Posted by: StevenV (steven@ars-inc.com) on Wed Jul 5 11:26:29 2006

Jack,

I think the easiest way to start teaching rotational mechanics to a young player like 9 years old is the heavy bag drill. This doesn't incorporate a whole lot of "having to understand" and if done properly and often enough will be second nature to them.

I like to start at the lag position and have him practice rotating into the bag with out letting the arm fly off of his hip and without drifting forward. Once he has that down then I have him add his bottom hand to the bat and practice the same movement getting more and more bat speed as we move along. Eventually they have this movement committed to muscle memory. The swing starts from the ground up and this drill reinforces that concept. Trying to "tell" a kid this age when to or not to fire the hips etc. is just too hard of a concept to grasp.

Just some thoughts....

> I like the final arc tape,i have a 9 year old and at this point i want him hitting the ball solid,right now i am trying to teach him a little of the rotational swing,i don't want to confuse him with all stars,he goes threw spells when he hits real good,and times he don't,he keeps his weight back and turns on his back foot and at times his front shoulder opens to soon,i tell him to take his front shoulder to the ball and open it up at contact,is this right?he use to have his front foot closed and this seem to help him stay back on the ball,right now he takes a small step and he doesn't hit as well,also do the hips need to turn before the hands come threw?i was a basketball player not a baseball player and he is real good at baseball and i am trying to learn and teach him the proper way to hit,i would be thankful for and advice.