Patience at the plate?

[Pale Rider]

Whats the best way to teach patience in the batters box?...(besides the remote controlled pocket tazer unit I just ordered...which I *think* is refundable)
Its HS ball now...and pitching is...well...to be nice...it sucks in most cases...like how old people have sex...slow and wobbly..like a change up every pitch....up on front foot reaching for it...
Any ideas?...mantras...quotes...extra batteries for my tazer unit?

[jonriv]

PR. I feel your pain. My Dd still has bouts whenever slow pitching. I have used videos, threats of dessert withholding, no car,,,,,,,,,,,,

College coaches have been successful by changing some or timing mechanisms(bat held out like a bunt)

[Pale Rider]

Had her smashing it before in Colorado with slow pitching...using a David Ortiz approach...biggest issue is she think because she CAN hit it...that she SHOULD hit it...shes not 12 anymore...65 doesn't scare her...45 bewilders her..
Will try your hint...

...but will keep tazer in her back pocket

[BAM2]

Hey Pale Rider have our kids been hanging out together. Slow pitching has contributed to some long slumps. Looks like we can see the light, with the past couple of high school games. Only thing her hitting coach can't say enough of is " Trust your hands ( aka bat speed ) and let the ball travel.
She's up in the box which is where she is normally not, trying to compensate, but after 9 games I think she is coming around. We were contemplating the same thing no phone no tv no Food.. But just backed off and let her and her coach figure it out. Pressure from everywhere causing way to much thinking. Tell her have fun and just let the game come to her, and in no time she'll be back to those 250 foot bombs.

[hit4power]

It's a common problem and plagued my DD as well. Her HS coach had her do a drill where he threw slow front toss and she had to hit every ball to RF. It forced her to let the ball travel as others have said. In games, she obviously didn't try to hit everything to RF but focusing on that seemed to give her just enough patience to not be way out in front (at least some of the time).

[Battle]

Make her ride home on the roof rack. Of couse, first you will have to tell her that she rides with you to and from the game until she starts hitting. That should be enough if she's driving but either way, the roof rack works wonders especially if it's chilly.
When you get home and you are helping her down start muttering, "patience, patience, patience".

[Pale Rider]

Battle was *really* thinking along the lines of a water hose, huge fan and push-ups...rack thing may work.
Funny thing is she beats herself up about it...I'm like...duh...its your brain causing it...and worrying about makes it worse...LET THINGS HAPPEN...stop forcing them
BAM...I know...its not like they're gonna blow a fast ball by her...its aint Ricketts pitching...
HS, here anyway, has some very sloppy pitching...and umpires who are just ready to get home (or back to halfway house before curfew ..ball in air...over batters box...as a whole..not over catchers head=strike...


come on May

[Pale Rider]

Batters need to learn how to change their launch time as opposed to getting ahead and slowing down as is most common. When pitcher goes back in her motion batter loads. When you release that load and go to toe touch is a function of pitch speed.
Try using different pitcher arm locations as you trigger point depending on pitch speed.
Fast pitcher she may go when the pitchers arm is at 9:00, for a slower pitcher maybe not until 3:00 on her arm circle. That way the actual swing mechanic never changes, only when you "go"
Not a fan of changing location in the box.

I'll sure have her give the load timing a try...problem is she loads for a Ferrari and get a HS Prius...
Plus they pitch to her like making whoopee with a porcupine...*real careful*...she hates to walk...3 and 0 with a green light she's gonna swing if its over the backstop to keep from walking in HS ball

[Sam]

Set up a pitching machine at 40' and cones at 3' intervals in front of the batters box. Have the hitter start in the batters box and hit 5 pitches. Move her to the first cone, 3' in front of the box, and have her hit another 5 pitches. Repeat moving forward until she can't catch up to the pitch. Then move her back a cone, for 5 pitches and repeat until she is back in the batters box. The last station is three feet behind the batters box.

This should teach her how to dial it up and down depending on the speed of the pitcher. Or it could be a waste of time.

[spartansd]

That is the Barry Bonds drill I believe. And I do think it works.

My DD has learned to do a few things against slower pitching:

- really focus on hands to the ball (more time allows many to drop hands and pop up)
- really work on hitting ball where it is pitched (take outside to right)
- One thing that really helps is she will try to take it to RF with and inside out swing, seems to really help


Over swinging is a big issue along with hitting off end of bat, pop ups, and trying to pull slow one on outside.

As I said the key is to become more focused and keep hands high. Once she does this everything else kind of falls in line.