12U Hitting "Slump"

ian · Jun 6, 2017

Julie-

If you have a DD playing softball and want her to be successful at the plate, you have no choice but to learn to swing the bat. Blindly throwing time and money at a hitting instructor and travel ball program is more scary than posting DDs swing. This forum is one of the best resources for learning the game.

Have fun!

Shawn · Jun 6, 2017

Ask questions, it's really that simple. We ask questions regardless if we understand the answer sometimes, and then we ask more questions.

wheresmycar · Jun 7, 2017

Shawn said:
Rdbass,

I just wanted to comment on the dad and his lack of involvement in the thread. There are many things I don't say in these threads of hitters shown. Mainly because of the lack of involvement. I don't want to waste my time.

LOL... I suspect he came to conclusion (after 7 posts) that nothing useful was going to come out of this thread. There is plenty of... "This is wrong" or "your DD stinks at hitting, didn't you know?" in this thread, but not much that was actually helpful.

FiveFrameSwing · Jun 7, 2017

wheresmycar said:
LOL... I suspect he came to conclusion (after 7 posts) that nothing useful was going to come out of this thread. There is plenty of... "This is wrong" or "your DD stinks at hitting, didn't you know?" in this thread, but not much that was actually helpful.

The initial post, and title of the thread [12U Hitting "Slump"], suggested that the issue is a 'slump'.

This is no 'slump'. This is a bad swing in need of a 'redo'.

While the message may be tough for some parents to accept, it is the message they need to embrace if they truly wish to see their kid flourish in this game long term.

Eric F · Jun 7, 2017

wheresmycar said:
LOL... I suspect he came to conclusion (after 7 posts) that nothing useful was going to come out of this thread. There is plenty of... "This is wrong" or "your DD stinks at hitting, didn't you know?" in this thread, but not much that was actually helpful.

IMO...It's pretty easy for new DFP'ers to become overwhelmed by a pile of technical information using terms that aren't familiar. Some will do the work to find out what the hell is being talked about, but many are scared away by the inhospitable nature of technical discussion. We - the DFP community - could do a better job of introducing some of the mechanical concepts in terms that are more easily digestible.

Greenmonsters · Jun 7, 2017

wheresmycar said:
LOL... I suspect he came to conclusion (after 7 posts) that nothing useful was going to come out of this thread. There is plenty of... "This is wrong" or "your DD stinks at hitting, didn't you know?" in this thread, but not much that was actually helpful.

I put this into the "most everyone wants the one drill magic bullet solution, but don't really want to do the blood, sweat, and tears work when told that such a drill doesn't exist and that there is no simple solution" category.

rdbass · Jun 7, 2017

fivepotsogold said:
What can we do for drill or approach at plate? Did a lot of "reaching" in middle school games with the poor pitching.

Greenmoster said:I put this into the "most everyone wants the one drill magic bullet solution, but don't really want to do the blood, sweat, and tears work when told that such a drill doesn't exist and that there is no simple solution" category.

Dad didn't like the answer that one drill wasn't going to fix this 'slump'.

juliefox_24 · Jun 7, 2017

Thank you for all of the responses. I agree with the point above that many seeking help are looking for a single, simple answer or drill that will get the hitter over the mechanics issue she is experiencing (singular). When the response instead insinuates that the hitter's entire swing if flawed, or something equally unflattering, the natural reaction for some is to flee.

I've come to learn that while my DD's hitting instructor has her best interests in mind, working with him one time per week is not nearly going to cut it as she advances past 10U. I'm not sure how this compares to other's experience, by my DD's TB team equally is not going to teach her to hit. The expectation is that you already can hit, and when mechanics issues creep in (what lead me here) no one is going to work hard and actively to fix the issue, after all, at practice there are 11 other girls who need to hit too. If my DD is going to be successful long-term, I have no other realistic choice but to learn this myself.

The knowledge gap between those new to the forum and those who are experienced does seem to make the learning process difficult, but what I take from the responses is that just like anything, if you want to learn it badly enough you eventually will. JF

Eric F · Jun 7, 2017

juliefox_24 said:
Thank you for all of the responses. I agree with the point above that many seeking help are looking for a single, simple answer or drill that will get the hitter over the mechanics issue she is experiencing (singular). When the response instead insinuates that the hitter's entire swing if flawed, or something equally unflattering, the natural reaction for some is to flee.

I've come to learn that while my DD's hitting instructor has her best interest's in mind, working with him one time per week is not nearly going to cut it as she advances past 10U. I'm not sure how this compares to other's experience, by my DD's TB team equally is not going to teach her to hit. The expectation is that you already can hit, and when mechanics issues creep in (what lead me here) no one is going to work hard and actively to fix the issue, after all, at practice there are 11 other girls who need to hit too. If my DD is going to be successful long-term, I have no other realistic choice but to learn this myself.

The knowledge gap between those new to the forum and those who are experienced does seem to make the learning process difficult, but what I take from the responses is that just like anything, if you want to learn it badly enough you eventually will. JF

You have reached the right conclusion (IMO). Your DD's success will be helped best if you take on direction of her development by educating yourself. I encourage you to read, read, read in the hitting sections of the forum - even if things don't make sense at first. Watch LOTS of video of the best hitters in MLB and softball. Fill your head with information and start to sort through it. Also, swing a bat. Feel for yourself what it is you're trying to get your DD to feel.

IMPORTANT!!!!>>>> Be patient. Don't try to fix everything all at once. As your knowledge grow, don't dump all of that exciting new information on her right away. You need to sort though things for yourself, and understand them (at least moderately well), before you try to instruct your DD with those concepts.

There are quite a few people who have been on - or are still on - the road you are about to start. You are not alone.

Buttermaker · Jun 7, 2017

juliefox_24 said:
Thank you for all of the responses. I agree with the point above that many seeking help are looking for a single, simple answer or drill that will get the hitter over the mechanics issue she is experiencing (singular). When the response instead insinuates that the hitter's entire swing if flawed, or something equally unflattering, the natural reaction for some is to flee.

I've come to learn that while my DD's hitting instructor has her best interest's in mind, working with him one time per week is not nearly going to cut it as she advances past 10U. I'm not sure how this compares to other's experience, by my DD's TB team equally is not going to teach her to hit. The expectation is that you already can hit, and when mechanics issues creep in (what lead me here) no one is going to work hard and actively to fix the issue, after all, at practice there are 11 other girls who need to hit too. If my DD is going to be successful long-term, I have no other realistic choice but to learn this myself.

The knowledge gap between those new to the forum and those who are experienced does seem to make the learning process difficult, but what I take from the responses is that just like anything, if you want to learn it badly enough you eventually will. JF

I have had hitters work their tail off with the help of their parents (learning along with them) and without help from the parents. It is really a crap shoot (depending on the hitting coach and his/her teaching). But, you heavily increase the odds in your daughters favor if you learn as much as you can so you can distinguish between good and bad instruction. And if you do learn - you get to play defense with authority when every coach/parent along the way tries to rush in and change something about her swing the first time she swings and misses...

12U Hitting "Slump"

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ian

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FiveFrameSwing

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Greenmonsters

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rdbass

It wasn't me.

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