Hitting lesson tips

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Sep 21, 2017
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It doesn't matter what you know, it's what they understand that is most important.

IMO, being a good communicator is the top quality a coach can have. If you can't communicate to your players what you want them to do, in a way that they understand and can replicate, you're just taking someones money.
 
Oct 2, 2017
2,283
113
At that age with my experience with my Daughter communication is key! Have 10 different ways handy to relay the same information you want communicated. Also they take things at that age very literally so they need context every time.
 
Mar 28, 2014
1,081
113
So would you maybe having 1 or 2 things to work on each lesson is enough? I feel I taught my own DD to have better swings is bc we learn and work on one step at a time building it. If that’s true, are there any particular things that you would say should be work on before others? So would that be a good question in itself? What would be the first things taught in order if you were going by steps to a girl that never played before? This girl has some but just wondering.
Do this.

End of conversation. Ha!

Spend part of first lesson analyzing swing and videoing. Then start building one step at a time. First thing to work on is improving contact because that will build their confidence and also excite them and make them hungry for more. At that age keeping them interested is 3/4 of the battle.
 

NBECoach

Learning everyday
Aug 9, 2018
408
63
I watched a coach give a lesson to u10s in the winter. The attention span of u10s is so short that by the end of the lesson every kid swung the same way they had before the lesson.

So dont move too fast. Make sure you see the change.
 
Jun 19, 2019
60
8
It doesn't matter what you know, it's what they understand that is most important.

IMO, being a good communicator is the top quality a coach can have. If you can't communicate to your players what you want them to do, in a way that they understand and can replicate, you're just taking someones money.
I completely agree. I’m a teacher and I feel same way with that. I see a lot of teachers that know a lot but don’t know how to teach it well
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
When I give a first lesson, I don't want to do too much coaching. I don't charge for the first lesson. I look at the swing both off of a tee and with front toss. I then try to see one or two things we can work on. To be honest, I want to give some instruction toward the end of the lesson to see how coachable the hitter is and their attitude toward change. My lessons are supposed to go 30 minutes but they almost always go longer.

I think that it is important to define terms and to try to model what you expect wrt those terms. I teach in a way most people no longer even consider. I still use Posture, Connection and Rotation (PCR) as a guide for what I want in a swing. I have drills I use to try to make each of these parts of the swing more efficient.

While we are at it, I have different drills that are givens in what I do in lessons. I have certain drills that I use specifically for this or that hitter. A pet peeve of mine is that some hitters go to a one size fits all lesson.

When you show up for one of my lessons, you are going to hit balls off of a tee to get loose. If I have both cages, I'd like for you to warm up while someone else is finishing their lessons. From there, we will do some of the standard drills which really enables me to look at the foundation of what I think is a good swing. From there, I like individual work. I do my best to always end with balls in flight. For most that is front toss. For a few, I throw it. Typically my HS players get me throwing.
 
May 16, 2019
415
63
If you can use movement patterns without the bat that mimics the new hitting pattern your teaching, the learning process might be quicker. The bat has so many swings attached to it that the new patterns are hard to feel. Example would be some pvc drills. Small success that the player feels confident and accomplished. Good luck
 
Jun 19, 2019
60
8
When I give a first lesson, I don't want to do too much coaching. I don't charge for the first lesson. I look at the swing both off of a tee and with front toss. I then try to see one or two things we can work on. To be honest, I want to give some instruction toward the end of the lesson to see how coachable the hitter is and their attitude toward change. My lessons are supposed to go 30 minutes but they almost always go longer.

I think that it is important to define terms and to try to model what you expect wrt those terms. I teach in a way most people no longer even consider. I still use Posture, Connection and Rotation (PCR) as a guide for what I want in a swing. I have drills I use to try to make each of these parts of the swing more efficient.

While we are at it, I have different drills that are givens in what I do in lessons. I have certain drills that I use specifically for this or that hitter. A pet peeve of mine is that some hitters go to a one size fits all lesson.

When you show up for one of my lessons, you are going to hit balls off of a tee to get loose. If I have both cages, I'd like for you to warm up while someone else is finishing their lessons. From there, we will do some of the standard drills which really enables me to look at the foundation of what I think is a good swing. From there, I like individual work. I do my best to always end with balls in flight. For most that is front toss. For a few, I throw it. Typically my HS players get me throwing.
Great stuff. Thank you.
 

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