Small kids and more pop

[JRH11]

On the 11U team that I coach, I have a couple small kids that are good hitters. They put it in play and get their share of hits. Any advice on some hitting drills to give them a bit more pop? Thx!

[tg643]

Don't concern yourself with "pop." All that matters is they have good swing mechanics. Pop comes with increased strength that comes with growth.

[JCincy]

On the 11U team that I coach, I have a couple small kids that are good hitters. They put it in play and get their share of hits. Any advice on some hitting drills to give them a bit more pop? Thx!

Some players stop their swing at contact. I don't know if that's the case here. If so, here's a simple drill.
Soft toss partially deflated volleyballs or dodge balls to the batter. (You can start with a tee if you want).
Remind them to drive through contact. They'll know when they make contact and they'll have fun driving the volleyball farther and farther. You can also detect the issue better with this drill.

It's a lighthearted drill that typically gets the kids lined up to give it a shot.

[TexAg]

Had a longer post that somehow didn't make it, but the BLUF was that my smaller 9u with little pop transformed this season after a change in mentality/aggression at the plate. He now goes up with his "homerun swing" until 2 strikes and has started driving the ball to the gaps and was even a couple feet from his first HR.

[tg643]

Why would a hitter change his swing with two strikes? That advice is right up there with "keep that back elbow up."

[TexAg]

choke up and get a bit more defensive, rather than free swinging.

[tg643]

choke up and get a bit more defensive, rather than free swinging.

So you advocate a hitter learning two separate swings? Please name some good defensive hitters?

[shake-n-bake]

Bend and Tilt!

Start the stride leg earlier - make pitches fatter by bending and tilting - have them be merciless on pitches they can pull.

[tg643]

Mike Schmidt was asked if he ever swung for homers. He said he probably hit about .150 when he swung for the fence. He said he hit two or three over his career when he tried. He said it took maturity to stop trying and just swing the bat.

[shake-n-bake]

Sure, if he indiscriminately started a swing with the intention of jacking one. What was his average when he read fence high FB middle-in and jumped on it like it was his 3rd cousin?

[tg643]

I'm all for teaching kids to guess and rip through a first pitch, 2-0 or 3-1 pitch. That's not changing style. I'm against changing bat grips and swings with two strikes. Whiffing is not the end of the world. Making solid contact at the risk of a few whiffs has value.

[TexAg]

So you advocate a hitter learning two separate swings? Please name some good defensive hitters?

It's more a change in mentality than a change in mechanics. Same as changing your approach at the plate on 2-0 or 3-1 counts.

[CircleChange11]

I'm all for teaching kids to guess and rip through a first pitch, 2-0 or 3-1 pitch. That's not changing style. I'm against changing bat grips and swings with two strikes. Whiffing is not the end of the world. Making solid contact at the risk of a few whiffs has value.

Unfortunately , even at 11U, just putting the ball in play can be "over-rewarded" due to defense and kids still being able to outrun the arms/distance.

It's just amazing to me that in our last two games, no opponent has hit the ball to or over our OF. Every team is stacked with small guys that run really fast. Just get on base (10U), get a big leadoff (even a quick move can't get you) and steal like crazy (our catcher has a gun and quick feet and very rarely is it a close play).

My guess is at 11U these same players are not as valuable because defenses are better, arms are stronger, etc.

There's a reason why most little guys don;t hit with pop. Some are instructed in a fashion "not to", and the other reasons are tied to physical limitations. It's like asking why big kids aren't faster.

IMHO, you almost have to teach an exaggerated mechanic like Dustin Pedroia or things of that nature to get a non-powerful kid to hit the ball hard. If smaller players are using good rotational mechanics and are still not hitting the ball with authority, then I would teach them to bunt effectively, both to lead to more hits, but also to draw the defense in.

[JCincy]

If smaller players are using good rotational mechanics and are still not hitting the ball with authority, then I would teach them to bunt effectively, both to lead to more hits, but also to draw the defense in.

Why would you want to draw the defense in, if they can't hit with authority? Doesn't this help the defense?

[CircleChange11]

Why would you want to draw the defense in, if they can't hit with authority? Doesn't this help the defense?

Less reaction time.

We know what effect "bringing in the defense" (for a play at the plate) has on BA, and in the MLB it's about +.125 for the batters.

By hitting with authority, I'm talking about "line drives OVER the infield".

Shorter distance means you have less time to field a batted ball at the same velocity.

It's no different than having the pitcher scoot 10 feet closer to the batter. Does this make hitting easier or harder? Why? Same reason. Less reaction time.