Have heard MLB hitting coaches tell MLB players saying the same. So...yes indeed be careful.
Help - Travel Swing vs. High School Swing??
- Thread starter josie8
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
Have heard MLB hitting coaches tell MLB players saying the same. So...yes indeed be careful.
2 different swings is one thing - tweaking to improve is another. Is it really something totally and completely different? If so, obviously you can't do both. Like others have said, most coaches aren't so insistent if you're hitting. But if your DD has a weakness that is getting exposed and the coach has a suggestion to help with that, she needs to be open to that.
When I got to high school, my coach wanted me to start my swing with my bat straight up and down in the air. Of course, this was uncomfortable for me and I starting popping up a lot. I did it because he said to, but just before my swing, I'd drop back down to "normal" and started hitting much better. Once I was hitting consistently, he never bothered me about it again.
But as a coach, I know that I'd like players to be a little more open to hearing what I have to say instead of only following THEIR way. Also understand that sometimes their way works FOR NOW and there are coaches out there who are trying to prepare them for a higher level and can see small things that need improvement. Some players would actually improve if they keep an open mind and take things from each coach and stick it in their back pocket to add to their arsenal of attack when in the box.
There are some coaches out there who ARE willing to talk and, who knows, maybe you'll learn a really good reason why a coach is so insistent upon certain things.
When I got to high school, my coach wanted me to start my swing with my bat straight up and down in the air. Of course, this was uncomfortable for me and I starting popping up a lot. I did it because he said to, but just before my swing, I'd drop back down to "normal" and started hitting much better. Once I was hitting consistently, he never bothered me about it again.
But as a coach, I know that I'd like players to be a little more open to hearing what I have to say instead of only following THEIR way. Also understand that sometimes their way works FOR NOW and there are coaches out there who are trying to prepare them for a higher level and can see small things that need improvement. Some players would actually improve if they keep an open mind and take things from each coach and stick it in their back pocket to add to their arsenal of attack when in the box.
There are some coaches out there who ARE willing to talk and, who knows, maybe you'll learn a really good reason why a coach is so insistent upon certain things.
I agree with much of what you say and I would only add the oft used (probably trite) mantra, "If I have a batter who is hitting 500 and hitting HR's consistently, while standing on her head and performing a Sukahara, then it it my job as a coach, to offer a pillow...IF she wants one."
As a coach, IMO its probably more fruitful if I can take my 7-9 hitters and through my "coaching accumen", give them the tools to replace higher players in the order. If I can accomplish this, then my opinion may have some relevance. If i can't....then I should probably just shut up, because I don't know what I'm talking about and won't help anyway.
The tough part about all this is it sounds like your daughter won't have the chance to show what she can do in a game situation for a while. If she's in a clinic there's ample opportunity to tinker with her; if what she's being told isn't good it could really mess her up.
I agree with the smile and nod, providing you're sure the coach doesn't know what she's doing. There are a lot of former players who weren't taught too well but had enough athleticism to overcome it. They then pass along the bad teaching to a new generation, those kids don't have the athleticism to overcome it, and then they wind up riding the bench.
When you're playing games it all changes. I teach my players to bunt with their hands together up the bat. It's the technique I prefer. When my daughter was a freshman the high school coaches tried to change her to split hands because they didn't like the hands together techique. She went from being a very reliable and good bunter to struggling. I told her next game do it the way you know how. If you get the bunt down no one will notice how you did it. She did, she was successful, no one ever talked to her about how to bunt again.
Same goes for hitting. If your daughter crushes a couple of doubles the coach will probably congratulate her for listening so well to her teaching.
I agree with the smile and nod, providing you're sure the coach doesn't know what she's doing. There are a lot of former players who weren't taught too well but had enough athleticism to overcome it. They then pass along the bad teaching to a new generation, those kids don't have the athleticism to overcome it, and then they wind up riding the bench.
When you're playing games it all changes. I teach my players to bunt with their hands together up the bat. It's the technique I prefer. When my daughter was a freshman the high school coaches tried to change her to split hands because they didn't like the hands together techique. She went from being a very reliable and good bunter to struggling. I told her next game do it the way you know how. If you get the bunt down no one will notice how you did it. She did, she was successful, no one ever talked to her about how to bunt again.
Same goes for hitting. If your daughter crushes a couple of doubles the coach will probably congratulate her for listening so well to her teaching.
Your issue is a common issue. I also coach both HS and Travel and my attitude is if what you are doing makes you successful at our level of play, keep doing it, even if I wouldn't teach the mechanics that are making you successful, AND IF you are struggling, I would recommend you try something different, try and learn what we prefer, because BOTTOM Line, I want a player in the position that BEST HELPS the team, meaning if their mechanics make them the best in their position or successful when batting, WHY WOULD I change that? BUT I will switch out a player that is not helping the team.
Coaches (me included), often times get caught up in teaching ALL players "My Way" and also wanting to impress my kids with how much I've learned as opposed to working with each players ability and strengths and tweaking something to help them be successful.
Many travel teams with good coaches and they teach differently, so as LONG as the player is successful, go for it, if not, they won't see much field time.
*** Here is the worst arguments I hear - My DD was a STAR, crushes the ball..... at her LL team! I don't CARE about how well DD played against LL level of play, I care how she does against 9-12 players that prepare year round and how she does when she faces experienced pitching, so as much as DD is a star at LL, that does NOT always translate to success in travel or HS (sometimes, not always) I coached LL also.. for years, so I appreciate the good coaches at LL, though I also know LL is limited to practice fields/times and do NOT make cuts to keep the best 12+ girls they can find.
Coaches (me included), often times get caught up in teaching ALL players "My Way" and also wanting to impress my kids with how much I've learned as opposed to working with each players ability and strengths and tweaking something to help them be successful.
Many travel teams with good coaches and they teach differently, so as LONG as the player is successful, go for it, if not, they won't see much field time.
*** Here is the worst arguments I hear - My DD was a STAR, crushes the ball..... at her LL team! I don't CARE about how well DD played against LL level of play, I care how she does against 9-12 players that prepare year round and how she does when she faces experienced pitching, so as much as DD is a star at LL, that does NOT always translate to success in travel or HS (sometimes, not always) I coached LL also.. for years, so I appreciate the good coaches at LL, though I also know LL is limited to practice fields/times and do NOT make cuts to keep the best 12+ girls they can find.
IMO, if a person is hitting REAL well, (no matter what typle of swing technique they are using) a coach should never try to change their swing, even if it is different from the type of swing the coach is teaching. The old saying goes, "if it isn't broken, don't try to fix it"
If it starts to break down a little bit, then a coach can do some tweaking.
If it starts to break down a little bit, then a coach can do some tweaking.
- Feb 8, 2009
- 272
- 18
Good luck talking to the school coach. While people from all walks of life have control issues, school teachers/coaches have those tendencies more than the average joe. It is essential they be in control in the classroom. They must always give the impression they are right. That is the sure path to being close-minded. After a while, they too are convinced they are always right, and see no reason to believe otherwise.
Mostly yes, partly no. Late in a career, college or hs, absolutely. But there is a case where I would disagree. Example-a good athlete, good defender, hitting well with a 7 frame bat drag swing against mediocre pitching who has a shot, and wants it, to play mid to high level college ball. Another example would be a motivated focused hard worker who wants to be as good as they can be but has the aforementioned 7 frame swing. But if they are hitting as good as they want to at the highest level they aspire to, let'em hit.
Mark H... agree, if a player aspires to play at a higher level, they need to continue to work on the mechanics that will prepare them to be able to hit sharper breaking, breaking balls they'll see at the next level and need to learn the mental part of their at-bat. (know the pitcher, what her tendancies are / what she throws on 0-0, 0-2, 2-0, 3-0, knowing situation and looking for pitch in zone that is best for her to swing at based on the situation.....)
Have heard MLB hitting coaches tell MLB players saying the same. So...yes indeed be careful.
Some MLB people say red. Some say blue. What to do when the resumed experts disagree?
