We have Fall Ball starting this weekend and our roster consists of 14 members of the HS Varsity/JV. All of the players are just coming off the TB season so they still are in softball mode. This week we had a couple of practices which I attended. The HS staff is not allowed to coach HS players in our area after July 31 until the season starts again in March.
So I am watching the players hitting soft toss and a couple of the JV players seemed to be swinging downward which I had not noticed during last HS season. So I went over the father of one of the players and mentioned what I was seeing. He told me that the TB coach wants his DD to swing downward since the ball is coming in on an upward plane. I have tried to explain that seldom do HS pitchers throw true rise balls and even if they do level swings are still the way to go. I have watched hours and hours of elite college hitters swings and even on rise balls they are all level to slightly upward swings. I even drew this in the dirt so he could see the differences and how downward swinging limits DD’s ability to keep the bat in the zone as long as possible. The father and his DD were insistent that the TB coach’s philosophy had worked well all summer. I’d like to get his definition of well after what I saw.
This player is limiting her success by this swing and I foresee a year of mostly popups and weak ground balls. I know that I can help her by correcting the swing, but I after the discussion I had with the father and DD it seems like they want no part of changing. She’s a good defensive player so I could go the DP/Flex route but she’s also a good bunter and one of the fastest players on the team.
I’m trying to do what is best for the player and am open to suggestions on what to do next.
So I am watching the players hitting soft toss and a couple of the JV players seemed to be swinging downward which I had not noticed during last HS season. So I went over the father of one of the players and mentioned what I was seeing. He told me that the TB coach wants his DD to swing downward since the ball is coming in on an upward plane. I have tried to explain that seldom do HS pitchers throw true rise balls and even if they do level swings are still the way to go. I have watched hours and hours of elite college hitters swings and even on rise balls they are all level to slightly upward swings. I even drew this in the dirt so he could see the differences and how downward swinging limits DD’s ability to keep the bat in the zone as long as possible. The father and his DD were insistent that the TB coach’s philosophy had worked well all summer. I’d like to get his definition of well after what I saw.
This player is limiting her success by this swing and I foresee a year of mostly popups and weak ground balls. I know that I can help her by correcting the swing, but I after the discussion I had with the father and DD it seems like they want no part of changing. She’s a good defensive player so I could go the DP/Flex route but she’s also a good bunter and one of the fastest players on the team.
I’m trying to do what is best for the player and am open to suggestions on what to do next.