Throwing the all important B.P

[bbb3601]

As always when I have a question I feel is important to my kid improving his game I come to all of you for your advice/help. Most of you know my kid is 10. My ? is when you throw bp to a team how do you throw it. Now I know that sounds stupid but hear me out! I usually throw from one knee a little closer. Start out grooving them in , and then increase speed. Is this right? Our coach believe's in firing every single pitch stating that we are gonna face "fast" pitching so they should get use to it. My problem being no kids are hitting it. I worry about this causing bad habits trying to catch up so to speak. During our team bp all of the kids walk away hanging head's and all.And lastly now we are struggling in game setting's with the bat. Is this a product of over swinging during bp thus starting bad habits? We are still winning the games we should but we are a train wreck at the plate.

[Go Cardinals]

I've actually once heard that the best way to get the perfect swing is to crank up the machine to like 100 mph, then just swing and keep adjusting until you hit it (as long as you don't slap).

I think throwing hard can be good, as it has helped me before, but slow it down so they can work on their swings.

[bbb3601]

I see. Don't get me wrong I am not saying what he is doing is wrong. I wish I had a video of our BP. Most of the kids are swinging out of their shoes. I just wonder if some of that is killing confidence, and promoting some bad habits?

[Go Cardinals]

I see. Don't get me wrong I am not saying what he is doing is wrong. I wish I had a video of our BP. Most of the kids are swinging out of their shoes. I just wonder if some of that is killing confidence, and promoting some bad habits?

If they are swinging out of their shoes, tell them to just make contact and let the bat do the rest of the work.

[korp]

BP shouldn't be as fast as possible. Look at major league teams bp sessions. Their throwers throw maybe like 80 just fast enough so its not lobbing in there and you can put a good swing on it. You can throw inside outside if you want but its used to make sure your mechanics are down at a slower speed so when you see the quicker speed its all just natural and alls that changes is the speed its done at.

[beisbolcrazy22]

Its all about getting a nice swing and making contact. How are they getting better by swinging through every pitch the guy is throwing by them.
Making contact and grooving their swing.

[Swing Coach]

What they do in practice transfers to games/ When I was in my early twenties, I won a league batting title going to a cage almost every day of the summer hitting off a "one-wheel" machine that could throw (at top speed" about 70 mph). But I could do whatever I wanted with the ball...hit 10 in a row to rf or lf or right at the kid feeding behind the net. I had tremendous confidence in my swing.

I coach 9-10 year-olds and we even do underhand toss in one cage so they can RIP every pitch.

[bbb3601]

I think maybe he got the point of what some of us parents were commenting on. At our practice tonight he just let the kids have fun. He said lets have fun....we played a 1.5 hour game of two base and the kids ripped the ball all night. Oooh to be 10 again!!!!

[bbb3601]

For a friend!?

[scorekeeper]

As always when I have a question I feel is important to my kid improving his game I come to all of you for your advice/help. Most of you know my kid is 10. My ? is when you throw bp to a team how do you throw it. Now I know that sounds stupid but hear me out! I usually throw from one knee a little closer. Start out grooving them in , and then increase speed. Is this right? Our coach believe's in firing every single pitch stating that we are gonna face "fast" pitching so they should get use to it. My problem being no kids are hitting it. I worry about this causing bad habits trying to catch up so to speak. During our team bp all of the kids walk away hanging head's and all.And lastly now we are struggling in game setting's with the bat. Is this a product of over swinging during bp thus starting bad habits? We are still winning the games we should but we are a train wreck at the plate.

You’re one of the few people I’ve seen who uses the “1 knee, closer” method. I don’t know why you get down on 1 knee, but I hope its because you’re trying to get the players used to looking for the ball closer to where they’ll be seeing it released in games, than where an adult male would release it.

And hopefully you’re closer because you can much more easily throw the ball where you intend it to go. Hopefully you also understand that if you move closer, you don’t have to throw the ball as hard as if you stayed back to get the same appearance of velocity.

IOW, in order to throw what looks to the batter like a 60MPH pitch at 46’, it would get to the plate in about .523 seconds, but at 40’ you’d only have to throw it at 52mph. Your arm will appreciate you saving that 8mph after a couple hundred BP pitches! lol!

But the overall tone of you question seems to be one of confusion because you don’t see the kids getting a lot of HITTING practice, but rather a lot of MISSING practice. I for one believe that BP is about hitting the ball, not missing it. Now if once regular BP is over, the coach wants to show the players some live pitching speeds, that’s fine. But to just mow them down seems pretty stupid to me.

[bbb3601]

You’re one of the few people I’ve seen who uses the “1 knee, closer” method. I don’t know why you get down on 1 knee, but I hope its because you’re trying to get the players used to looking for the ball closer to where they’ll be seeing it released in games, than where an adult male would release it.

And hopefully you’re closer because you can much more easily throw the ball where you intend it to go. Hopefully you also understand that if you move closer, you don’t have to throw the ball as hard as if you stayed back to get the same appearance of velocity.

IOW, in order to throw what looks to the batter like a 60MPH pitch at 46’, it would get to the plate in about .523 seconds, but at 40’ you’d only have to throw it at 52mph. Your arm will appreciate you saving that 8mph after a couple hundred BP pitches! lol!

But the overall tone of you question seems to be one of confusion because you don’t see the kids getting a lot of HITTING practice, but rather a lot of MISSING practice. I for one believe that BP is about hitting the ball, not missing it. Now if once regular BP is over, the coach wants to show the players some live pitching speeds, that’s fine. But to just mow them down seems pretty stupid to me.

Yes I throw at times from one knee a little closer for his advantage..seeing the ball etc. I have seen alot of people do this. Doesn't make it right or PC if you will but I like it for bp at times. Due to the nature of my post obviously I don't blow the ball past him that was the point of my post.I was wanting an opinion on the correct way to do something from someone more qualified than myself. "Hopefully" I explained myself and I don't look like too much of a confused fool throwing from one knee. BUT if so I doubt I am the only one.

[scorekeeper]

Yes I throw at times from one knee a little closer for his advantage..seeing the ball etc. I have seen alot of people do this. Doesn't make it right or PC if you will but I like it for bp at times. Due to the nature of my post obviously I don't blow the ball past him that was the point of my post.I was wanting an opinion on the correct way to do something from someone more qualified than myself. "Hopefully" I explained myself and I don't look like too much of a confused fool throwing from one knee. BUT if so I doubt I am the only one.

Well, let me try to be more clear.

It sounds as though you're doing it right, and for the right reasons, and that coach is way off base.

But it isn't the 1st time I've heard about a coach who doesn't get something right. They're human beings and are prone to mistakes, just like the rest of us.

How's that?

[bbb3601]

Fair enough. Thank you for providing us with your views/opinion's. I have always enjoyed reading your posts.

[Jake Patterson]

"Firing" them in there is usually a coach trying to impress Mrs. Smith. Throwing beyond the child's ability to hit does nothing - scratch that - takes away from the child's ability to learn. Depending upon the age I adjust the screen's distance and throw standing up (I am only 5'07) so the batter's see an angle they would see during a game. The key is to allow them to hit, not burn balls passed them -that's coach pitching practice.

[Bryton]

BP is supposed to be for confidence and working on the fundamentals and mechanics of the swing. What good is BP if your not allowing the hitter to make contact.