Posted by: Coach C () on Fri Jan 9 08:31:58 2004

Coach C,
>
> I admire your courage for putting yourself out there. I can see how this particular swing would be good for contact. I've seen this forward/downward hand drive before in other successful contact hitters (i.e. Andy/Pro_Hitter out here). Looking forward to seeing your other swings.
>
> I was wondering if the boy on the same page at Nick's web space was your son. I like his swing a lot! AAMOF, when I saw it, I called my son Kevin over to see it. He really has a nice smooth load, drops - and keeps dropped through the swing - the rear shoulder, keeps the elbow slotted and stays inside the ball very well. What else could you want? ;)
>
> And look how well his bat plane path really matches that of the incoming pitch! You've done a great job w/ him.
> http://members.cox.net/warwickcontinentalll/River%20-%20swing%20plane.jpg
>
> I'm guessing (from the downward pitch plane) that those pitches were very slow (40'ish) BP? I'd also love to see him at game speed (which I'm guessing is about mid-50s?). He looks like he'd have lots of time to judge the pitch, yet still be able to turn on it.
>
> If you don't mind me asking, how old is he?
>
> Keep up the great work,
> Sandman


Thanks Sandman. As for my Son, yes that is him on the site. The pitch speed is probably between 30 and 40 mph, but he plays travel ball, where the pitch speed has been up to 75 mph, from 46 feet, but typically it's 60 to 70 mph. He is 11 years old, but plays against 12's and 13's. I think he does well statistically speaking, and as you implied with the swing plane...he doesn't strike out. During these particular swings he was working on slotting the elbow, which we've spent a lot of time on over the years and because of him I'm much better at teaching it. There are other modifications we've made since these swings, such as quieting his legs during the stride. A lot has been said, about the legs contributing to batspeed in some way. I do not think the legs should be taught to turn, nor do I believe that the legs contribute to any batspeed. However, what they can and often do is misdirect the batspeed and lengthen the swing. I have debated Jack on this same issue, but have yet to sell my point. Of course I reserve the right to be wrong, but some recent changes to my Son's swing have really added to his power production and leverage (connection to the ground). He has really started for the first time in his life to drive the ball to all fields. How I did it, was by teaching him how to engage the hip sockets with his weight........sounds weird I know, but really it means keeping the weight between the feet during the swing, it's what my eyes tell me great hitters do. Anyway.....just thought I'd give you a breakdown of where we are at.

As for me.....I'm old news, but back in the day I had no one to teach me how to hit, everything was instinct. I've had to retrain old muscle memories. However, the beauty of the game is that it can not be perfected (3 out of 10), so it keeps my mind busy. I have been wrong many times in life, but in regards to hitting I'm willing to take one for the team, so that the kids I teach get better. When I teach a youngster, whom aspires to be something great, it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to not let him down. Trust me I'm no Saint, but the kids I teach believe they are!!

I really hope you and your Son are getting results!!!!

Thanks for your analysis,
Respectfully
Coach C