14U DD hitting...looking for feedback

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May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Well, I will start and then others can give additional advice. I had to turn the sound off, so that I didn't have to listen to the instructor. My approach would be a lot different, but then, I don't know how often he has worked with her. He is using terms like "stack the hands" and "stay inside the ball" and I am not certain that she has been taught the terms. He sounded like he had just read a book on hitting.

She is too straight up and down and many times her shoulders seem to square to me.

We would be working the bottom half a lot and I would have her flexing the knees, almost into a "sit."

She stings her own hands at one point and she has to keep swinging, because they are using a machine. I wish that all instructors used a tee and soft toss. Then, you can stop and demonstrate what you are saying.
 
Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
This is a really good swing, dlobell! She's got good coil (load), stretch and separation at toe touch - I'll bet she can hit some balls a long way. For me, to hit it even further:

1. Have her hold that coil she gathered at load through toe touch. Some call it "forward by coil." Another poster, MTS, says to think about the front hip "leading" the knee into toe touch. I like that cue because it implies, at least to me, the maintenance of that coil.

2. She needs to allow the weight to shift from back to front a little bit more. It looks like she's "squishing the bug" and spinning with the back foot. I use the cue, "Drive the back hip into the front hip." That allows for a bit more transfer of that weight, and fixes her spinning. The walkthrough drill is a good drill for working on this as well.

*3. I can't tell because of the angle and speed of the video - I don't know how to make GIFs or to slow it down - but it looks like occasionally she rolls the bat over a bit early/doesn't have the shoulder, forearm & bat angle consistent through contact, which for me means an early roll over. She's losing the integrity of the shoulder, forearm & bat angle (which should be pretty consistent or the same at contact) because she's forcing the top hand to roll over too soon. The picture below shows what I'm talking about, because my words may not be cutting it right now!

Bat, Forearms, Shoulders 02.jpg
 
Last edited:

tjintx

A real searcher
May 27, 2012
795
18
TEXAS
It sounds like she is with an instructor in this video. Are you not happy with him? Maybe you are wondering if your money is being well spent or if there is more to offer in the batting world?
 
Feb 8, 2009
272
18
I really like her swing. Like someone else said, I bet she hits some long balls. Her swing is built for power. The one thing I would work on is balance. I dont know if part of her losing balance is the service she is working on.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
I like her. I'd want to see her in a weekend of games, but couple of years ago in 14u I'd probably be putting her on my list to call. Good strong aggressive swing. Good vibe, seems feisty, looks like fun to her, some videos we see the batter looks to have the personality of a dead mule.

Amy hits a good point, she looks a little tall in stance. Looks like that's why she gets off balance on some hits. Legs gotta be the bedrock.

I'd be working soft and hard toss into zones while working on the lower half. Good strong legs, but sequence seems a tad off. Or maybe it's me............our whole family has the flu. What a way to start the New Year!!
 

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