Can't hit off real pitchers

YOCOACH said:

I think you're missing my point. If they're timing off of the pitchers motion, again as an example, say the 12 o'clock position, with the faster arm motion at 12U, they'll be late since it will be more like 1 or even 2 o'clock when they actually launch. For any given hitter at that age, it could be the 9 o'clock position or even release, I just used the 12 o'clock position as an example only.

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YOCOACH said:

gibraltor, thank you for this. However, If you'll slow-motion the clip you just posted, you'll see that Bonds first drops his hands to stomach level then just before he plants his front foot, he raises them back and up with the top hand just above shoulder level before launch. Personally, I think this is more of a style versus an absolute. Look at Ted Williams or Babe Ruth just as examples.

My launch point for my hitters is ultimately similar but I prefer they keep both hands just below back shoulder level and have them go back and up to the point where the top hand is just above the back shoulder. JMPO but I don't feel that the shorter time period between BB and SB, i.e 3.4-3.5 S reaction time between a 65 MPH pitch in SB versus a 3.8+ for a 100 MPH equivalent pitch, or larger for lesser speed pitches reaction time allows the extra time for a SB player's hands to drop to their belly then get into the loaded position. Again, just my personal opinion and I'll gladly readjust that if proven wrong. After all, even though I've been coaching and studying hitting for 15 years, I'm always on the quest to learn more.

BTW, no argument here on being one of the best hitters of our era from me.

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gibraltor, thank you for this. However, If you'll slow-motion the clip you just posted, you'll see that Bonds first drops his hands to stomach level then just before he plants his front foot, he raises them back and up with the top hand just above shoulder level before launch. Personally, I think this is more of a style versus an absolute. Look at Ted Williams or Babe Ruth just as examples.

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nixxy311 said:

Not sure how good of quality this is and if you can tell anything from it. I am usually in the scoreboard so most of my videos are behind her so you can't see how she's really standing until the ump bends down. It's also a nite game so it was pretty dark..

https://youtu.be/ZyFL8SLg7QA

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nixxy311 said:

She has hitting tonight but DH will probably take her - I'll have to ask if he can get some video. She's usually really good during hitting lessons which is why it's so annoying when she comes up to bat and just loses it all.
Her excuse at the plate is that she's thinking of too much...
Though now that I've looked at a few videos of her in 14U, I am noticing her back out a little more. She probably did it in MS as well since she faced some 14U pitchers then too.

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pattar said:

Hitting live pitching is a lot more difficult then front toss so I am not surprised she hits a lot better there. The environment is controlled, she knows that most pitches will be strikes and she won't get hit. DD's team was taking a lot of front toss BP early in the offseason and I suggested that they have their pitchers throw to the hitters. I told the coach that it will
benefit both hitters and pitchers. He eventually took my suggestion. Of course in the first three times they did this my DD got nailed 4 times so we'll see how it plays out

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nixxy311 said:

DD#1 only played SB for one season - it was awful. It was spring season of 10U and the pitching was - eh - lots and lots of walks. DD#2 was in 8U at the time and I was like - this is what I have to look forward to?!!
One of her first times at cages, they let their pitchers and catchers work and pitch to the batters. I was like - WTH would you let them do this - the batters aren't even getting anything to hit and they're just going to hit them. I think they only did that once. But that was 5 years ago. And we had gotten to use the Gwinnett Braves batting cages which are a lot bigger than the ones at our fields.

We still do coach pitch in the cages and live pitching at the fields when they aren't practicing defense. It's just never feels like enough time to really get good practice. We've been meaning to talk to her hitting coach and see about getting some live pitching for her there - a pitching coach works at the same place and I heard she might be available. But really that is one thing we notice is lacking in her lessons.

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pattar said:

Both front toss and windmill in practice are useful. MLB before games often do a progression of tee work, front toss and then BP.
Not the same, but does/can the hitting coach throw windmill front toss from 15 to 20 feet? I am not suggesting you tell him to do this, but I taught myself to do a decent old man windmill from 15 to 20 feet. Only fastballs for now though..need to work
on my off-speed pitches

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nixxy311 said:

It's been a couple of weeks since the last time I was at her hitting lesson - I know her coach was throwing front toss but I can't remember if she was doing windmills or not. I'm sure she'd be willing to try anything to help DD if she's able. I'll try to suggest to DH to talk to her about it.

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