Feedback on sons swing - Matt D

[JD1515]

Hey everyone ... I'm sure you get a ton of these ... any feedback would be greatly appreciated ... my son is 12 ... last year of little league ... he plays in northern PA (still pretty cold) ... I need some feedback on his swing ... specifically I need feedback on

1. He struggles against moderate to fast pitching ... slow bat
2. He's always under the ball ... alot of pop-ups ...

I have 3 clips of a recent scrimmage at practice ... 3 separate swings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afLgk7F7mKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBeVw2sbnag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm2qGIZc6yM

[Mark H]

This is a pretty typical swing for this age. He needs to learn how to get in an athletic position (think dead lift), rotate in that position, connect that rotation to the bat so it's not just arms and, well that's a good start. Here's a couple of resources.

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/analysis;jsessionid=8fllcp2i01.lion_s

Study that, read the threads on here, especially the ones where Boardmember or Jbooth have done some video illustrations. I forget what Steve Englisbey's screen name is on here (Steve something) but definitely read anything he writes as well as 4x4 or Scott and a few others. Sign up on the public side of englishbeyhitting which is free and if you want to spend some money get Englishbey's basic dvd and Nyman's new hitting download titled Teach Your Son to Hit the @#$% out of the ball. Oh, and be prepared for dissenting opinions following this one. Good luck. I remember when mine were that age. Enjoy it. You will blink your eyes and he'll be headed off to college or the military or bringing "the girl" home to meet the parents or some such and you will wonder where the years went.

[wogdoggy]

[QUOTE=JD1515;1164332]Hey everyone ... I'm sure you get a ton of these ... any feedback would be greatly appreciated ... my son is 12 ... last year of little league ... he plays in northern PA (still pretty cold) ... I need some feedback on his swing ... specifically I need feedback on

1. He struggles against moderate to fast pitching ... slow bat
2. He's always under the ball ... alot of pop-ups ...

I have 3 clips of a recent scrimmage at practice ... 3 separate swings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afLgk7F7mKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBeVw2sbnag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm2qGIZc6yM

I like swing 3 the best..he seems to move his head excessivley in the first 2 vids..whereas he seems to hit the ball out over his front side..

let the ball travel and tell him to hit from "behind' the ball..

[JD1515]

Ok ... a lot of this is new to me so bear with me ... I have a few quick questions ...

1. He's clearly dragging the bat (back elbow leading back hand ... using the back elbow as the fulcrum of the swing) and not maintaining the "box" ... what adjustment do you suggest to address that ? I know it's easier said than done, but he's got to start somewhere ...

2. Hitting "behind the ball" not sure what that means ...

Once again ... appreciate any suggestion ...

[wogdoggy]

Ok ... a lot of this is new to me so bear with me ... I have a few quick questions ...

1. He's clearly dragging the bat (back elbow leading back hand ... using the back elbow as the fulcrum of the swing) and not maintaining the "box" ... what adjustment do you suggest to address that ? I know it's easier said than done, but he's got to start somewhere ...

2. Hitting "behind the ball" not sure what that means ...

Once again ... appreciate any suggestion ...

his weight is way out over his front foot from lunging,,hitting behind the baseball is a cue for him to let the ball come to him..its a cue but if you can think of something better use it...

[JD1515]

ok RayR ... thank you ... one clarifying question and I'll let it go ... a local "instructor" had my son get a wide(r) stance to shorten the stride he took with his lead leg ... if we get him in a more athletic position (which I interpret as feet a little wider than shoulder width apart ... essentially bringing his feet back closer together), won't that lengthen his stride with his front foot and introduce more (unneeded) motion in the swing ... thanks again for the attention ...

[wogdoggy]

ok RayR ... thank you ... one clarifying question and I'll let it go ... a local "instructor" had my son get a wide(r) stance to shorten the stride he took with his lead leg ... if we get him in a more athletic position (which I interpret as feet a little wider than shoulder width apart ... essentially bringing his feet back closer together), won't that lengthen his stride with his front foot and introduce more (unneeded) motion in the swing ... thanks again for the attention ...

at least the local guy sees your kids excessive movement,,check out this clip it may help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0TLUN7KRBI

[mightylakers]

The biggest problem as I can see is lack of lower body involvement and hip rotation. He seemed to be shoulder/arm only kind of swing, or and a little plunging also.

I would start with working on hip rotation and hand staying back first.

[BoardMember]

I would also suggest focusing on the hinge angle from the bat to the lead forearm. Your son never gains an efficient bat to forearm angle to allow the pendulum effect at the elbow joint to assist in whipping the bat to contact.

It appears "laid out" at launch causing a pull at initiation.

[RayR]

ok RayR ... thank you ... one clarifying question and I'll let it go ... a local "instructor" had my son get a wide(r) stance to shorten the stride he took with his lead leg ... if we get him in a more athletic position (which I interpret as feet a little wider than shoulder width apart ... essentially bringing his feet back closer together), won't that lengthen his stride with his front foot and introduce more (unneeded) motion in the swing ... thanks again for the attention ...

He can swing no stride (Pujols) or lift the front leg kind of like Soriano and drop the foot in its original spot. Or find something in between. I like the timing of a stride.

[Jake Patterson]

at least the local guy sees your kids excessive movement,,check out this clip it may help



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0TLUN7KRBI

I would not recommend the above as a good swing or good instruction.

[Bags Sr.]

I would not recommend the above as a good swing or good instruction.

Jake,

Why would you not recommend the video? just trying to learn as well. The instruction is easy to understand and follow.

Thank's

[PhilliesPhan22]

I would not recommend the above as a good swing or good instruction.

Hardly looks like he is using his legs at all.

[Swing Coach]

I would also suggest focusing on the hinge angle from the bat to the lead forearm. Your son never gains an efficient bat to forearm angle to allow the pendulum effect at the elbow joint to assist in whipping the bat to contact.

It appears "laid out" at launch causing a pull at initiation.

This is one of the biggest problems I see in my lessons with young kids. Their first initial movement with the hands is down...which often causes bat drag and forces them to pull toward the ball. If you watch closely a mlb swing, their hands move forward and down (with their back shoulder). WHy do you see so many pros taking practice swings firing their hands downward? THey are overemphasizing this move so when they have a game swing their hands and shoulders can fire together down and toward the ball.

With any swing where the hands are late, I would emphasize that he uses his hands and shoulders together. Tell him to have powerful hands, and to keep them in closer to his body. My son had the exact problem and now that he uses his hands, his swing is much better.

On the contrary..(I also see many older kids whose hands move too early and bypass the back shoulder right away) In this case, I would have them de-emphasize the hands and work more on rotation and keeping the hands back. Different strokes for different folks --- but never take the hands away from the swing. I have done that....and the results are not good.

SC

[wogdoggy]

I would not recommend the above as a good swing or good instruction.

really jake ? the guy was only a big league hitting coach...


like to know your IDEA of good instruction