12yo Maddie

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May 24, 2013
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So Cal
The journey continues from this thread...http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/25911-11yo-maddie.html

In no way do I think that the swings in this thread are ideal, nor do they represent all of what I believe should be part of a good swing. There are lots of areas that still need improvement in her mechanics, and I'm not in a hurry to fix everything all at once (I made the mistake of trying that early in her journey). As much as anything, this is about documenting Maddie's progress, and hopefully it can help someone else in their own journey.

As I stated in the previous thread, I'm not necessarily looking for "help". I'm comfortable with the progress she's making, and the coaching she's currently getting. That said, I welcome input and comments about her swing, and things you're seeing - good or bad.


Shortly after her 12th b-day, Maddie strained her knee (MCL), and spent the first 5 weeks of her team's fall season on the DL. This past Saturday, she played her first games since USSSA Nationals at the end of July. Based on what I have seen from her in the past, I expected there to be some challenges in getting her timing dialed in against live pitching in a game situation. Well....I was wrong. She went 5-for-5 over two games, with 2 doubles. Her first AB was a double to the fence over the LF's head...
 
Last edited:
Mar 25, 2011
304
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Really a powerful young lady there. From what little I know, I see a whole lot going on right. I don't see much of a spin on the back foot. Maybe a touch, but not much. Good stacked hands and keeps them in front of the elbow on her swing. At contact pretty aggressive through contact. There was one that seemed to deflect the bat off the ball (I think some might say that means she's turning/rolling over her hands too early?). Honestly, i'm being really nit picky i feel. She looks great in those at bats... If she wasn't creaming every pitch, I'd say send us some swings where she doesn't hit the ball... probably a lot more to be learned in those swings! Great way to come back from an injury! I think that ball may have rolled to the next state if those building weren't there to stop it.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
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Eric I know she's only 12 :) but something I've seen firsthand with our 18U team is how good pitching exposes flawed or needs-to-be-fixed seing mechanics...and how it can be challenging to make those adjustments later on....things like catching up to overwhelming speed, being able to adjust to a good changeup that works off that speed, squaring up movement pitches. She looks good, keep challenging her as a hitter by facing GREAT pitching and then using what we all learn here to make adjustments as pitchers get better then her (and then she gets better than them!). Ultimately I think that's the best way to keep her learning about and improving her swing, in the box. Good luck.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Eric I know she's only 12 :) but something I've seen firsthand with our 18U team is how good pitching exposes flawed or needs-to-be-fixed seing mechanics...and how it can be challenging to make those adjustments later on....things like catching up to overwhelming speed, being able to adjust to a good changeup that works off that speed, squaring up movement pitches. She looks good, keep challenging her as a hitter by facing GREAT pitching and then using what we all learn here to make adjustments as pitchers get better then her (and then she gets better than them!). Ultimately I think that's the best way to keep her learning about and improving her swing, in the box. Good luck.

Thanks, RichK. Maddie tends to do best against moderately fast pitching, and can adjust faster, when needed. She still tends to be susceptible to a good change-up, and will sometimes be a flat-out mess against really slow pitching. Improving her timing adjustibiliy is one of the areas we are working on.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
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Not to add any doom and gloom, but to add to what Rich said from 1st hand experience. I didn't work with my dd for about a year under the advice that it's time for dad to let go. Now I am back coaching her and just facts no brag or dog. I don't know of any girl in model swings that has a swing I like better than dd's bp swing. But in Dd's game swing she has picked up an arm plunge...And I can tell you she is miserable! My advice is Keep on the hand activation at go! Hands staying near the shoulder and barrel getting into the zone.
She gets so pissed about teammates hitting better with ugly swing and she being redunkulous in bp. I have shown her video though that as ugly of swings and arm bars and flattening as some good hitting team mates have, there barrel is getting into the plane of the ball and she is plunging a then turning.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
A launch with more forward movement of hands before swiveling barrel into zone. A knob pull of sorts.
 

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