TheSoftballZone
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- Joined
- Jul 15, 2014
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Swing fault and some methods to correcting them
Late Swing
This one is classic, especially with younger (12 & under) players. Too often the batter is instructed to keep his "eye on the ball" and to actually watch the bat make contact. Well that's just what he is trying to do.
As a result, the batter usually starts the swing as the ball passes through the strike zone.
To help the batter visualize, with the player in batting position and "eye on the ball", I walk the ball (in hand extended from my body) through its path from the mount through the strike zone to the catcher's mitt. Then I repeat this action pausing several feet in front of the batter, explaining that it is here that the attack (hit) needs to start. As I complete the path (of the pitch) I speed-up as the ball passes through the path, emphasizing how the ball appears to accelerate.
Finally, I place a ball on to a tee several feet in front of the player and have him image attacking the "moving" ball out in front.
I have had great results using this method. Even with some of my better batters, resulting in them being more consistent in driving the ball up the middle of the field.
Late Swing
This one is classic, especially with younger (12 & under) players. Too often the batter is instructed to keep his "eye on the ball" and to actually watch the bat make contact. Well that's just what he is trying to do.
As a result, the batter usually starts the swing as the ball passes through the strike zone.
To help the batter visualize, with the player in batting position and "eye on the ball", I walk the ball (in hand extended from my body) through its path from the mount through the strike zone to the catcher's mitt. Then I repeat this action pausing several feet in front of the batter, explaining that it is here that the attack (hit) needs to start. As I complete the path (of the pitch) I speed-up as the ball passes through the path, emphasizing how the ball appears to accelerate.
Finally, I place a ball on to a tee several feet in front of the player and have him image attacking the "moving" ball out in front.
I have had great results using this method. Even with some of my better batters, resulting in them being more consistent in driving the ball up the middle of the field.