I'm getting worried

[coolstuff]

I've thought alot about this and I'm bringing this to y'all for some guidance.

DD had a good fall, hitting over .300 with an on base percentage over .600. She got a lot of playing time on the field. DD has been taking hitting lessons this winter, first with one hitting coach, then when her schedule didn't fit his, she switched to a new hitting coach. Both the hitting coaches and her team coaches seem to be on the same page as far as technique. At least they all seem to be saying the same things.

The coaches seem to be fine-tuning DD's swing mechanics and I notice she's swinging differently than before, and I agree with the coaches who are saying she's swinging better than before, at least what is considered to be a proper swing. But she's not making contact with the ball. Her average is way below the fall. Is it because she's adjusting to a new way of swinging the bat? Is it because we're playing indoor tournaments where the lighting and atmosphere have an affect? (The whole team has struggled indoors and finally were runner-ups just last weekend.) She's gone from middle of the batting order to the bottom of the order, and she is EPing and subbing more.

Last weekend at the tournament I had a slight anxiety attack. I can relate to some of the posters here who get disillusioned with their DD's playing time, batting order, team in general, etc. etc. I even began to doubt my own DD's athletic abilities, wondering if she's really as good as I think she is although all the evidence says she is. Basically, I just don't know what to think. Should I wait a little more and see what happens when the outdoor tournaments start next month? When should I - or should I even do this - approach the coaches and ask about her playing time? Honestly, I've never done that before, and even writing about it here makes me feel guilty.

Or am I just crazy?

[jofus]

We figured out last year in 14U travel ball that my DD's swing, which was fine in little league, and pretty powerful (she hit several that one hopped a 200' fence) wasn't going to work against faster pitchers....I could tell that it was too "long", so I started doing some research, and educating myself on rotational v linear, etc.

Now, after working on it some this winter, she's kinda like your DD....her swing looks pretty good, it's definitely shorter and quicker, she doesn't drop her hands like she used to, doesn't have bat lag as bad, she has better posture (she used to stand more straight up).....and, in the batting cage, she is swinging below almost every pitch. Even when she does make contact, it's usually on bottom of the ball. We haven't started playing games against real pitchers yet, so I'm not panicking or anything yet, but I'm pretty sure that there are still some adjustments that she needs to make. I'm just not sure what the exact problem is...she's always made good contact before.

Hopefully some of the guys here that are good at this stuff will have some good ideas for you that I can steal too

Good luck, I hope it works out for your DD.

[bkatona]

I'm glad I'm not the only Dad who has seen this in DD and wondered where the swing went after so much hard work last year and way into the Fall....thankfully DD is not the only player going thru these growing pains as the swing is being worked on.

[coolstuff]

.....and, in the batting cage, she is swinging below almost every pitch. Even when she does make contact, it's usually on bottom of the ball.

Yep, that's what's happening with my DD. I'm also hoping that when we get outdoors and she has a few more lessons that she'll start hitting again. IMHO I think she's not keeping her head in - not watching the ball all the way to the bat. Sometimes I think she's thinking through the mechanics too much and not watching the ball.

Any experts out there with advice on what to do when DD is swinging below the pitch?

[bkatona]

I posed this very question to a very well respected TB coach here in NJ last week at a seminar...he suggested the following drill with soft toss/ slow toss from a close pitcher (behind a screen):

Divide the ball (whiffle, Softee, or regular) into quadrants and either paint the quadrants different colors or number the quadrants 1-4 with a marker. When your player swings at the pitch have her call out either the color or the number she sees when she hits the ball....teaches the girls to keep their eyes on the ball when swinging and not look where they think it will be hit.

I will try this with DD this weekend as the weather may be ok to actually practice outdoors for a little while.

[FPdaddy]

AH...the difference between SWINGING and HITTING!

Without video of your kid, any poster would only be guessing.

Reps and patience, reps and patience, rinse and repeat.

Keith

[coolstuff]

AH...the difference between SWINGING and HITTING!

Without video of your kid, any poster would only be guessing.

Reps and patience, reps and patience, rinse and repeat.

Keith

Heavy on the patience, I'm guessing.

[Tucson]

Same thing happened to my DD after Freshman year. Thing was - she was happy.

No, do not approach the coach.

If she wants to work, I think off the tee is really good.

Get some video of her. Often times you can see the problem there. You can post a link to it, if you want.

[tai2000]

Have you given any thought to having her eyes checked? My DD has always been a successful hitter until this past fall. At first I wrote a lot off to change in mechanics, faster pitching, etc (she was also with a new batting instructor)
Finally it was driving me crazy...took her to the eye doctor, and guess what?? Yep, time for glasses. Now this was not an instant fix...she had to get used to seeing the ball better with the improved vision, as well as adjusting her timing a little...but it came around and she is hitting much better now.
Just a thought...

[EVR585]

I believe all players are going to go through "slumps". In my opinion if there are no physical issues (injury or eyesight) and if you are confident the swing is sound (without video it is difficult to comment) then go back to the basics. One of the other posters recommended soft toss, tee work and some easy pitching to hit. I agree with that assesment. This may be an issue of some minor correction of mechanics. Perhaps you can do the soft toss and the coach can view the swing and correct as needed. I would not stress too much, but certainly getting some extra work in a cage or in the back yard will help. Good luck!

Oh one other thing!
"Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect" - Don Shula

Poor mechanics in practice will carry over to the games.