joined new TB team last fall, with paid coach, who also does individual instruction and clinics. we have sent DD2 to several of her clinics, and done some ad hoc private lessons (ie nothing regularly scheduled). one of the things working towards is more power in her hitting. Was making a lot of contact, but not much power overall, although it improved somewhat last couple of tournaments. leading up to those tournaments, I was working with her, trying to instill in her that she needs to swing all out, swing through the ball, etc. Basically, she was concentrating so much on contact, that she was slowing her swing down. Was telling her to focus on smashing the ball as hard as she could, not just contact. and she had some good results for a couple of tournaments, but still would like a little more power. got as few very high popups, some sharp ground ball singles, etc.
Set up a couple of lessons with coach, and she has her keep bat on her shoulder, trying to get force her to load up more for more power, but seems to me swing is slower, and less contact overall now, and confidence at plate is dropping (leading to a couple of Ks looking this past weekend, coach hates this).
what to do?> talk to coach and see if she can go back to not having bat on shoulder, but elevated and more upright (not completely upright, hands at cheek level), at least through season, then make changes in offseason? or go to another instructor completely (and how do we tell HC this).
Other things we are going to do are when we are not going to be able to work, or no practice, have her hit 50 or 75 tee shots, just to get reps in, build muscle, etc.
when I can work with her (~2 times a week), I generally do couple buckets of soft toss and couple of buckets of live pitch from about 25 feet (trying to simulate speed for reaction time, I cannot pitch as fast as what she faces), go to cage every now and then. these sessions also include defense work, we generally alternate (ie bucket of soft toss, some fielding, bucket of live pitch, more fielding, bucket of soft toss, fielding, etc.) to keep it interesting and not overstress joints/muscles.
Set up a couple of lessons with coach, and she has her keep bat on her shoulder, trying to get force her to load up more for more power, but seems to me swing is slower, and less contact overall now, and confidence at plate is dropping (leading to a couple of Ks looking this past weekend, coach hates this).
what to do?> talk to coach and see if she can go back to not having bat on shoulder, but elevated and more upright (not completely upright, hands at cheek level), at least through season, then make changes in offseason? or go to another instructor completely (and how do we tell HC this).
Other things we are going to do are when we are not going to be able to work, or no practice, have her hit 50 or 75 tee shots, just to get reps in, build muscle, etc.
when I can work with her (~2 times a week), I generally do couple buckets of soft toss and couple of buckets of live pitch from about 25 feet (trying to simulate speed for reaction time, I cannot pitch as fast as what she faces), go to cage every now and then. these sessions also include defense work, we generally alternate (ie bucket of soft toss, some fielding, bucket of live pitch, more fielding, bucket of soft toss, fielding, etc.) to keep it interesting and not overstress joints/muscles.