Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: JohnD (JohnD@Dresslar.com) on Sat Feb 25 20:05:41 2006

> starting his hands forward too soon and feeling for the pitch. I have tried many things to get him out of doing it and have had some success but not the results that I would like. He hits the ball on the sweet spot more than anyone on his team but sometimes cheats himself by not attacking the ball.
> Any thoughts??????
* * * * * * *
Hi, Dan!
I'm not sure the others answered your specific question about the hands moving forward too quickly and "reaching" for the ball. I feel your pain, as my son went through that as well.

I agree with Jack that the "karate chop" analogy is not a good cue -- I only use it when kids roll their wrists over early (and of course this cue comes into play only at the end of their swing)-- and certainly doesn't address your situation.

I think the answer usually is not to fix this symptom but to try to get the kid fully programmed into rotational hitting. Obviously, this is a form of severe disconnection. Usually it's coupled with bad -- i.e., too erect -- posture.

Get him bent over and thinking that the hands are to move only in conjunction with the rear shoulder. Practice drills that encourage this. Jack's heavy bag drill is one of the best. He'll feel that the bag isn't popping if the hands go forward too early. Also, try drilling by swinging only with his bottom hand -- unless he's really strong, he won't be able to move the bat with any zip unless he's keeping the hands back and connected to the shoulder and letting the centripetal force of his rotation move the bat for him.

Anyhow, that's where I'd start. And I'd keep on the young man to make sure he rids himself of that tendency -- gently of course. My experience is that a kid with a good attitude and constant monitoring can rid himself of this problem. If he isn't reminded, he'll have trouble getting the ball out of the infield. It's good that you've caught it; many dads and coaches don't pick up that "early hands" problem and attack it incorrectly -- say, by just screaming, "Swing harder!".

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> > starting his hands forward too soon and feeling for the pitch. I have tried many things to get him out of doing it and have had some success but not the results that I would like. He hits the ball on the sweet spot more than anyone on his team but sometimes cheats himself by not attacking the ball. 
> > Any thoughts??????
> * * * * * * *
> Hi, Dan!
> I'm not sure the others answered your specific question about the hands moving forward too quickly and "reaching" for the ball. I feel your pain, as my son went through that as well.
> 
> I agree with Jack that the "karate chop" analogy is not a good cue -- I only use it when kids roll their wrists over early (and of course this cue comes into play only at the end of their swing)-- and certainly doesn't address your situation.
> 
> I think the answer usually is not to fix this symptom but to try to get the kid fully programmed into rotational hitting. Obviously, this is a form of severe disconnection. Usually it's coupled with bad -- i.e., too erect -- posture. 
> 
> Get him bent over and thinking that the hands are to move only in conjunction with the rear shoulder. Practice drills that encourage this. Jack's heavy bag drill is one of the best. He'll feel that the bag isn't popping if the hands go forward too early. Also, try drilling by swinging only with his bottom hand -- unless he's really strong, he won't be able to move the bat with any zip unless he's keeping the hands back and connected to the shoulder and letting the centripetal force of his rotation move the bat for him. 
> 
> Anyhow, that's where I'd start. And I'd keep on the young man to make sure he rids himself of that tendency -- gently of course. My experience is that a kid with a good attitude and constant monitoring can rid himself of this problem. If he isn't reminded, he'll have trouble getting the ball out of the infield. It's good that you've caught it; many dads and coaches don't pick up that "early hands" problem and attack it incorrectly -- say, by just screaming, "Swing harder!".

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