How do you fix

[video=youtube_share;TVVjEPBy-Tk]http://youtu.be/TVVjEPBy-Tk[/video]

My 10 year old DD. In the video and can see that the hips don't drive the swing, the holds drop, bat drag. Any thing else? How do we fix this issues? We have been working for over a year and I keep stressing to her but there's no change. She loves softball and tries so hard, its frustrating for both of us.

Thanks

A youth tennis racket hitting side toss as hard as she can one handed into a net would be a great start. I wouldn't even approach form. let her stand however she wants. Just have her hit the snot out of the ball while you "quietly" relax. Let her experience the feeling of her being an athlete, not looking like one.


Hitting wiffles or tennis balls.

Also reinforce, the infield throw. Have her pick up grounders at 2nd base and toss them to 1st. She has to stay down and not stand up to throw overhand. She wants to be low and squatty. The hips have to help her, there. Then, as she brings the ball back, have her freeze and put both hands on the ball. Drop the ball and replace it with a bat. No one should be at the base, now - and have her throw the bat right to the base. That is the feel she wants when batting.

She isn't bad right now. In fact, she is great for her age group. Watching girls her age, just bat with their arms, will drive you crazy.

She may be a lot closer than you think.

Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm.

If you don't have a proper set-up to start with it makes it difficult to make a good swing.

Right now at setup, the barrel of her bat is near vertical. I would make sure the barrel of the bat is more of a 45 degree angle and here is the key, the knob pointed towards the catcher. The other issue at setup is she needs to create an upside down "V" with her forearms. Also, her grip, it looks like the handle is too deep in her palms.

Have her get in a habit of doing a small load/coil before she starts the swing. Next, I like the cue to push off the inside of the back foot to help fire the hip. She needs to get her weight to the front side for resistance, right now she kinda collapses when getting the barrel into the hitting zone. One thing to notice, her front foot toe is pointing too much to the pitcher at impact. She should be thinking attack the ball. Currently she is swinging at 75% effort.

I would keep it simple right now, proper setup and a few swing cues. It's a long process. She is well on her way.

FYI. I like girls this age to wear a batting helmet and batting gloves. It's a safety issue plus it replicates what she will be wearing in the game.

Show her the vids. Get her involved in the process. Show her optimum examples on vid so she can see it. Emphasize what you do want, not what you don't during practice.

Great advice and we will start working on these drills and changes.

That bat is also too heavy (21oz) for her!

Arnival said:

That bat is also too heavy (21oz) for her!

Click to expand...

And such is the issue with a static start and lack of rhythm ... virtually any weight bat of significance may feel as if is too heavy. The answer isn't to reduce bat weight for the purpose of arming the ball ... the answer is to learn how to 'swing' for the purpose of 'hitting'.

Honestly ... statements like this ... made on a hitter lacking rhythm ... run the risk of being incredibly off the mark and sending the hitter in an inappropriate direction.

I don't think the bat is to heavy. Her swing like the same with smaller bats. I thought the same to so we reverted back to a smaller bat to see. I showed her this post, we watched clips and then worked on it in the house (no ball just form ). She has made improvements.