Stopping at contact

If you have a good swing, there is NO WAY you could stop at contact.

Ergo, if you can stop at contact, you have a bad swing.

If the coach is telling them to stop during actual games, then he needs to be in a mental institution.

RADcatcher said:

It can be a helpful beginning developmental tool. And a tool with developed players against a challenging pitcher situation.
*Because purposely controlling what the body & bat are doing can create better mental to physical control instead of just swinging away and letting bad habits do their thing.

Basically players can either swing wildly. Or they can swing in a form that has less room for boogering it up.

For instance even at top tier levels there are batters who will not use their full swing in certain challenging pitcher game situations and they will condense their swing to have more control with it.

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Lost art. Go big or go home mentality has taken over MLB.

BrianTx01 said:

My DD's high school coach absolutely insists that they stop at contact. This is absolutely contrary to everything I have ever heard about hitting. Is this some new fad that I haven't heard of before?

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Asking this because think there is a high probability that a person who's coaching the team to do this has a reason.
(a reason that is NOT they would coach every team this way)

Did your daughter relay to you an explanation from the coach why entire team do this?

Obviously "stopping" the bat at contact is a ridiculous thought. However, some coaches use certain drills that involve stopping the bat at contact in order to check one's swing mechanics. I don't place much value in such drills, but if your daughter is insisting her coach is telling her to stop her bat at contact during normal hitting (as in games), I suggest you contact her coach to find out what is really going on. It is common for kids at any level to totally misunderstand what their coach is telling them!

RADcatcher said:

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Do not think that mimicking this swing will turn your player into a good hitter. This was a fluke! It was also likely a 70+ MPH pitch hitting a barely legal bat! D1 pitch speeds supply most of the energy necessary to hit the ball over a 220' fence.

There has been previous discussion on dfp about whether or not anything after contact matters. Leave that open to discussion.

What I like to see is a good approach to making contact.
Because
Turn drive drill to contact is very common. (Stop at contact)
Turn drive contact threw point extention is very common. ( pointing at pitcher)

Both controling approach...
can understand the consideration of someone wanting to apply that even in a game.
Definitely know that batters that can do those drills can feel the reward of good contact and from that also utilize them in a game. It can be part of constructing connecting practicing & reproducing productivity in game situations. Learn timing, approach and contact and build from there.

RADcatcher said:

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Is this her normal swing? No
Did someone tell her to swing this way? No
Does she practice to swing this way? No

Most kids have enough swing problems without introducing new problems.

Fun clip though

efastball said:

Is this her normal swing? No
Did someone tell her to swing this way? No
Does she practice to swing this way? No

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Are you saying you know her

Many players are acclimated to doing those drill/swing mechanics. It would be surprising if she had never encountered them.

efastball said:

Most kids have enough swing problems without introducing new problems.

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Mehhh don't think it's introducing something that's a problem. Because it is used so much for training and productivity.
( but that could just be the old discussion of these mechanics over those mechanics)

efastball said:

Fun clip though

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efastball said:

If you have a good swing, there is NO WAY you could stop at contact.

Ergo, if you can stop at contact, you have a bad swing.

If the coach is telling them to stop during actual games, then he needs to be in a mental institution.

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One Flew Over the Coach's nest.

That institution would be full.