture taken as part of a study and the lines added to illustrate what was going on during that pitch / swing OR did someone add the lines to a photo based on what they thought?

It's hard to determine from a photo but based on where the ball is in relation to where the catcher's mitt is I'm thinking this could be a curveball he's swinging at. But the mitt could be coming up to snag a high fastball. Not real sure and without knowing more it's hard to speculate.

The swing this guy is taking is fantastic and this is what we should be shooting for as hitters. I'm just wondering if putting a pic of a nice swing up with some fancy lines and guessing the rest is best.

Once again I'm not trying to attack you or your credibility or if you were the one who put the lines on the pic. I'm wanting more background info on this pic.

Hey Coach no big deal I just found this picture on the internet and posted it since the player was in a similar position as kaos boy.... Just to show him that he looked to be in a pretty good position. (particularly for a 10YO)

As far as the lines...they were already there. I get the power line point from Bolts-, it is interesting to note however that to have your bat on path with the ball plane the swing rotation would appoximately be where it is shown on the picture.

As far as ball contact point...who knows, looks and sounds good in the picture, but as others have pointed out we really need video. The glove of the catcher looks like an inside FB, but the angles make it difficult.

My son's hitting coach always try's to isolate the 3 "Power L's" at contact - which both of these pictures capture. The axis of rotation is an interesting discussion point.

Thanks BOF and I agree that the swing in the opening post does look pretty good. That's a kid you can work with.

What are some drills ( for his age) that he should work and focus on doing? Right now he does tee work as this is something he can do in the yard.

Kaos,

Your son has a very nice swing. The drills you should stay with are tee work (make sure he is making contact at the correct point, everytime).



Pay attention to the back elbow, bent not extended at contact.

Also, you should do front toss. Sit on a bucket 10 ft. directly in front of your son, and toss him balls right to the correct contact point. You should be very rythmic with your tosses. Allow your son to get in a rythem with you, you go back, he goes back. Force him to hit the ball up the middle. This will promote good direction, hand-path, and weight transfer. Do not let him spin off the ball to pull it (Swing with his shoulders).

Only do soft toss if he understands not to overrotate with his shoulders to create batspeed. Too many kids develop bad habits because they do not understand how to hit off a tee or take soft toss correctly.

It is not the amount of drills you do with your son, it is the muscle memory you promote with him. Correct hand path, and weight transfer must be accomplished in most drills.

what can be done or worked on to help drive the ball more? Hit a tire ...... a partial deflated s****r ball off a tee or just something that will come with time?

quote:

Originally posted by kaos:
what can be done or worked on to help drive the ball more? Hit a tire ...... a partial deflated s****r ball off a tee or just something that will come with time?

Those things will help with strength through the ball, but there is no substitute for good mechanics. I will give you a very good exercise for hand and forearm strength. Hold your hands out in front of you with your fingers spread as far apart as possible, then, close your hands tightly. Repeat this action as fast as possible for one minute each day for a week. The next week, try to do it for 10 seconds longer. Continue to add 10 seconds per week until you max out. If you have to stop before the target time, just rest 10 seconds and start again until you finish the entire time, meaning you will have to add that 10 seconds.