My son's recent swing

[mightylakers]

Here are a couple clips.

catcher side view

and

side view

Your comments are welcomed.

One thing I'm wondering is do you think he should do a little more weight shifting? He has converted back to no-stride for a couple months or so. Power wise I felt like he started to hit more line drives than high fly balls now. Maybe no-stride help with his BA, but I'm thinking of adding more power to his swing. Do you think stride may help weight shift more than no-stride?

TIA

[THop]

TIA,

In my opinion…

I think he looks very good, but think he is leaving A LOT of power on the table due to neglecting his hamstrings. His hip action looks very good too but will become much better if the stretched out hamstrings add to it.

If he prefers no-stride, I would try spreading his feet out in his stance (double shoulders width). If he prefers striding, I would try having him step a full12 inches to feel the power then work back from there toward the end of your bucket of balls.

To me he can go from a “pretty” to a “sweet” swing in no time at all.

You’ve done well. He does a lot of things right.

THop

[Jake Patterson]

Couple things,

1. bat looks too big.
2. Swing looks good.
3. PCR! Teach him this - everything else will follow.

[mightylakers]

TIA,

In my opinion…

I think he looks very good, but think he is leaving A LOT of power on the table due to neglecting his hamstrings. His hip action looks very good too but will become much better if the stretched out hamstrings add to it.

If he prefers no-stride, I would try spreading his feet out in his stance (double shoulders width). If he prefers striding, I would try having him step a full12 inches to feel the power then work back from there toward the end of your bucket of balls.

To me he can go from a “pretty” to a “sweet” swing in no time at all.

You’ve done well. He does a lot of things right.

THop

By stretching out hamstrings you mean the wider stance? Or the finishing part?

Thanks

[mightylakers]

Couple things,

1. bat looks too big.
2. Swing looks good.
3. PCR! Teach him this - everything else will follow.

Jake, thanks for the comments. He's using a 29/20 bat. It's really felt a lot of heavier due to the weight distribution. But he has done well as no pitcher can sneak fastball past him.

Now for PCR, forgive my ignorance, what does it stand for?

[THop]

TIA,

Wider stance if he no-strides or longer stride if he doesn’t.

THop

[mightylakers]

TIA,

Wider stance if he no-strides or longer stride if he doesn’t.

THop

I see, the strange thing is he used to be standing wide such as this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxR6BMFxRmM

But now his upper body more upright and feet not far apart.

It's difficult to keep all things in check:-)

[TG Coach]

TIA,

Wider stance if he no-strides or longer stride if he doesn’t.

THop

I agree with THop. I was going to post about the lack of stride or wide stance and the resulting loss of power. He'll whip the bat throw the zone quicker with his legs further apart.

[tom.guerry]

how about giving him some stride and weight shift ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7K6DUcL2L8

[THop]

One more thing I wanted to point out about the hamstrings.

In my opinion…..

A hitter wants to stretch them just enough to be explosive. An extra wide stance can achieve this but I see a lot of youth hitters over do this to the point of locking or freezing up. Adding tension and subtracting fluidity before the swing ever begins.

That’s why I have always encouraged a slow moving stance, a slow move to the inside of back foot when the pitcher separates his hands and a slow stride where the hands travel back while the foot travels forward when the pitcher releases the ball. All of the above will fluidly keep the hamstrings active (but loose) and poised to explode.

It’s cookie cutterish, so I allow each hitter the freedom to perform each act his own way and according to his own tempo.

THop

[mightylakers]

One more thing I wanted to point out about the hamstrings.

In my opinion…..

A hitter wants to stretch them just enough to be explosive. An extra wide stance can achieve this but I see a lot of youth hitters over do this to the point of locking or freezing up. Adding tension and subtracting fluidity before the swing ever begins.

That’s why I have always encouraged a slow moving stance, a slow move to the inside of back foot when the pitcher separates his hands and a slow stride where the hands travel back while the foot travels forward when the pitcher releases the ball. All of the above will fluidly keep the hamstrings active (but loose) and poised to explode.

It’s cookie cutterish, so I allow each hitter the freedom to perform each act his own way and according to his own tempo.

THop

Yes I need to work with him to find that fine line between overdone and underdone. It seems to me too wide a stance may hinder his hip rotation. We will just have to keep on trying I guess.

Is there any theory as for what should be the optimal width right before the rotation?

[callyjr]

Yes I need to work with him to find that fine line between overdone and underdone. It seems to me too wide a stance may hinder his hip rotation. We will just have to keep on trying I guess.

Is there any theory as for what should be the optimal width right before the rotation?

Epstein says the length of the bat, it has been a good measuring stick for my students as well.

[mightylakers]

Epstein says the length of the bat, it has been a good measuring stick for my students as well.

Yes, I have his DVD as well. Am trying this as a starting point. Will take him to the cage to see how much of difference it may make.

[LAball]

how about giving him some stride and weight shift ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7K6DUcL2L8

Man he hits the ball way in front. Even with the stride his front foot barely reaches the back of the plate. I thought we should hit the ball deeper?

[Jake Patterson]

how about giving him some stride and weight shift ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7K6DUcL2L8

Stride and weight shift are good. When teaching youngsters I try to teach a very short stride.