How to build aggressiveness at the plate

Have to do it.

[video]https://youtu.be/f9ok1VXC-tc[/video]

Once mechanics are refined, I occasionally like doing a step up drill with a machine (really one of the few things I like a machine for....) Set up 3-4 home plates in a row, about four-five feet apart. Start at the farthest, the step forward after 8-10 solid hits. Most kids are jazzed and amazed they can make contact at the closest base (helps to pre-load unless the feeder is very good.)

The other thing I like is to recruit an older pitcher to come out and throw BP at her warm up speed. I love their eyes when they hit that first ball!

Ken B said:

Once mechanics are refined, I occasionally like doing a step up drill with a machine (really one of the few things I like a machine for....) Set up 3-4 home plates in a row, about four-five feet apart. Start at the farthest, the step forward after 8-10 solid hits. Most kids are jazzed and amazed they can make contact at the closest base (helps to pre-load unless the feeder is very good.)

The other thing I like is to recruit an older pitcher to come out and throw BP at her warm up speed. I love their eyes when they hit that first ball!

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I've yet to see this drill performed without negatively impacting a hitter's mechanics.

Example ...

Let's say the first plate is at 43ft away from the machine and set to 54mph.

The next plate is at 38ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 61mph.

The next plate is at 33ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 70mph.

The next plate is at 28ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 83mph.

Every time I've seen this performed, the mechanics during the "reading of the pitch" are negatively impacted. The portion of the sequence that must not be rushed in order to develop solid sequencing, end up being rushed. Timing mechanics become negatively impacted.

It can be a fun game ... kids may enjoy it ... just haven't seen anyone's mechanics improved from this 'drill'.

FiveFrameSwing said:

It can be a fun game ... kids may enjoy it ... just haven't seen anyone's mechanics improved from this 'drill'.

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Used sparingly and in addition to other tools/drills, do you see this drill as having potential benefit for building confidence in the OP's case?

Ken B said:

Used sparingly and in addition to other tools/drills, do you see this drill as having potential benefit for building confidence in the OP's case?

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In your own words, the 'drill' promotes the feeling of helping "to pre-load". Assuming that my understanding of what is being pre-loaded is correct, then I translate this to bypassing/eliminating/ruining a hitter's timing mechanics.

As for building confidence ... false confidence easily crumbles. Robbing a player of their timing mechanics isn't going to help them under the heat of competition.

FiveFrameSwing said:

As for building confidence ... false confidence easily crumbles. Robbing a player of their timing mechanics isn't going to help them under the heat of competition.

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The best confidence builder I've come across is booking several sessions with a good instructor. For the OP's kiddo, are there some confidence building tools or drills you'd recommend?

Don't talk about game at bats for now. I would work on mechanics with the hitter. Have them be involved in the learning process, watch videos and have the student comment and ask questions about what they see. Have the student watch their swing on video.

After they have a basic idea of what their swing should be, you can start talking about future game at bats. The goal for game at bats is not to hit the ball, the goal is to put a good swing on a good pitch and that's it. If they strike out every at bat, no problem strike outs happen, the question is did they put a good swing on a good pitch.

As soon as the player is trying to put a good swing on the ball they will be successful.

I understand what you are saying but DD is swinging in games, that is always 1st in my head.

We will figure out the rest latter.

Most kids at that age that refuse to swing are doing it out of fear. Her first instinct is to make sure she isn't going to be hit, and by the time she assures herself of this the ball is past her.

Someone mentioned this, but I would have her swing at the first pitch no matter where it is. Take the decision away from her.

Chaz McNulty said:

Her first instinct is to make sure she isn't going to be hit

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lol, is my DD Pitching?

You are right it can be a big concern.