Hitting and Hitters Discussion 10U DD always swings late... suggestions?

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Seems to be a common problem with girls making the transition to travel ball, at least on our team. Do you have any good drills or suggestions to help her start her swing sooner? Is it more likely mechanics or timing?

 

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WHY would she want to start her swing sooner?? Without seeing her, there are a lot of questions:

Is she using a properly sized and weighted bat?
Does she prepare to attack every pitch?
Is she seeing the ball well?

Hitting is all about timing. A seasoned pitcher will take her to school with change-ups if she starts her swing early. She should have the mind-set that EVERY pitch is going to be HER pitch to hit. The decision she needs to make is to HOLD or continue. If she doesn't prepare properly to hit every single pitch, she WILL be late on her swing. Watch any major league baseball batter on TV. Every batter prepares to hit every pitch - then decides at the last split second to swing or hold up. The preparation to swing is part of the timing phase (dancing with the pitcher). There is a specific sequence of moves your daughter MUST execute in the preparation phase, all which gets her into a position ready to swing or not to swing.

As a start on your journey, do a search on OFC for posts by Hitter - there is a wealth of knowledge in his information.

 

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Any chance you could upload a video of her swing and then post on here for suggestions. Pretty easy to do on youtube or photobucket.

But without seeing here I would have to agree with Sammy, especially on...

1. To heavy or long of a bat
2. "Bat Drag" due to an improper slotting of the back elbow
3. To much weight forward or back causing a timing issue

 

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If you search online for video examples and advice, you will find both good and bad (some REALLY BAD). After you study hitting awhile, you will find that there is fundamentally no difference between baseball and softball hitting. So it's generally safe to study either.

Take a look at one of Don Slaught's RVP demo videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSvA-9khajA

and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdejQypzFCI&feature=related

Here is another of Josh Hamilton. Turn off the audio, because the coach is irritating and distracting. He should have just let Josh explain. Pay particular attention to the loading, hand position and hand path through his swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VzXuIed6dw&feature=related

Notice how all these major leaguers prepare in the same way. Now... look at some of the other video links on that same page. There are a few 10u swing videos there, and you'll generally notice they all have some common traits. Notice how both elbows are leading the hands in a lot of the videos. This is usually due to strength issues combined with a too-heavy bat. Now watch the hands/elbows with the major leaguers all the way through their swing. Also notice how the lower body and upper body/arms are consistently similar from player to player.

There is obviously a LOT more to it than that. But the more you study the high level pro baseball swings, you'll start to notice what your daughter's swing deficiencies are. Correcting those things takes a knowledgeable instructor. I just cringe at some of the stuff you see on You Tube! Believe it or not, there was one gal still teaching the "inverted V"!

Notice the quick clip of the softball player in this video! I can't believe they put that in there!!! Horrible bat drag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyuSG5XLH-Y&feature=related

Just don't get caught up in a coach telling you that female softball players don't have time to load. That's baloney! All great power hitters in women's college softball know how to load and transfer their weight. Again, it's all about timing - knowing WHEN to start each phase of the swing, and get to the toe-touch "ready position" with perfect timing.

If you start your daughter off properly learning the correct principles, she won't have to un-learn bad habits to get her swing to a high level.

 

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I would also suggest looking at the Right View Pro website to help understand the steps it takes to hit. As all have stated above to many questions to give any good answers at this point.

http://www.rightviewpro.com/how-rvp-works/motions

 

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I suggest we all try to remember what it was like to be a 9 or 10 year old. As adults we have all these high tech solutions (RVP, etc..), but as young kids they really only understand the very basics.

A few questions I can think of that may shed a little more light as to the reason for the "Late Swing";

1) With her late swing is she making contact reliably?
2) If she is making contact is she hitting the ball with the power she is capable of generating or just swatting at it?
3) What does she do for practice (e.g. T work, soft toss, etc..)
4) Does she bail on inside pitches?
5) Is she using a bat appropriate for her size?
6) Has she found her "Mean" side? I am referring to her desire to knock the cover off the ball. As Sammy said "Attack every Pitch"

 

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It has been my experience that the issue when transitioning to travel is the speed of the game.

Most girls come from hitting much slower pitching and can see the pitch and start swing after release. Thus making the decision after release to even start the swing. That will not work in travel against any decent pitchers.

I have always told my daughters that they are swinging at ever pitch and merely stopping the swing for bad pitches. It is slight change in verbage but gets the message across.

And I would suggest going to a hitting coach that uses RVP. At least at first. The constant use of video really helps the girls see the issues and understand better their swing.

 

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I would never underestimate the ability of the young to learn. I am not saying for her to use RVP but to begin teaching her the correct way to swing. This will not happen over night but you have to start the process and IMO the younger the better.

 

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Lots of good things addressed in above posts.... I'll give a few thoughts on how to work on her timing and not swing late anymore. Again mechanics are an unknown at this point so I'll just ignore them for a bit.

One thing I like to do with players (baseball, softball) to get them use to faster pitching is to use two different drills (there are more but these work for me).

1 - The "Barry Bonds" or "Walk Up" drill. Pitch to your player from full distance at a speed that she is able to hit well and maintain her mechanics. As she seems comfortable with about five pitches take one step forward and pitch the same (arm speed, etc) as you were from the previous distance. If she can make contact and maintain her mechanics, step in again. Keep repeating this until she either can't make contact (even just nipping it is contact) or her mechanics fail. This portion is working on getting used to faster and faster speed. Now.... take a step back. Five or six pitches.... step back again. Keep doing this until you are back to full strength. You are now working on hitting the change-up.

If you do the above drill consistently you will notice she can make contact and maintain her mechanics against faster and faster pitches.

2 - The second drill is similar in that you stand behind your screen and give her consistent pitches to hit. As she can hit those speed up a bit. Vary the distance that you are away from her but I like to use between 10 and 25 feet. That allows her to not worry much about you hitting her.

 

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Also where are you located? Maybe there is someone in your area that can meet with you AND your daughter and help you both. A good dedicated instructor is good but it is also good to try and make sure you can reinforce things away from that instructor.

 

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Sammy is sharing some great information and I agree 100%. A couple of simple things to think about, Make sure she understands to not wait on the ball to get over the plate or should I say "even" with her to hit it. Get her to think more about making contact off the front foot. Many young girls want to see the strike before their minds tell them to swing. She simply needs to speed up the process.

Have her work hitting off a tee and set it up with the ball on the front foot. See if she keeps trying to move up so she's "even" with the ball. It's very noticable and easy to catch. You just have to change her mindset.

Communication was mentioned by someone and I couldn't agree more. Even though you are telling her the proper form, it might help to have another coach deliver the information. We're dealing with a young mind and some times it's the oddest way of saying it will finally register and she'll understand. Next, practice practice practice.

 

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One thought that hitters should have is that the only decision they have to make is to not swing. This implies that they are always preparing and putting themselves in motion and then if they opt to not swing they halt. This helps in not waiting and deciding to swing because if you do that.... you are late.

 

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Just a different thought process of swing versus no swing. As others have stated you do certain things every pitch ( dance with the pitcher). My dd likes to think hit versus just swing a small but significant difference to her. Does she hit everytime she swings of course not but it is a more postive thought process.
You have to load,toe touch and have some form of weight shift every pitch and if you decide to unhinge your elbows and wrists and "elvis" is up to the game situation and pitch location.

 

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I've been coaching at the 10U level for a few years now after having spending sometime with the older kids a few of my observations about coaching hitting with 8/9/10 year olds.

First things first, hitting lingo needs to be clearly explained, they normally wont ask what something means. They will just nod and smile lol.

A big issue I have found with younger hitters is where they try and make contact or meet the ball. They seem to want to make contact when the ball is even with them or in the center of their body.

The other issue is most of them cast or sweep when they swing.

Combine the 2 and you have a batter appearing to be late in her swing.

In my mind, proper Tee work will fix where they are meeting the ball. I find many of the newer kids just walk up to the tee, set up directly in the middle of their body and start taking their hacks. They treat Tee work like its a race to see who can hit more balls off of the Tee faster. Slow and measured Tee work should correct their mind set at the plate.

Hand path drills, which you can find all over the internet and here on OFC would be my next suggestion.

Overly complicating the swing at that age level is a mistake IMO, Meet the ball out front, hand path and explaining ball plane using visuals well get them started off on the right foot.

When they leave 10U, they arent going to be the finished softball product, they will continue to learn at their own pace, dictated by dedication to hitting but getting them on the right path is the #1 job.

 

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Seems to be a common problem with girls making the transition to travel ball, at least on our team. Do you have any good drills or suggestions to help her start her swing sooner? Is it more likely mechanics or timing?

First off go to a Busto's clinic or take lessons from her.

If Ted Williams was alive many of you men especially would run to him for advice. For $90 dollars an hour you have the chance to ask her anything on your mind and get it first hand in my opinion.

Girls are audio visual learners and just telling someone to do it does not mean they understand it either.

It always makes me laugh when a father who played college ball can not get their daughter to throw without their elbow or shoulder hurting.

So what is the holy Grail for hitting or throwing? In my opinion understand there are anatomical differences and I am not going to go through all of them. However, look at the glutes on a male and they fire upon jumping or landing automatically and the ACL works like a hinge.

On a female they do not fire and the ACL works more like a ball joint however they can be taught!

When you step to throw they should land on the ball of the foot (at about 40 to 45 degrees) on a flexed or bent front knee. This allows the weight to transfer forward and you will see the back leg follow through or come around.

So now we can relate to the thrower/ hitter a sequence; step to throw and step to hit.

So now when as a hitter do I load and when do I step?

I like using a mirror and have the hitter look into the mirror and I stand off to the side and behind them at a safe distance and show a pitchers motion. At the top of the pitchers motion or K position I point out the hand position on a clock and that it is 12 o'clock and then I show the hitter what 3 and 4 o'clock and explain how to load. Then we show them the pitchers release point and explain we stride upon release.

The cue is slow to load, soft to step on a flexed front knee and we have already demonstrated how to throw and to see it, feel it and fix it as to the feeling of the weight shift. If you have the hitter/ thrower keep both feet together and then step straight towards the pitcher as if fielding a ground ball and we do actually roll it to them, they feel that pressure between their knees and are on the inside edge of their feet and the knees are flexed.

So as I side toss when I lower my hand they load and separate to toe touch as I toss the ball up. Explain we load at the pitchers 3 to 4 o'clock position and stride upon the release and it does not take very long for them to see it, feel it and do it.

Another drill is to put a ball on a tee and from a safe distance get on the other side of the net and use a pair of socks and not a ball!

With a ball on a tee the hitter sets up and looks at you the pitcher through the net. Go through the pitchers arm motion without the stride depending on your abilities, and show the 12 o'clock position the 3 to 4 position and release the pair of socks into the net.

Now that she has seen it have her match her movements with your movements and as you release the pair of socks she hits the ball off the tee as the socks hit the net....timing and rhythm!

Warning do not use a real ball as they get lucky and hit the ball off the tee exactly and rebound the ball back to you!

Go to a Busto's clinic or take lessons from her as she is the best!

Hope this helps Howard

 

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Thank you all for the great advice. I'd love to get her into a Bustos clinic, but haven't found one in my area. I think I may look at taking her to Tim Duncan. He seems to be respected and somewhat in the Dayton area. Until then, you've given me a good place to start. I've been reading many of the post from Hitter and they are very informative. Thanks for your time!!!!!!

 

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Tim is a teacher of the Bustos style. He is a great teacher. My 10year old dd is a lot better hitter because of his instruction. She made the Lasers largely due to his instruction. That and a lot of work doing her drills taught by Tim and his dd Brittney.

 

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If you can visit Tim....that's a good move!

I've been around Crystl quite a few times, unreal each and every time. We try to volunteer to help her when ever we can at clinics...truth is we can't wait to learn from her so we always chip in.

Howard's timing dropped drill has helped our young players develop much quicker reaction to the ball and not always be late.

Biggest thing to get them to react quicker resides in their heads. They have to want to hit it...I know...why would the have a bat in hand and not want to hit it. I can't answer that and know it sounds weird but when they commit to wanting to be a hitter, work hard, and adjust on their own it all starts coming together. Lots of it has to do how they mature with the game and not beat themselves up. My years at 10u showed a lot about girls do things (notice I didn't say think) and I know it's a marathon for sure and only one that can be won if they spend time on their own figuring it out. I remember Crystl saying at a clinic...how many kids these days go outside and just toss a ball up and hit it into a field or their backyard on their own? Until they do stuff like that to figure out their bats, timing, and confidence in themselves it may not change or be slow to coming around.