Breaking it down

[jksdad]

As winter is coming my question is do you take this time to break down batters swings and pitcher, pitching mechanics? How far do you break it down? Batting 101 line your door knocking knuckles up? I know this is a good idea. My DD is a second year 16u not sure how far down to go and for how long to do just basic drills.

[AlwaysImprove]

As winter is coming my question is do you take this time to break down batters swings and pitcher, pitching mechanics? How far do you break it down? Batting 101 line your door knocking knuckles up? I know this is a good idea. My DD is a second year 16u not sure how far down to go and for how long to do just basic drills.

I never take a break it down approach. Much better to have a long term vision for a player, then you start in working on it, hand in hand with the player.

End of fall may be a time to take on a bigger change or two, but for me, I have never seen a kid's swing that was so awful that it had to start over.

[DonnieS]

As winter is coming my question is do you take this time to break down batters swings and pitcher, pitching mechanics? How far do you break it down? Batting 101 line your door knocking knuckles up? I know this is a good idea. My DD is a second year 16u not sure how far down to go and for how long to do just basic drills.

I never take a break it down approach. Much better to have a long term vision for a player, then you start in working on it, hand in hand with the player.

End of fall may be a time to take on a bigger change or two, but for me, I have never seen a kid's swing that was so awful that it had to start over.

Thats funny the way you put that. My younger, DD2, was a righty and hit pretty well, but the way she swung the bat was a half swing. But even at that because of her strength, was hitting balls off the wall at times. One of the camps she went to, this was the summer before her freshman year was at Texas A&M. I was on an extended trip to the east coast and I remember the phone call - 'Dad, Im a leftie now - Coach Evans said my swing sucked so bad the only way to fix it was to start over and if Im going to do that, might as well go left.' She had pretty good speed and did well as a bunter/slapper and focused on that for a while. Her home town hitting instructors, both with pro base ball experience, decided to work on her power swing, and she has done pretty well with that. We also ran into Steve Englishbey that summer and she really followed his techniques - which tied in well with the base ball guys that she worked with here.

So anyway, to your statement - there was one kid's swing that really was that awful.

[Safebyahare]

Always take just a moment of time to review class 101. Example: Tee work never goes away, at least for my dd, who is still with us.(senior yr) It is how she starts her lesson with instructor and how she warms up while hitting with me.
Class 101 should not be degrading, or below ones self, it is just part of practice. After a while if need be, just focus on 1 piece the whole pie. Example: hands on inside of ball,,,,, or contact point to avoid roll over. Just take and review 1 piece at a time. If YOU are training your own dd, please be careful. Do not fight, find a way to make it her own practice, with out too much interference, sure you can structure it and implement certain items that you would like her to cover, but be careful not to make it YOUR practice.
What worked for me may not work for you,,,,,
Let's face it, for awhile there it was rough,,sure I could say the exact thing her hitting coach would say, but it came from me which takes on a whole new meaning. Frustrated with each other, she knowing she had to get practice in, and me not wanting to take any $hit from her. A new way was born. I structured the practice and drank a glass of shut the hell up, She preformed the practice tolerating my help.
The break down solution: open field
Said it before and will say it again, open field. Doesn't even have to be softball field, used soccer fields to.
She would hit 60 balls off tee, she could see where to ball traveled to, no need for me to say a word, just put ball on tee and move tee around. Would just remind her of what aspect she was to work on.
Trust me when I say, she hated the tee at first, but now,,,all is good.
To avoid any other conflicts she likes to bring a friend. This also keeps me in check. They also hate the tee at first, but then become better at it and take pleasure in driving a ball.
Also get a softball batting coach, not some f'n baseball dude. Totally different swing, get someone who has done it.
Remember a steady consistent lesson is way better than some break down, do over thing, keep building , and adjusting.

[DonnieS]

If YOU are training your own dd, please be careful.

Also get a softball batting coach, not some f'n baseball dude. Totally different swing, get someone who has done it.

[Sam]

If YOU are training your own dd, please be careful.

Also get a softball batting coach, not some f'n baseball dude. Totally different swing, get someone who has done it.

Donnie is too nice to say it but I am not.....the kids that are hitting well today, besides slappers, are using a baseball swing. The old softball swing (bending both knees, swinging down on the ball so that you can hit a rise, knob to the ball, etc.) has been gone for a few years now.

I will now give way to the swing geeks.....Sarge!

[DonnieS]

If YOU are training your own dd, please be careful.

Also get a softball batting coach, not some f'n baseball dude. Totally different swing, get someone who has done it.

Donnie is too nice to say it but I am not.....the kids that are hitting well today, besides slappers, are using a baseball swing. The old softball swing (bending both knees, swinging down on the ball so that you can hit a rise, knob to the ball, etc.) has been gone for a few years now.

I will now give way to the swing geeks.....Sarge!

Actually both of these statements made me smile - I am not too nice, Sam, DW can attest to that. Just tired of wasting time on that discussion - and thats wrong of me.

[Safebyahare]

Hoooold on there Babalouie !!!! Are you saying an ex-baseball player makes for a better hitting instructor than an ex-softball player??
You mean I have given my dd the wrong tools to use!!! Well crap A little late now.
My common sense says this is wrong. Yes, you are correct the art of the swing has changed and improved, along with the pitching., and in my defense I did say something like "what worked for me".
Now perhaps it is just me or my lack of baseball knowledge, but the swing that comes to mind is a Charlie Brown swing, swinging upward on a ball that is traveling downward. While a fastpitch ball travels more parallel to the ground with less exposure time.
It is simple topics like this which make this such a valuable website.
In regards to the comment of "If YOU are training your own dd, please be careful" This comment is due to those great players out there that quit because their dads did not know when to let the game be theirs and not ours. For some this can be a make or break time for an athlete, and it can be some of the greatest times together.

Sam,, and others,,,,I had most my feelings removed a long time ago so if I give poor or misguided information let it fly.
Speaking of feelings,,,,,,,think I'll have a drink.

[Tucson]

While a fastpitch ball travels more parallel to the ground with less exposure time.

Wrong again. I suggest never taking your daughter to someone that is spewing that train of thought and teaching some sort of softball swing. It just doesn't exist.

Now back to the OP. Take a look at some video of her. Slow it down. If you have an iPhone get the app for Right View Pro and use that. I do not teach to line up the door knocking knuckles because I do not bat that way. But, that topic can be researched and you will find more than enough info on it, on line.

[hit4power]

While a fastpitch ball travels more parallel to the ground with less exposure time.[/quote

Wrong again. I suggest never taking your daughter to someone that is spewing that train of thought and teaching some sort of softball swing. It just doesn't exist.

1. thanks, I thought I was going to have to go physics teacher on that pitch path thing
2. It's been interesting to watch the MLB playoffs. FOX has been showing the swings with their high speed camera. If you watch those guys hitting, I think you'd be hard pressed to say you'd want your DD doing something differently when she swings...