- May 11, 2009
- 279
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As I read through the "Hands at finish" post I started laughing as SBFAMILY made a comment about swinging down, or someone did. I almost choked on my breakfast. I have worked hard with my DD's and several other girls in our community and for the most part what I have learned here and other places have really made our kids pretty darn good hitters. But they are now playing HS ball and it gets derailed in a matter weeks.
They are taught "Swing Down", they are taught "Hands to the ball", they are taught "Finish over the front foot" meaning get your head over your front foot......HUH!! The problem is as much as I tell my DD to smile and say "OK Coach" and keep doing what you do, the constant bantering of all of the above along with "hit the top of the ball" sneaks in and the swing starts to change. It is incredibly frustrating to me and several parents that have seen how our kids preform in travel ball.
If fact yesterday my 13 year old was DHing for varsity and she was facing a pitcher that was not hitting 50 MPH. She was driving everything down the left field line and several fouls. Her coach screamed at her to stop trying to hit to left. Not "Hey keep your weight back and wait on it longer". Do you really think she is trying to hit the ball foul on every swing??? She has not seen a pitcher that slow in any 14U tournament all year so there will be some timing issues and corrections to be made.
Anyway what is everyone's thought on the "Hit the top of the ball" cue from coaches?
I have always been more of a "split the ball" kind of coach.
Thanks
MK
They are taught "Swing Down", they are taught "Hands to the ball", they are taught "Finish over the front foot" meaning get your head over your front foot......HUH!! The problem is as much as I tell my DD to smile and say "OK Coach" and keep doing what you do, the constant bantering of all of the above along with "hit the top of the ball" sneaks in and the swing starts to change. It is incredibly frustrating to me and several parents that have seen how our kids preform in travel ball.
If fact yesterday my 13 year old was DHing for varsity and she was facing a pitcher that was not hitting 50 MPH. She was driving everything down the left field line and several fouls. Her coach screamed at her to stop trying to hit to left. Not "Hey keep your weight back and wait on it longer". Do you really think she is trying to hit the ball foul on every swing??? She has not seen a pitcher that slow in any 14U tournament all year so there will be some timing issues and corrections to be made.
Anyway what is everyone's thought on the "Hit the top of the ball" cue from coaches?
I have always been more of a "split the ball" kind of coach.
Thanks
MK