How to evaluate a new hitting coach for my 9yo

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May 15, 2017
29
1
First post. I've been reading the discussions for a bit and I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

My daughter(rh), has regressed a bit this year batting - soft grounders and fly balls to right field. We decided to try out a hitting coach and I'm a bit worried about what she's teaching. I'm just looking for help in how to evaluate a the hitting coach.

My daughter's big problems are casting and a racing or leading rear elbow and just poor balance in general. Her shoulders and back also rotate at the same time as her hips.

Her new hitting coach seems nice enough and all but there were some concerning cues she was giving my daughter.

Door knocking knuckles aligned.
Rotate the rear foot so toes are pointing to the pitcher (If she had said squash the bug we would have walked out)
Knob to the ball/knob to pitcher
Turn hands over at contact

She's said some good things as well.
Arm slotting has really improved
Back hand is palm up at contact
She's using her lower body quite a bit more

Some things she hasn't addressed (we've only had one lesson).
front leg is bent on and after contact
weight transfer (although maybe she's saying in a different way)
torso rotation separate fro m hip rotation.

I texted her about the knob to ball drill and how I was afraid she was getting too linear to the ball and this is what she texted back:

"As far as linear and rotational, you would like a linear approach to insure the best/quickest path to the ball. The pivot in the legs is what supplies the power. Once you make contact you can finish rotational if you'd like.
You would just like to be long up the middle before you pull off the ball. Getting all of the ball before you twist your body causing you to become a pull hitter only hitting balls to the left side. We want hitters to be able to hit to all sides of the field.
Getting your nob inside the ball will insure that."

Anyway, I hate to second guess a coach who probably knows more than I do (I was never a great hitter and quit after a few practices at a terrible DIII school) but I'm not sure about her current coach. Should we stick with it or look for a new coach or what. If you can help a Dad out that would be great. My daughter would love to be hitting a lot better by the time the all-star tournament starts next month. Thanks.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
First post. I've been reading the discussions for a bit and I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

My daughter(rh), has regressed a bit this year batting - soft grounders and fly balls to right field. We decided to try out a hitting coach and I'm a bit worried about what she's teaching. I'm just looking for help in how to evaluate a the hitting coach.

My daughter's big problems are casting and a racing or leading rear elbow and just poor balance in general. Her shoulders and back also rotate at the same time as her hips.

Her new hitting coach seems nice enough and all but there were some concerning cues she was giving my daughter.

Door knocking knuckles aligned.
Rotate the rear foot so toes are pointing to the pitcher (If she had said squash the bug we would have walked out)
Knob to the ball/knob to pitcher
Turn hands over at contact

She's said some good things as well.
Arm slotting has really improved
Back hand is palm up at contact
She's using her lower body quite a bit more

Some things she hasn't addressed (we've only had one lesson).
front leg is bent on and after contact
weight transfer (although maybe she's saying in a different way)
torso rotation separate fro m hip rotation.

I texted her about the knob to ball drill and how I was afraid she was getting too linear to the ball and this is what she texted back:

"As far as linear and rotational, you would like a linear approach to insure the best/quickest path to the ball. The pivot in the legs is what supplies the power. Once you make contact you can finish rotational if you'd like.
You would just like to be long up the middle before you pull off the ball. Getting all of the ball before you twist your body causing you to become a pull hitter only hitting balls to the left side. We want hitters to be able to hit to all sides of the field.
Getting your nob inside the ball will insure that."

Anyway, I hate to second guess a coach who probably knows more than I do (I was never a great hitter and quit after a few practices at a terrible DIII school) but I'm not sure about her current coach. Should we stick with it or look for a new coach or what. If you can help a Dad out that would be great. My daughter would love to be hitting a lot better by the time the all-star tournament starts next month. Thanks.

Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you have a good idea about what you would like taught to your daughter so unless she doesn't listen to you (certainly possible) or you don't have the time, why don't you just work with her (with the help of DFP) for the time being?? You could also post her swing here and people could help out. You could always go back to private lessons when she is a bit older.
 
Mar 3, 2015
142
0
Michigan
Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you have a good idea about what you would like taught to your daughter so unless she doesn't listen to you (certainly possible) or you don't have the time, why don't you just work with her (with the help of DFP) for the time being?? You could also post her swing here and people could help out. You could always go back to private lessons when she is a bit older.

I agree. Take the money you were going to spend on lessons, and use it to buy an IPad for video purposes. Then teach her yourself.
 
Nov 4, 2015
320
43
I say get her a few more lessons with the instructor. As you said, she didn't say squish the bug. With my DD, i may have the best intentions and the best advice out there, but there is always a bit of a disconnect in trying to change anything with her. Hitting or pitching. Some days she is a sponge, others, we have to quit to keep from fighting. I've had better success helping her fine tune things. A good, not great, private instructor may not perfect the swing, but it may help you get her going in a better direction that will allow you to work with her better. DD's pitching coach can say turn a cartwheel while doing run-throughs and she will try it no questions asked. I say push off hard and she may do it or she may eye roll. Just depends on the day. We work much better together now than we did a year ago, but 11 year old hormones still treat dad differently than someone else.
 
May 15, 2017
29
1
Thanks for the advice. I wish I had more time to spend on this because my daughter loves practicing with me but work is crazy and I have three younger kids who aren't as big into softball/baseball.

Also, while I have an idea of what I want I'd have a hard time putting together anything worth while - any advice would be great here. I'll upload some video when I get a few minutes. I don't think I ever had a coach break down my swing in high school or rec ball and the one time I went to a hitting coach I had no idea what he was telling me to do. I'm ok paying for lessons because my daughter will feel more accountable, but I don't really know how to find what I'd like in terms of coaching (or what will most benefit my daughter which may be different than what I'd like). I've tried emailing college coaches around town to see what they would recommend but haven't had any luck so far.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
I don't think I ever had a coach break down my swing in high school or rec ball and the one time I went to a hitting coach I had no idea what he was telling me to do.

The first time anybody said anything to me about my swing and the first time I actually saw myself swing on video (VHS..lol), was in college ball. That was 20+ years ago and things have changed. Uploading a video
is a good idea. I am sure people would be willing to help and it will allow you to navigate the choice of a hitting coach (should you choose to use one) with more knowledge in hand.
 

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