Daughter struggling

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Oct 4, 2016
176
18
Hey all - My 10 year old is having difficulty keeping her chest back when she strides. Losing all her power and has been hitting little dribblers to pitcher, short, etc. She has a hitting coach who is well respected and I trust him. When she's with him she gets it going in the cage off the tee and front toss but then when she's with me in the cage or at the plate in a game she reverts back. I don't have a video right now but I'm sure the experts on here know what I'm talking about. I'm looking for some advice on how I can help her - more tee work, side toss, etc.

Thanks in advance!
 
Feb 15, 2017
391
43
I have had this problem with many (younger) kids for years including DD. I have come to the conclusion in most cases it's because they are so excited to get to the ball and don't want to wait for it to get deep into the zone. One thing that I have done to break some of them (and it took some time) was put the tee towards the middle of the stance instead of inside the front heel. Over time the got used to hitting the ball deeper in their hands and they got comfortable with their hand speed to hit it there. Also - video helps those that are really athletic and understand body control. I would love to hear other ideas because this one has perplexed me for years!
 
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
I have had this problem with many (younger) kids for years including DD. I have come to the conclusion in most cases it's because they are so excited to get to the ball and don't want to wait for it to get deep into the zone. One thing that I have done to break some of them (and it took some time) was put the tee towards the middle of the stance instead of inside the front heel. Over time the got used to hitting the ball deeper in their hands and they got comfortable with their hand speed to hit it there. Also - video helps those that are really athletic and understand body control. I would love to hear other ideas because this one has perplexed me for years!

Here's a video from today https://youtu.be/xB_IsF-uVNM


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
She looks pretty good but for the tee to be that far forward it would need to be placed for an inside pitch.
tee should be located where her front foot comes down when she strides

...having difficulty keeping her chest back when she strides.

Do you mean that when she swings at the plate, she is reaching/leaning forward as if the ball is on a tee way out in front of her?
 
Last edited:
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
For 10u...she looks pretty good. Be sure to set the tee even with where her front foot lands after the stride.
As far as a mechanical issues, I feel like she's too connected (one piece swing) Work on keeping her hands back and creating some coiled up resistance across her core in the stride. The heel plant is the trigger to start the rotational phase. Notice how her whole upper half in in sync with her legs? They need to be moving in opposite directions during the stride.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
When hitting off a tee move it back in her stand to help her learn to hit the ball in her "sweet spot" vs. out front. You can also try putting something under her front foot during tee work that forces her weight back. DD's hitting coach uses a small 1/2 rubber exercise ball and places it under her front foot, which shifts her weight back and makes it difficult to sway forward during the swing.
 
Oct 16, 2008
164
18
SE Michigan
Regarding "keeping her chest back when she strides", I've had success with having the player use her core and rear leg to push her little toe into the back side of her shoe as she strides. If they do it right, you should see the stripe or seam in her shorts move back clockwise about and inch as she strides.
 

ian

Jun 11, 2015
1,175
48
Here's a video from today https://youtu.be/xB_IsF-uVNM


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Like James said. Look at her stride foot and hands, they both move forward together. My DD does the same thing. I've heard it referred to as 'leaking the load'. The load is the hands back, the leaking part is her hands moving forward before toe touch. The goal is to get to toe touch with out the hands moving forward. Try to get her to move her rear elbow slightly up and back while she is striding. It's gonna feel weird but you will notice an instant increase in bat speed. Keeping the hands back until toe touch also gives a hitter the ability to hit change ups and curveballs with a full swing.

Check out this swing. Hands back at toe touch. https://youtu.be/uW0V6OsxDBo
 

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