Hitting and Hitters Discussion Quick Hands Training Aid

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Jeff,

I do not doubt that you have seen players improve swinging a bat in the manner this thing promotes. I have seen it too. How much of that is due to the fact you have put more emphasis on hitting? Still not the optimum method to hit a softball at a high level. Your players will never catch up to a fast pitcher with this swing. That was my observation when I watched a game as a coach.

Here is the real test. See what your team does hitting against top level pitchers. Not the pool game pitcher. Not the girl who throws at 45-50. The really good ones. With good speed and movement that you know as a coach are quality pitchers.

Watch closely and see how many pop ups and dribblers and late swings you get. Pay attention to how many multi base hits you get. Then post that information back out here at the end of the summer.

If your statisfied with the results let me know.

Elliott.

 

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Elliott:

We've started filtering Turbostats precisely to see what our 12U girls are hitting against quality pitching. It makes it easier to get the girls on board when breaking down and rebuilding their mechanics, as without the filter it's difficult for a girl to understand why she needs to change her swing if she's got a stellar OBS or batting average . When we compare the group of seven games in which the pitchers were very good to the group of all games (where I'm guessing 45 mph was the norm), we've seen OBS drop as much as from 1100 to 400 and average drop as much as from 400 to 188.

 

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MD. I'm not disputing anyone's thoughts on this device. I am just stating what we experienced and several others I've stayed in contact with who implemented them. Yes we have put more emphasis on hitting. We are keeping closer stats on the advanced games we play. I am wondering if it was more fun for the girls to try these then anything else. I do know we had a sharp increase and then a decrease. Cutting out the stats from the softer games that I went over there was still an increase. And then a flatness. In these type games with very strong pitchers on both teams, Hits are usually or should be far apart both ways and there are a lot of poorly hit balls and foul tips. Still going back to batters being selective. Something a device cannot teach. It takes constant reminding. It only takes 1 pitch to hit and hit hard.

I'll stay in touch Elliot and please stay in touch with me as well. I do not venture out on forums to much. I'm to busy teaching my 2 girls how to hit, pitch and play the game.

Jeff Klopfer
Classics 14U

 

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Jeff,

I dont get on here as much as I would like either but that is because I am constantly working or instructing with little time to spare. I will stay in touch. Feel free to contact me at any time at fpacceleration@aol.com. I may not respond right away but I will respond when time permits.

Elliott.

 

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let me tell you... posting open ended questions and leading the "experts" on this post was much more than I expected. Howard called me Tuesday night and graciously invited me and my 9 yr old DD to his house for quick workout.

My DD is like a fly on roids when you consider her attention span and ability to focus. If it's not cartoons-she's going to be moving, jiggling, and flat out making someone go crazy. I knew that this would be a make-or-break deal going in... LET ME TELL YOU-boy was my thoughts about the situation way off. You can say or think or believe what you want about Howards abilities, history, techniques... the man flat out worked his rump off!!!!!!!!!! My DD was loving the work out-which ended up being almost 4 hours! Yeah, crazy-my wife let me know... But, my DD wanted more and more and I was going to go until she was tired. On top of that, she wanted to do his drills and wanted to apply Howard's new techniques when we got home. THIS MY FRIENDS IS UNBELIEVABLE. Howard's ability to foucs on ALL of her terrible mechanics just made my DD go from somewhat interested into becoming a ball player that wants to play for many years-HER words! Her first love is dance (a sore subject for me-selfishly) and this experience may have added a new card to the deck.

I'm not easily impressed because most instructors have their own agenda (kind of like consultants). If Howard did I missed it because we were so wrapped up in taking the bad things out of my DD (which he didn't focus on-only focused on the right way)! Don't care, he brought things out in my DD that no one, not even her dance teacher, could do!! The other thing is the "data" hanging in the garage speaks volumes.... I 'm a data guy and there was plenty of proof in his teachings on the wall!! Yeah, you can name drop all day and if you can do it with proof and be able to back it up-go for it!

At the end of the day you do things a million different ways and some may not agree to everything he teaches-that's life. Howard's ability to teach a 9 yr old and keep them "ate up" for 4 hours is astonishing.

Thanks doesn't cover it and HOWARD...YOU ARE THE MAN!!

Les

 

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So Les, has your opinion on the Quick Hands training aid changed?

 

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don't know that I really had one other than it looked 'backwards'... no at the end of the day.

 

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I am glad you had a good time and your daughter is a bundle of energy!!!!!

Hopefully now you understand why we do not use the quick hands drills.

 

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Les,

Howard shared your experience with me. Sounds exactly like what Howard and I talked about. Now at least you have a better understanding of what creates a high level swing. That is all I was really trying to convey to you in my post.

Tell the DD I said tear em up with that new found knowledge.

Elliott.

 

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my team is 10u and we are playing up agaist 12u's tonight. Can't wait. I know overnight success in the softball world is unlikely... the good thing is the tools are with me and she should (and the team) respond overtime. I'd love to see it work tonight in the same breathe... .

OFC info/individuals have been wonderful and critiquing me is more than ok. I'm all ears and willing to take or receive knowledge from those that have it!

Les