Posted by: toti () on Thu Jan 15 04:38:53 2004

Started my then 11-yr old son about 6 mos ago on the rotational program advocated by so many. He started out as a good contact hitter, but little power... the victim of several (!) flaws in his swing.
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> Now, his swing is completely "retooled" and he has gained a great deal of power and batspeed. He's also completely eliminated the stride, to the point where he pretty much just lifts the heal and drops it as he initiates hip rotation.
> Thus far, it's a huge improvement in his hitting, but one thing we're noticing is quite a few line drives and hot grounders as oppossed to hits with a little trajectory to them. Granted, we don't want high fly-balls, but we would like to see a few more long drives instead of hot singles...
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> Ideas? Comments? Suggestions? I know it's tough without seeing the swing, and I don't have access to filming (a'la Sandman and his wonderful graphics!), but if we assume his swing is largely correct, what typically causes grounders and liners?


Hi

With all due respect, you started rot. 6 months ago and you are already seeing hot hits and hard grounders. Come on, man, what else do you want? you dont realice how hard this game is. You should be thankful already.

Seriously, the whole point is to hit the ball harder, be it on the ground or into a line drive. As a contact hitter, this is exactly what you want. i dont see why you want to change the approach.

Anyway axis of rotation is the main cause. However, another cause can be being early on the ball. Happened to me. his swing is more efficient now and he has more bat speed so he is early most of the time. That is why i recommend to crowd the plate and eliminate the outside corner. With an inside ball it is no problem being early. Try those two things.
I think you are doing well.

toti