Help with 8 y/o

[TheJourneyman]

Forgive me as I did not search. I am sick and lazy today so I apologize.

I need some help with an 8 y/o. He has played for a year and a half now and I wanted to get some input on a few things.

1. What would you recommend as far as an everyday hitting tool? The swing-a-way or something similar? Or should I go with just a simple batting tee? Or am I missing something else. I am not looking to put a cage in his backyard as this is just my nephew who lives many miles away.

2. At what age should I introduce him to a wooden bat? This is not to play with but to practice hitting with. Thoughts?

3. Videos - he wants to start pitching. He is currently in a machine pitch league but wants to prepare for the future. I would like to get him a video to teach proper mechanics since this is where i hurt my arm as a kid.

All this new technology is new to me since when I was growing up it wasn't around to help us.

Thanks in advance for any info.
TJM

[Baseball gLove]

Forgive me as I did not search. I am sick and lazy today so I apologize.

I need some help with an 8 y/o. He has played for a year and a half now and I wanted to get some input on a few things.

1. What would you recommend as far as an everyday hitting tool? The swing-a-way or something similar? Or should I go with just a simple batting tee? Or am I missing something else. I am not looking to put a cage in his backyard as this is just my nephew who lives many miles away.

2. At what age should I introduce him to a wooden bat? This is not to play with but to practice hitting with. Thoughts?

3. Videos - he wants to start pitching. He is currently in a machine pitch league but wants to prepare for the future. I would like to get him a video to teach proper mechanics since this is where i hurt my arm as a kid.

All this new technology is new to me since when I was growing up it wasn't around to help us.

Thanks in advance for any info.
TJM

Start him with a wood bat now. My 8year old has a 29-21 Easton wood for BP and a 29-19.5 Omaha for games.

With regard to pitching, just work him on easy long toss. Work more on hitting the glove vs. velocity.

[TG Coach]

There are lot of gimmicks posters will fight over their value or lack of value. I doubt anyone would debate the value of a tee (and a net if you're in a confined area). As for pitching, at eight focus on proper throwing mechanics before working on pitching. Don't be afraid to throw. Don't confusing pitching too much with throwing to build arm strength.

[LAball]

I like the hitting stick the best. Even better then a "T" cuz I dont have to set the ball up. For pitching, I dont think you need to get too specific. Glide and set the foot down and throw strikes. Make sure you practice down hill pitching.

[epic]

3. Videos - he wants to start pitching. He is currently in a machine pitch league but wants to prepare for the future. I would like to get him a video to teach proper mechanics since this is where i hurt my arm as a kid.

All this new technology is new to me since when I was growing up it wasn't around to help us.

Thanks in advance for any info.
TJM

Teach him to pronate all pitches.

[Ursa Major]

1. What would you recommend as far as an everyday hitting tool? The swing-a-way or something similar? Or should I go with just a simple batting tee? Or am I missing something else. I am not looking to put a cage in his backyard as this is just my nephew who lives many miles away.

The Swing-away is about $400 dollars; it's hard to justify the expense for a ball on a string. And some kids hate it, as they don't like the ball bouncing back toward them. The related Hit-a-Way is probably the device most likely to end up in the bottom of an equipment bag; it's bad news as it doesn't promote timing.

For my money, the best tools at that age are a bag of wiffle balls and a tee. You can safely hit wiffles just about anywhere. With these devices you can work most of the hitting hierachy of a good training mixture:

1. Drills isolating certain body movements;
2. Dry swings;
3. Tee work;
4. Soft toss;
5. Wiffle hitting;
6. Batting practice.

2. At what age should I introduce him to a wooden bat? This is not to play with but to practice hitting with. Thoughts?

Why would you want to do that? With the heavier weight to length ratio, you're more likely to find he suffers from bat droop and bat drag. For an 8 year old, a nice 28", 18 oz. bat should be about right, depending on his size relative to the average.

3. Videos - he wants to start pitching. He is currently in a machine pitch league but wants to prepare for the future. I would like to get him a video to teach proper mechanics since this is where i hurt my arm as a kid.

What TG Coach said. Just throw. If he can throw well with his shoulders pointed toward his target as he strides and a late hip snap, he'll develop into a pitcher in due time.

[straightleg]

Garage if room:
Tee, tennis balls, wiffle balls, baseballs. Use a swift stick for wiffle balls and reg bat.
Reg bat for tennis balls and baseballs.
Use a net or hang a sheet.

I use a straight net and curve it up on bottom 8 inches and make a trough. It catch's all the balls. Hit off tee and soft toss.

Fairly cheap setup