Posted by: Coach C () on Thu Sep 18 12:17:23 2003

We worked on fixing his load yesterday, but it seems muscle memory has taken over...He will get be fine for 3 or four swings...Then back to the ol muscle memory...
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> He's a great listener and very cooridinated...I just let him swing like that too long...
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> Thanks coach...Any ideas on tools/tricks to fix this?
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> Joe


Let's try to exagerate the time and accuracy factor, by throwing tiny little wiffle balls fairly quickly from a short distance. Ask him not to try and drive the ball at first, but rather just defend a box or something behind him (make it a fun game with him). Much like a goalie. Just defend the strike zone and that will be the baseline from where the swing should begin. After a ton a repetition he will get real accurate with the barrel (the most important part) and less active with the body, in fact he won't even need to stride at first. Later ask him to not only to defend the zone, but to make the ball pay for trying to get past him. Eventually, his head, bat, arms and body will begin to work together. True power does come from the torso turning, but it's the hand speed that get's the motor going. One key point, kids tend to move forward when they're told to drive the hands, that is why defending the strike zone puts the right emphasis on the task at hand......see the ball as long as possible, keep the head still, be accurate.....never go to the ball with the body. That would not be defending, that's an offensive move. The hands are quicker and more accurate when they are loose, not tense, but they still must maintain there control of the bat head.

Good Luck,

You need to give this a chance and you'll be very happy. Accuracy and then power in that order!!!!

He hits the ball squarely 10 times out of 10 in a game, he'll love this game for life. The home runs come later, when the hands work right!!!

Coach C