Hammer

julray said:

So major breakthrough my DD and I last night at BP session, wish I video taped it. Posting it here because I asked her to think about the bat being somewhat similar to a hammer (she used a hammer before). We talked about it for a bit, weight being mostly in the barrel, picked up a 32/27 baseball bat to illustrate more and let her swing it and focus on releasing the barrel into the ball. She said she never really thought about it that way before.. I'm glad she figured it out, . I threw her about 75 balls from 20-25 feet and she hit 98% line drive rockets off the back of the cage or the L screen I was pitching from. I mixed in change up etc, made no difference. I was kind of scared, lol. I asked her what she was thinking about prior to each pitch, where her focus was. She said she was concentrating on her hips... and creating separation (pinching scap while planting front foot). She felt like she was seeing the pitches better, I could tell that she wasn't out ahead of the pitch on her front foot, explains why she hammered the change ups as well. Also she was hitting some the balls inside out, rocket gappers to right field, which is something I have never seen from her before (this probably made me most excited). She has always been a pull hitter, and if she didn't pull, it was off the hands.

Anyway I think the success was a combination of things;

1. Discussion about releasing the barrel into the ball
2. Noticed her back foot was angled towards the catcher, I asked her to fix that by turning it ever so slightly towards the pitcher (like Justin Turner, just not as extreme)
3. Noticed her hips were staying closed, so we worked on some stretch and fire from 90 and 45% and I asked to really focus on generating power from her hips
4. I asked her work on remaining coiled until heel plant (like this girl in the controversial video I posted, ).

Maybe number 3 and 4 was the biggest contributor, I believe she was using her hips effectively and really making way for the rest of her body to get in position to get to any pitch at any point in the hitting zone. Something clicked and it was a batting practice I'll never forget. seriously, I would of been scared pitching windmill from 40 feet.. getting old and reactions are slow,

Guy was there with his boy and asked if I was still alive after batting practice, her said "she hits the ball a ton!" Sorry, kind of a shameless brag post I guess, but it was exciting to see her hit that way, .

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julray said:

So major breakthrough my DD and I last night at BP session, wish I video taped it. Posting it here because I asked her to think about the bat being somewhat similar to a hammer (she used a hammer before). We talked about it for a bit, weight being mostly in the barrel, picked up a 32/27 baseball bat to illustrate more and let her swing it and focus on releasing the barrel into the ball. She said she never really thought about it that way before.. I'm glad she figured it out, . I threw her about 75 balls from 20-25 feet and she hit 98% line drive rockets off the back of the cage or the L screen I was pitching from. I mixed in change up etc, made no difference. I was kind of scared, lol. I asked her what she was thinking about prior to each pitch, where her focus was. She said she was concentrating on her hips... and creating separation (pinching scap while planting front foot). She felt like she was seeing the pitches better, I could tell that she wasn't out ahead of the pitch on her front foot, explains why she hammered the change ups as well. Also she was hitting some the balls inside out, rocket gappers to right field, which is something I have never seen from her before (this probably made me most excited). She has always been a pull hitter, and if she didn't pull, it was off the hands.

Anyway I think the success was a combination of things;

1. Discussion about releasing the barrel into the ball
2. Noticed her back foot was angled towards the catcher, I asked her to fix that by turning it ever so slightly towards the pitcher (like Justin Turner, just not as extreme)
3. Noticed her hips were staying closed, so we worked on some stretch and fire from 90 and 45% and I asked to really focus on generating power from her hips
4. I asked her work on remaining coiled until heel plant (like this girl in the controversial video I posted, ).

Maybe number 3 and 4 was the biggest contributor, I believe she was using her hips effectively and really making way for the rest of her body to get in position to get to any pitch at any point in the hitting zone. Something clicked and it was a batting practice I'll never forget. seriously, I would of been scared pitching windmill from 40 feet.. getting old and reactions are slow,

Guy was there with his boy and asked if I was still alive after batting practice, her said "she hits the ball a ton!" Sorry, kind of a shameless brag post I guess, but it was exciting to see her hit that way, .

Click to expand...

pattar said:

Well, my comment was meant to be tongue in cheek

I have come to the realization that I am a lousy teacher..which is sort of ironic since that is what I am supposed to do for a living...

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FiveFrameSwing said:

Working with young 8yos can be tough. Often the sense of body awareness hasn't quite matured.

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Eric F said:

Your lack of instruction success with your own kid is a poor measuring stick for your abilities as a teacher with everyone else in the world.

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pattar said:

So you mean N=1 sample size isn't statistically significant?

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