Dreaded discussion with coach - hitting advice not working for DD

[KrisHur]

Hi all, DD joined a really good team full of great hitters after fall ball. Before joining them she was a great hitter too having only 1 strike out in 15 fall showcases. After fall, the team fell apart and she was put on this new team that she LOVES and is really good.

Upon joining this team coaches wanted to "tweak" her batting mechanics so she took a break from her hitting coach and trained with them all winter. At the one winter tourney and later as school ball started she couldn't hit anything but mid-strength grounders and then pop ups when trying to adjust. We were hoping after so much opportunity to hit at HS it would gel but so far has not. Before her last HS game we suggested she use the mechanics her hitting coach taught her. She hit great going 3 for 5 - the last 3 at bats being really nice hits - one only 6'-8' from going over the fence.

Her hitting coach has her really coiled back with her weight on her back leg, small toe point, and the knob facing the catcher - perfect for her as she isn't the best about loading. Coaches want a more upright stance, more upright bat, no point, and some changes to her hand path that were needed/good.

So now..... should she say nothing, just hit the ball, great hits are what they are looking for and will speak for them self? However, blatantly ignoring what they say regarding her lower half and bat position will be obvious (esp. at practice) so maybe she should say something. They know what they are doing - it's a team of really good hitters, and a former Red Sox guy is helping coach the hitting. It's just their advice is not working for DD. Is there a way for her to discuss (at 15 she has her own conversations)? Maybe split the baby and acknowledge the hand path is much better but her lower body performs better with hitting coach's mechanics?

 

[Lance Steckler]

why mess with what is working??? and you're writing the checks for hitting lessons, so maybe trust in that and ignore the other stuff.

 

[heman1202]

I will never understand the mindset of making everyone robots, even to the detriment of success. Coaches overthink things. Sometimes "proper" mechanics just do not work for every player and they have greater success another way. That's not wrong, its just different. And sometimes coaches can't handle something that looks different.

Stick with what works. Have an honest conversation. If that bothers them so much that it is a deal breaker for being on the team/in the starting line up, then that is a bridge you cross at that time.

 

[cvsoftball]

show me a hitter who stands on her head, pulls her shoulder, bug squishes and does nothing but smash the ball for hits and homers and I ain't saying nuttin' 'cept nice job!

 

[GunnerShotgun]

I will never understand the mindset of making everyone robots, even to the detriment of success. Coaches overthink things. Sometimes "proper" mechanics just do not work for every player and they have greater success another way. That's not wrong, its just different. And sometimes coaches can't handle something that looks different.

It's not like there are 12 different ways to hit a baseball/softball/cricket ball and if you find the one for you you will have success. Professional/really good hitters all look strikingly similar in their core movements when hitting.

When someone is not having success at the highest level there are always discussions/arguments on what is wrong, and usually, everyone starts with mechanics. Mechanics is just one piece of the puzzle.

I would be curious about what the pitching was like in travel vs what she is seeing in HS.

 

[KrisHur]

It's not like there are 12 different ways to hit a baseball/softball/cricket ball and if you find the one for you you will have success. Professional/really good hitters all look strikingly similar in their core movements when hitting.

When someone is not having success at the highest level there are always discussions/arguments on what is wrong, and usually, everyone starts with mechanics. Mechanics is just one piece of the puzzle.

I would be curious about what the pitching was like in travel vs what she is seeing in HS.

Pitching (by most teams) in HS here is definitely slower and less spin on the ball; DD's school is known to be a mediocre team so they usually don't give us their ace. But we do have a fair amount of really good pitchers on top-level travel teams and this year DD's HS was bumped up and playing higher level teams. So even the 2nd string pitchers tend to be ok.

The first 4 games of the season it didn't matter the quality of the pitcher, she didn't hit well. The last team they played where she went back to old mechanics had a decent pitcher with speed and spin but nothing extraordinary and she hit well.

She went back for a lesson with her hitting coach on Monday who agreed with some things the TB coaches suggested but disagreed with others. DD's been practicing getting her "old swing" back all this week (spring break) and we'll see what next week's games bring. Fingers crossed.

 

[_MIA_]

Just out of curiosity, what is a toe point???

 

[efastball]

Her hitting coach has her really coiled back with her weight on her back leg, small toe point, and the knob facing the catcher - perfect for her as she isn't the best about loading. Coaches want a more upright stance, more upright bat, no point,

Are you talking about the stance? Or at toe touch?

In the stance, the rear hip should not be over the back foot. And the back toe should point to the plate. And the back heel should be on the ground.

It matters little where the bat is, or where the hands are.

But at toe touch, it is critical she is in certain positions of leverage.

 

[_MIA_]

Are you talking about the stance? Or at toe touch?

In the stance, the rear hip should not be over the back foot. And the back toe should point to the plate. And the back heel should be on the ground.

It matters little where the bat is, or where the hands are.

But at toe touch, it is critical she is in certain positions of leverage.

I am guessing he is trying to preset a bunch of stuff in her setup since she mentioned her being "bad at loading".

 

[efastball]

I am guessing he is trying to preset a bunch of stuff in her stance since she mentioned her being "bad at loading"

You would make it worse, not better, by 'pre-loading' over the back foot.

Leverage/gravity always trumps pushing/muscles.