Heavy balls? Total control balls?

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Jan 8, 2019
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100% correct and really well-described. If you can use a heavy ball and have a positive result with good (arguably) AND bad (inarguable) mechanics you have to be really careful, especially because where they are most often used is in pregames where coaches often aren't carefully instructing mechanics and hitters take their pre-game swings into the game itself. Good to see a lot of skepticism in this thread from hitting folks I respect.

(That said, there aren't a lot of other tools to use in a small confined space and get swings at a ball moving toward you -- not tee swings).
I understand the hurry of the pre-game ritual, but I try to never let the kids get away with poor mechanics (to the best of my ability, which I know is not superior).

I teach the kids that unless a drill is asking them to do something specifically "not normal" (e.g., one-handed swings off a tee), EVERY other drill should mimic their live-pitcher swing. If you are not going to swing like that in a game, why would you practice it?

I do not doubt that swings using the TCBs could allow for poor mechanics, especially when coaches are not coaching! Have you ever watched girls do their own tee drills when they do not see you watching? It's like the softball version of "Lord of the Flies!" (I'm living in rec ball land, so I'm sure that even the rec all-star girls have a higher tendency to cheat on drills than the highest-level TB athletes, but I expect that it would happen in TB, too.)

And I understand the concept @FP26 is bringing up, but I just don't see how a swing would be modified midway to create a push. IMO, ALL of the anticipation of the weight of the TCBs comes during the coil, otherwise, you would see a very disjointed swing, which I have NEVER witnessed using the TCBs, even from the smallest of our players.

I throw them fast enough that they stay relatively flat. They do not fall faster than any other ball. (Interesting that two threads on the forum recently have had to note that gravity affects all things equally, be it a bowling ball or a wiffle.)

I don't care so much if anyone loves the TCBs or not. They are a tool, just a tool, but one that I happen to use fairly often, and I have seen pretty good results from. I completely understand those that don't like them, and understand the some of the reasons. But, please don't blame the balls for not coaching. Like any tool, they have specific uses, and need to be used properly.
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
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What do you mean by "off the hands"?

In my experience, the only balls hit with any velocity or distance come off the center of the barrel with good hip rotation.
I talking about TCB balls here specifically. These balls really travel when hit off the hands. They do not mimic true feedback you get from a normal softball. Like I previously said, feedback is very very misleading with these balls. They are excellent for warm up, but awful for feedback for the hitter
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
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These balls really travel when hit off the hands.
Not trying to be a pain in the arse here but I can see no physical reason why this is true. Care to give an explanation? I get that the advantage gained, via the trampoline effect, from hitting it off the barrel probably won't happen with these but the fact that they travel further doesn't make any sense.
 
Oct 2, 2017
2,283
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Not trying to be a pain in the arse here but I can see no physical reason why this is true. Care to give an explanation? I get that the advantage gained, via the trampoline effect, from hitting it off the barrel probably won't happen with these but the fact that they travel further doesn't make any sense.
I would say its because its closer to the hands which means there is more support to brace and go through the ball. This may not be true in older players, but I have seen on the 8u-10u ages between games and in my own experience. 🤷‍♂️
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
I would say its because its closer to the hands which means there is more support to brace and go through the ball. This may not be true in older players, but I have seen on the 8u-10u ages between games and in my own experience. 🤷‍♂️
I suppose that is a reasonable explanation but the speed of the bat will be lower the closer to the hands you are.
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
Not trying to be a pain in the arse here but I can see no physical reason why this is true. Care to give an explanation? I get that the advantage gained, via the trampoline effect, from hitting it off the barrel probably won't happen with these but the fact that they travel further doesn't make any sense.
You are not being a pain.. but I am not going to be able to provide the answer you are looking for either.. I am just speaking from the results I've seen over the years. Correct no trampoline effect whatsoever. The only thing I can think of is, more support moving a heavy object when the tool you are holding is close to your body. If somebody tossed me a heavy ball and I had to try hit so far as I could. Would I have more success hitting it further from my elbow to my shoulder, than from my elbow to my hand.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
You are not being a pain.. but I am not going to be able to provide the answer you are looking for either.. I am just speaking from the results I've seen over the years. Correct no trampoline effect whatsoever. The only thing I can think of is, more support moving a heavy object when the tool you are holding is close to your body. If somebody tossed me a heavy ball and I had to try hit so far as I could. Would I have more success hitting it further from my elbow to my shoulder, than from my elbow to my hand.
Ok that is basically what @clemenslee1 said..who knows 🤷‍♂️
 
Jan 8, 2019
664
93
Prime example of the bat slowing down during a session DD did a while back using heavy balls because I didn't have anything else at the time. . And this was off of the middle to out side of the bat.


Key observation here is that your DD did NOT slow down her swing, the impact of the ball did. The same exact thing happens with a softball or wiffle, but the impact is different (obviously). Many kids STOP their swing when the TCBs hit their bat, and that is bad, but if they are being taught to swing through the impact (of ANY ball), that, IMO, is a good thing.
 

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