Switch hitting help

[wazzy]

The level of expertise in this group is astounding. We are pretty simple and just starting out on our journey, so looking for some advice. Took our daughter outside to hit some balls yesterday and she wanted to turn around and hit left, so she did. She has never done this or shown any interest before. Swing looks pretty good! She made contact with about 1/3 of them and looked comfortable with her stance. I can help her minimally with training, but am looking for suggestions as to how to foster this along and advance her swing from the left side.

For background, she is 9 and has played some form of little league since she was 5. She is highly coachable but is often hard on herself, so we haven't pushed for travel ball yet. Maybe this question could be answered there with more professional coaching? Not sure. But while we are quarantined and the weather is decent I thought we could work on it.

 

[BigSkyHi]

Excited for her taking on the challenge. Kids will imitate what they see, so as a coach, if you want them to do it correctly...... This Youtube is an accomplished 10 year old. - Samantha Rey 2023 Front Toss 11-30-2017

 

[clemenslee1]

The level of expertise in this group is astounding. We are pretty simple and just starting out on our journey, so looking for some advice. Took our daughter outside to hit some balls yesterday and she wanted to turn around and hit left, so she did. She has never done this or shown any interest before. Swing looks pretty good! She made contact with about 1/3 of them and looked comfortable with her stance. I can help her minimally with training, but am looking for suggestions as to how to foster this along and advance her swing from the left side.

For background, she is 9 and has played some form of little league since she was 5. She is highly coachable but is often hard on herself, so we haven't pushed for travel ball yet. Maybe this question could be answered there with more professional coaching? Not sure. But while we are quarantined and the weather is decent I thought we could work on it.

One the biggest advices I can give is to keep it simple. Don't try and teach to much at once. Pick an area of the swing to work and stick to it for a bit, then move on. When you move on, you will have to come back often to the previous thing you taught until it's engrained.

Also do your research, watch a lot of video and try everything that you want to show her ,yourself. That way you understand what it is you are trying to communicate to her. Be prepared to have 5 different ways of explaining the 1 thing you want to communicate lol.You can be creative here.

I'm sure others will have more to add.

 

[wazzy]

Thank you!

 

[_MIA_]

The level of expertise in this group is astounding. We are pretty simple and just starting out on our journey, so looking for some advice. Took our daughter outside to hit some balls yesterday and she wanted to turn around and hit left, so she did. She has never done this or shown any interest before. Swing looks pretty good! She made contact with about 1/3 of them and looked comfortable with her stance. I can help her minimally with training, but am looking for suggestions as to how to foster this along and advance her swing from the left side.

For background, she is 9 and has played some form of little league since she was 5. She is highly coachable but is often hard on herself, so we haven't pushed for travel ball yet. Maybe this question could be answered there with more professional coaching? Not sure. But while we are quarantined and the weather is decent I thought we could work on it.

TBH not much use in switch hitting in softball but at that age if she wants to hit from both sides because it is fun then go for it. If it looks like she can run at some point I would probably just move her to the left side.

 

[wazzy]

One the biggest advices I can give is to keep it simple. Don't try and teach to much at once. Pick an area of the swing to work and stick to it for a bit, then move on. When you move on, you will have to come back often to the previous thing you taught until it's engrained.

Also do your research, watch a lot of video and try everything that you want to show her ,yourself. That way you understand what it is you are trying to communicate to her. Be prepared to have 5 different ways of explaining the 1 thing you want to communicate lol.You can be creative here.

I'm sure others will have more to add.

So, I'm sure that she probably could use technical work on her swing with the right as well... lol. Would you recommend working on a part of the swing from both sides during the same session? Any specific youtube sources you like?

 

[clemenslee1]

So, I'm sure that she probably could use technical work on her swing with the right as well... lol. Would you recommend working on a part of the swing from both sides during the same session? Any specific youtube sources you like?

To be quite honest I would not want to recommend anything without seeing her swing, tee is fine, but front toss or live pitch is preferred. Wouldn't want to suggest something that would take away from anything good that she does. I would focus on the main right side first and then work on the left.

That being said IMO sequence is king when youth player are learning. So the main youtube video would be the Justin Stone video that circulates often here. I don't have on hand at the moment maybe someone has it and will provide it.

 

[wazzy]

TBH not much use in switch hitting in softball but at that age if she wants to hit from both sides because it is fun then go for it. If it looks like she can run at some point I would probably just move her to the left side.

Sounds like a lot of value in hitting from the left, so I'm hoping it works out.

 

[BigSkyHi]

Antonelli Softball has been a great source for my kiddos learning to rake.

 

[_MIA_]

That being said IMO sequence is king when youth player are learning. So the main youtube video would be the Justin Stone video that circulates often here. I don't have on hand at the moment maybe someone has it and will provide it.