Posted by: Rich () on Thu Jan 15 20:01:34 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.
>
> 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...
>
> 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?
>
> Hey Dittoz,
Glad to hear you made the switch. first thing i'd look at would be to see if his rear elbow is leaving his side prior to contact on middle in pitches. and second i'd look at his launch position... 1) are his hands back near the armpit area. 2) is he starting the movement of the bathead back behind him at heel touch, allowing the bat to arc around into the plan of the pitch. 3)keep his hands near his armpit during the initial rotation of the shoulders... droping them perpendicular to the flight of the ball. not towards the pitcher.
use a video to detect these. best of luck, Rich