Posted by: jimmy (matheje@nu.com) on Wed Apr 25 12:32:30 2007

> I need help! I have a player who has rotational mechanics. He is a dead-pull hitter. I haven't seen him hit a ball to the right side in two years. Small size, but can hit with power. He is 12, and has been playing organized ball for 7 years now. Great athlete, football, track, basketball, and a 2nd degree black belt. His problem is that he is so anxious, that he commits so early, and that his bat is through the hitting zone before the pitch is even close to him. Foul balls are down the third base line. I believe his load step is not as pronounced as it needs to be. Could that be the problem?
>
> Any drills out there to slow him down? He has struck out 6 out of 7 times this year, but crushes the ball with soft toss and live practice pitching. I know that it is mental, but can his mind be trained??


Have him try to hit the ball the other way. if he's as good of an athlete as you say, he will make the proper adjustments. So throw balls on the outside part of the plate and tell him to go to right field. He'll have immediate feedback on his success or lack of success and will, over time, swing later to hit to right field.