Son is chopping; need drills to level/turn to a slight uppercut

[Richmond Coach]

Hey Guys,
About 3 weeks ago, my son was at his weekly 30 minute hitting lesson and his swing looked pretty bad. He had an excellent fall travel season, started out winter workouts just murdering the ball and now all of a suddend the majority of the balls he contacts are weak choppers in front of the plate or the dreaded weak pop-up with that horrible backspin.

Per his instructor, he is trying to get him to focus on pointing the knob towards the pitcher, not homeplate.

I will try to post a video, but I was wondering how some of you swing experts may work throught this. Thanks in advance...RC

[mudvnine]

Per his instructor, he is trying to get him to focus on pointing the knob towards the pitcher, not homeplate.

I will try to post a video, but I was wondering how some of you swing experts may work throught this. Thanks in advance...RC

I've never once, wanted a kid to hit the ball with the "knob" of his bat......so I'm not sure why anyone would ever want a player to even think about or "focus" on it.

"Pointing the knob" at anything, is the best possible instruction, if you are looking for a "top down", "hands to the ball", hands ahead of the rear hip, leave the lower body out, type of swing........

Also, I sure hope you're not paying that "instructor", if you feel the need to come to a website for additional "thoughts" or IOWs, instruction.


JMO,
mud -

[tradosaurus]

It's a rare thing, IMO, to find a good hitting instructor that knows what he is talking about.
Personally I would recommend two books for you to read, "The Science of Hitting" by Ted Williams and "Lau's Laws on Hitting" by Charley Lau.
After you read and digest the information you will know more than 90% of so-called hitting instructors.
Personally I would have your son do the "Happy Gilmore" drill when batting off of a tee and then film him. You will be suprised that he will automatically (most likely)
incorporate all the proper techniques when using this drill.

[Richmond Coach]

Thanks to both of you for nothing but smart-mouth comments...not everyone has the credibility of you message board teaching studs.

Maybe I didn't describe the situation in the most eloquent manner. Take the "instructor" out of the equation and give me some drills that can help my son get away from chopping down on the ball. There, is that better? I want to work with him away from his lessons.

Oh and by the way, the place where my son goes and plays for their team has produced a couple of lesser known guys - Justin Verlander and Matt Moses (21st pick in 2005 draft). Also Scott Sizemore and Cla Meredith are instructors there during the offseason. But its all good, I know none of those guys have as much credibility as The Uncoach and Mudvine.

[Jake Patterson]

Rich,
I believe Mud was trying to be helpful. Pointing the knob at the pitcher is problematic, IMHO, and can easily lead to the problems you describe. Ask the coach why he does this and see if the answer makes any sense to you. He may be trying to establish some whip... but this is not the way in which I would have solved the above problem.

[Chris O'Leary]

Per his instructor, he is trying to get him to focus on pointing the knob towards the pitcher, not homeplate.

Tell us more about this.

In general, if a kid does with their hands and not their hips and shoulders, then the result isn't going to be good.

[virg]

Rich, you said
Per his instructor, he is trying to get him to focus on pointing the knob towards the pitcher, not homeplate.


I don't think anybody means to swing that way. What it means to me is to start hands/knob at the pitch at visual pickup. Just the start and only at the pickup, to address the ball/location with the hands. You can drill that with wiffleballs. Test it once before a bp session; see if it helps. If it does, then drill it.

[mudvnine]

Thanks to both of you for nothing but smart-mouth comments...not everyone has the credibility of you message board teaching studs.

Maybe I didn't describe the situation in the most eloquent manner. Take the "instructor" out of the equation and give me some drills that can help my son get away from chopping down on the ball. There, is that better? I want to work with him away from his lessons.

Oh and by the way, the place where my son goes and plays for their team has produced a couple of lesser known guys - Justin Verlander and Matt Moses (21st pick in 2005 draft). Also Scott Sizemore and Cla Meredith are instructors there during the offseason. But its all good, I know none of those guys have as much credibility as The Uncoach and Mudvine.

Whoa.....a little touchy there......try the decaf.

As for a couple "general", will do "no harm" drills, try the "Happy Gilmore" drill "trado" suggested.....



......the "Fungo" drill.....

......this one is a bit extreme, but you should get the idea......

......or the "One Leg, SnF" drill......




Best of luck,
mud -

PS. Thanks to "Stealth", "Swingbuilder", and "Mightlakers" for the clips used above.

[Chris O'Leary]

What it means to me is to start hands/knob at the pitch at visual pickup. Just the start and only at the pickup, to address the ball/location with the hands.

This is REALLY bad advice.

[Chris O'Leary]

......or the "One Leg, SnF" drill......

There are multiple problems with this drill.

[mudvnine]

There are multiple problems with this drill.

Then list them....

[tradosaurus]

I like the fungo drill also because for some reason I find that most kids who may have a problem with form automatically use the right form when doing this drill. Personally I would have a kid hit balls to someone in the outfield (while standing at home plate) and then film him.
Homeruns are worth a $1.00.:hyper:

[FlatBusted]

Tell us more about this.

In general, if a kid does with their hands and not their hips and shoulders, then the result isn't going to be good.

You want a kid to hit "with their shoulders". Oh my.

[shake-n-bake]

There's a training tool called the "Insider Bat." Google it and check out there video demonstrations. I like the concept, but save your money and go to the kitchen and get a spatula. Helped my son tremendously.

Also, there's been a clip on here before showing a drill where you simulate throwing a bucket over a fence. This has been around for decades. A coach had us do this with bags of pellets used to reload shot gun shells way back when I was a freshman in HS. Also helped my son. Maybe someone can post it?

[AdamInNY]

Quick question about the Insider bat. On the site the instructions and most of the videos show people hitting of a tee placed directly on home plate instead of having the tee in front of home plate where I'd normally place it. Which is the correct location when using the insider bat?

Adam