Fouling straight back

[dolphindan1]

My 11 year old son is usually a good hitter, great bunter and great contact hitter, not so much a power hitter but he can rip it on occassion...anyway...he had been on a nice hitting streak until the last 4 or 5 at bats...He is now fouling everything straight back...one at bat tonight he fouled of 5 or 6 pitches straight back...I cannot figure out why...I know he sees the ball well but it has to be a mechanical issue causing this....He get behind in counts, he only struck out 1 time tonight but it is a bit frustrating....I am over analyzing things or could he have picked up a quirk inhis swing? What should I look for....Oh hs been swinging a Combat Virus 30/20 2 1/4....had been hitting well with it till recently but it is a fairly new bat for him

Thanks in advance

[Baseball gLove]

We really can't answer your question without 30 FPS (frames per second) video. I am just guessing, but I think he is just, just barely (which is less late than just barely late) late. I think it's something he can adjust to through live game batting and live arm batting. Have him get his front foot down and hands back slightly sooner. As your son face higher velocities you will find getting the front foot down and hands back sooner will definitely help him keep up with the pitchers. You might want to post this question with your video clip in the baseball 101 section of this site.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/forumdisplay.php?f=53

[dolphindan1]

We really can't answer your question without 30 FPS (frames per second) video. I am just guessing, but I think he is just, just barely (which is less late than just barely late) late. I think it's something he can adjust to through live game batting and live arm batting. Have him get his front foot down and hands back slightly sooner. As your son face higher velocities you will find getting the front foot down and hands back sooner will definitely help him keep up with the pitchers. You might want to post this question with your video clip in the baseball 101 section of this site.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/forumdisplay.php?f=53

I guess i have to figure out how to do the video...LOL

You say he is late but he is hitting guys that throw harder than what he has seen recently...Its weird...I am wondering if his confidence got the best of him and he was trying to hard to hit these guys to the fence...

I dont know....I have dropped back and coached my youngest son this year so my time working with the oldest is not quite as much but he has a solid head coach who I was comfortable leaving him with....I will work with him this weekend...I have always been a linear hitter from my HS days but I was wanting to start a rotational swing....So i guess i will really screw him up when i start that...LOL

Thanks for your response

[Baseball gLove]

I'm talking fractions of a second late. It is more of timing issue. Facing live pitchers is the best route. My 15 year old used to be early and had to slow his swing to make contact.

[DerekD]

I wouldn't worry about it yet after only 4-5 ABs. Wait a little longer before trying to figure something out. You mention that from time to time he'll get a hold of one. I have a kid that before the season started hit the fence during a practice AB. Since then, he's trying way too hard to be that home run hitter. It's messed him all up. Maybe your boy get a hold of one and is now trying for more? Just a thought.

[TG Coach]

he had been on a nice hitting streak until the last 4 or 5 at bats

Are you kidding? Four or five at-bats is not a slump. Last year I watched Vanderbilt's shortstop (this is big time ball) look awful for four at-bats. In the fifth at-bat he ripped a double to extend his hitting streak to thirty-eight games. If you expect perfection every game you will drive your son crazy and away from baseball.

[dolphindan1]

I wouldn't worry about it yet after only 4-5 ABs. Wait a little longer before trying to figure something out. You mention that from time to time he'll get a hold of one. I have a kid that before the season started hit the fence during a practice AB. Since then, he's trying way too hard to be that home run hitter. It's messed him all up. Maybe your boy get a hold of one and is now trying for more? Just a thought.

He did hit the fence in the air one about halfway up the fence, i thought it was over....first time that had happened...So i think you might be onto something there....I told my wife I was glad he didnt hit it over we wouldnt be able to contain him....Hitting the fence maybe just as bad....

[dolphindan1]

he had been on a nice hitting streak until the last 4 or 5 at bats

Are you kidding? Four or five at-bats is not a slump. Last year I watched Vanderbilt's shortstop (this is big time ball) look awful for four at-bats. In the fifth at-bat he ripped a double to extend his hitting streak to thirty-eight games. If you expect perfection every game you will drive your son crazy and away from baseball.

I dont expect perfection...just confused why hw is fouling everything straight back his last few at bats....He only gets 2 at bats a game because the team has 15 players, rec ball, and 6 have never played before so its usually 2 innings of 3 up 3 down....I just didnt know if there was something i should be lookig for in particular or what....thats all....I am not stressing it, I havent even mentioned it to him...He still reached base on those at bats and i told him that they were good at bats even without the hit....I mean the one at bat the pitcher threw 13 pitches too him and another one 12