View Full Version : What A Former Pro Is Teaching A/B Hitting
Chris O'Leary
10-01-2008, 03:02 PM
Here's a video that someone sent me of their son explaining what their son's hitting instructor (a former 10+ year MLer) is teaching him...
- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4253828499667232501
I have an opinion of what is being taught, but I'd be interested in those of others.
PhilliesPhan22
10-01-2008, 03:12 PM
Sounds like the kid's dad didn't make the team either.
shake-n-bake
10-01-2008, 03:46 PM
The left elbow (RH Batter) angle is something that I've been working on with my son. This was something we came up with while reading your bat drag 101 link Chris. It seemed to me that it was easier conceptually for my son to grasp correcting pointing the left elbow upward than it was to think about what was going on with his right elbow in relation to his hands.
Pointing the left elbow up seems to bring the right one with it. As the right elbow comes up, the hands come back and the elbow leads the hands through the swing causing bat drag. Once we worked on what is in the beginning part of this video, the taking the hands to the ball became very effortless and felt good. The hands were more relaxed. Bat speed improved and with more reps, I think we're onto something.
He's playing fall ball, but hasn't really been working on his swing for that. He wants to get some innings in pitching. If he hits well, to him that's gravy. We signed him up for a hitting clinic in November and he's committed to going there doing as much right as possible. His thought is that he can get more out of the instruction if there's only minor changes they want to tweek with him and he understands swing mechanics.
rkbenn
10-01-2008, 05:34 PM
The left elbow (RH Batter) angle is something that I've been working on with my son. This was something we came up with while reading your bat drag 101 link Chris. It seemed to me that it was easier conceptually for my son to grasp correcting pointing the left elbow upward than it was to think about what was going on with his right elbow in relation to his hands.
Pointing the left elbow up seems to bring the right one with it. As the right elbow comes up, the hands come back and the elbow leads the hands through the swing causing bat drag. Once we worked on what is in the beginning part of this video, the taking the hands to the ball became very effortless and felt good. The hands were more relaxed. Bat speed improved and with more reps, I think we're onto something.
He's playing fall ball, but hasn't really been working on his swing for that. He wants to get some innings in pitching. If he hits well, to him that's gravy. We signed him up for a hitting clinic in November and he's committed to going there doing as much right as possible. His thought is that he can get more out of the instruction if there's only minor changes they want to tweek with him and he understands swing mechanics.
i couldn't watch anymore after 30 seconds in...sorry
beemax
10-01-2008, 05:56 PM
Here's a video that someone sent me of their son explaining what their son's hitting instructor (a former 10+ year MLer) is teaching him...
- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4253828499667232501
I have an opinion of what is being taught, but I'd be interested in those of others.
Who is the former player that is instructing the kid?
I think it would be a lot better for everyone's sake here to see a video with the instructor speaking for himself rather than a kid and his parents. Seems a little odd don't you think?
Chris O'Leary
10-01-2008, 06:27 PM
Who is the former player that is instructing the kid?
I think it would be a lot better for everyone's sake here to see a video with the instructor speaking for himself rather than a kid and his parents. Seems a little odd don't you think?
I don't know who the former pro is.
I think the kid can spin the bat better than he can properly swing. I would like to see this kid throw the ball up and apply this approach. This would be very interesting. I wonder if the pro player was Patrick Lennon.
EL,
beemax
10-01-2008, 08:17 PM
I think the kid can spin the bat better than he can properly swing. I would like to see this kid throw the ball up and apply this approach. This would be very interesting. I wonder if the pro player was Patrick Lennon.
If it is true that the instructor is a 10 year MLB vet, then its not Patrick Lennon.
Baseball gLove
10-01-2008, 08:42 PM
Chris allow me to translate for you: The dude that you see is the kid that is being schooled by the former MLB Stud. The dude man that keeps asking dumb questions is the dad. There are no MLB stud voices in that clip, actual or imitated.
Chris O'Leary
10-01-2008, 09:06 PM
Chris allow me to translate for you: The dude that you see is the kid that is being schooled by the former MLB Stud. The dude man that keeps asking dumb questions is the dad. There are no MLB stud voices in that clip, actual or imitated.
Correct.
I guess that wasn't clear.
This video is the kid telling his dad (and mom) what his batting coach is teaching him.
If it is true that the instructor is a 10 year MLB vet, then its not Patrick Lennon.
I agree with you on this. How many years did Patrick play?
EL,
Baseball gLove
10-02-2008, 02:10 AM
Correct.
I guess that wasn't clear.
This video is the kid telling his dad (and mom) what his batting coach is teaching him.
Chris, you were clear enough for me.
Since we didn't see the kid's swing before he went to the instructor, its difficult to determine what it was that the instructor was trying to correct...e.g., pretty pointless post unless Chris wants to point out how he knows the "high level" swing better than an x-major leaguer....which, come to think of it, is probably the intent of the post.
Drill
10-02-2008, 08:21 AM
My though(s) is that the pro is teaching to much to the kid at one time. Hope he gave him some hand position idea's so the young man want let his rear elbow fly out into a arm bar position. If he does not get his hands into a correct position even before he swings, it will not matter what he does with the front or rear elbow/lower body, his swing will be doomed. He will either pop up or get called out on strikes because of high hands that are to far back which will cause a slow looping pop up swing.
Working on correct hand position from start of the swing only. Than work on the tee with separation and than some fast inside pitches to gain confidence on what he has worked on. Than work on lower body/timing. But he has to make time if he wants to succeed. There are many ways to teach a swing and no one knows it all.
IMHO,
drill
PS watching this video has taught me to stay out of my son swing and only unless he ask me will I tell him what I think.
callyjr
10-03-2008, 10:49 PM
This kid is so backwards now that he will fail so badly that he will quit playing ball. Its really a bummer there are soo many horrible ex players that think they can teach.
This kid is so backwards now that he will fail so badly that he will quit playing ball. Its really a bummer there are soo many horrible ex players that think they can teach.
Cally, I don't think that being an explayer has anything to do with it, although, I understand the point you are trying to make. Real teachers (whether xplayers or not) understand and can see a good athletic motion. They also are gifted with the ability to suggest changes to a student that will support the athletic motion. Some poor teachers I call, "by the numbers" guys. They resort to the same 1, 2, or 3 corrections re: of the students problems. Then there are the "cookie cutter"...those guys who try to make all students look the same. The best teachers are the ones that have "good eyes", and as I said, an understanding of a good athletic motion.
ShawnB
10-06-2008, 07:52 PM
The kid has very bad body awareness. His posture was very poor on most of the swings he was trying to do correctly.
Can't say enough about how he loads, I can only say he isn't taking a real swing, because the hand action and position, as well as the lower body stinks.
Chris O'Leary
10-06-2008, 08:08 PM
Some thoughts I had when watching the video clip...
1. The kid was hitting fairly well before he went to the instructor. The instructor seems to be set on "fixing" something that isn't broken.
2. I agree that the instructor is crazy to try to totally rebuild every aspect of his swing all at the same time.
3. The new instructor told him that he had to totally rebuild his swing if he wanted to be successful in college. That his swing would work in HS but not in college. I have heard this line (sales pitch?) before.
4. I agree that lunging is bad, but that's one of the few things the instructor gets right about a good swing.
5. He has a good, tilt-based swing with the front elbow working up. The instructor is trying to talk him into an A to B, swing level to the ground, swing down on the ball swing which is simply wrong.
6. He is being taught a prototypical linear hand path, including the wrist pop at the end. I have never seen anyone teach this hand path before. Around here, most people teach extension at the POC.
7. He is being taught to make contact way out front (e.g. disconnection).
callyjr
10-06-2008, 09:58 PM
does the kid know he on this thread?