My son's swing

[Dave Sanchez]

Hi all,

I have been a lurker on this forum for a while now. I appreciate all of the information I have gained from all of you. I wanted to post a short clip of my son's swing. Please critique and let me know what he can improve on.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmyeoJpyVzc

[FiveFrameSwing]

Please check the link above.

[Dave Sanchez]

Thanks I think it should be working now

[FiveFrameSwing]

That worked ...............................

[Dave Sanchez]

Thanks coach it's on u=tube now

[FiveFrameSwing]

I'm not sure you'll get a lot of constructive feedback from this dry swing.

Notice that he moves his hands back towards the catcher prior to reaching forward with his front leg. This likely contributes to his lack of hip/shoulder spatial separation. Would rather see the kid learn to time these movements to occur in parallel ..... reach back with the hands as he reaches forward with his front leg .... after first loading his back leg.

Not clear why his rear elbow doesn't slot in tight. Is it because he's imagining an outside pitch, or perhaps it's because his bat barrel was semi-trapped behind his neck? Might be why we're seeing what looks like an arm bar issue.

Let's have a look at him hitting off of a tee, or perhaps a game action swing.

[Dave Sanchez]

Thanks for the feedback. I will have him off of a tee next.

[Chris O'Leary]

Not clear why his rear elbow doesn't slot in tight. Is it because he's imagining an outside pitch, or perhaps it's because his bat barrel was semi-trapped behind his neck? Might be why we're seeing what looks like an arm bar issue.

That's a pretty big bat.

I'd bet he simply gets pulled out into extension early as a result. IOW, he isn't strong enough to maintain connection.

[Dave Sanchez]

It's a 28/16 pretty light bat I thought for him.He is 7 years old and I have not found many lighter then that. Any lighter and they are tee ball bats. Do you think it's too heavy for him? He is about 56 pounds.

[Chris O'Leary]

It's a 28/16 pretty light bat I thought for him.He is 7 years old and I have not found many lighter then that. Any lighter and they are tee ball bats. Do you think it's too heavy for him? He is about 56 pounds.

That's a big bat for a 7 YO.

It isn't necessarily too big for him. It just may explain what FFS is seeing.

[Dave Sanchez]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

[hitnpeas]

For a 7 year old it is on the high side of the weight I would recommend. A 28/15 or 27/14 would be ideal. There are plenty of non-tee ball bats to choose from. I picked up a NIW 27/14 C405+ TPX Omaha for 50.00 delivered. Very nice bat for the price. Shoot me a pm if you want the info....

[Chris O'Leary]

For a 7 year old it is on the high side of the weight I would recommend. A 28/15 or 27/14 would be ideal. There are plenty of non-tee ball bats to choose from. I picked up a NIW 27/14 C405+ TPX Omaha for 50.00 delivered. Very nice bat for the price. Shoot me a pm if you want the info....

When I coached 7YOs most used 25s and 26s.

My son swung a 26/17 or a 27/18.

[Dave Sanchez]

Guys thanks so much for the input. Please do send me the information about the lighter bat my e-mail is hawkscoachdave@yahoo.com

Thanks again to all.

[Mark H]

Good start for a seven year old. Check your pm's.

[callyjr]

That's a big bat for a 7 YO.

It isn't necessarily too big for him. It just may explain what FFS is seeing.

its fine for a 7yr old if his swing is more legs then arms, my son swung a 29/19 and a 28/19 last season in LL as a 7yr old and he only weighed 52 lbs, he also swung a 28/20.5 in a tourney and a week after he turned 8 he swung a 30/20.5 and hit a triple with it the only time he used it.

[Mark H]

its fine for a 7yr old if his swing is more legs then arms, my son swung a 29/19 and a 28/19 last season in LL as a 7yr old and he only weighed 52 lbs, he also swung a 28/20.5 in a tourney and a week after he turned 8 he swung a 30/20.5 and hit a triple with it the only time he used it.

I have to agree with Cally on this.

[Coach C]

I agree with Cally and Mark. My son swung a 28/16 (left) and a 28/17 (right) at 7 (he's a little smaller than most of the kids). Most of the players I coached at that age were 28/15,28/16.

[Chris O'Leary]

I agree with Cally and Mark. My son swung a 28/16 at 7 (he's a little smaller than most of the kids). Most of the players I coached at that age were 28/15,28/16.

We use -9s and not -12s or -13s because our select league has a -9 limit (our rec league is open), so that's why I use a slightly shorter bat.

I don't know if it makes that much of a difference.

[hitnpeas]

its fine for a 7yr old if his swing is more legs then arms, my son swung a 29/19 and a 28/19 last season in LL as a 7yr old and he only weighed 52 lbs, he also swung a 28/20.5 in a tourney and a week after he turned 8 he swung a 30/20.5 and hit a triple with it the only time he used it.

I have to agree with Cally on this.

I am more for bat speed and control than to see kids up there swinging bats that are way too big for them. IF a child is capable of swinging a 19oz bat at this age, then by all means let him swing the bigger bat. I am a believer in swing the heaviest bat you can swing without decreasing bat speed. Typically, 14-16oz at 7 yo has worked best for our team.

I agree with Cally and Mark. My son swung a 28/16 (left) and a 28/17 (right) at 7 (he's a little smaller than most of the kids). Most of the players I coached at that age were 28/15,28/16.

It sounds like you are more in line with what Chris and I are saying. A 20.5oz bat imho is too heavy for a 50lb kid. Although I would not say he couldnt hit the ball, the bat speed would suffer for sure. Heck, I swing 26/27oz bats in softball.... Good luck!!

[hitnpeas]

Guys thanks so much for the input. Please do send me the information about the lighter bat my e-mail is hawkscoachdave@yahoo.com

Thanks again to all.

pm sent Dave.....

[Mark H]

I am more for bat speed and control than to see kids up there swinging bats that are way too big for them. IF a child is capable of swinging a 19oz bat at this age, then by all means let him swing the bigger bat. I am a believer in swing the heaviest bat you can swing without decreasing bat speed.

I would agree but I would have said "without decreasing bat speed and quickness significantly". Having said that, training with a light bat can allow inefficiences that will hurt later. I like the idea of training with wood or a heavier bat.

[callyjr]

I am more for bat speed and control than to see kids up there swinging bats that are way too big for them. IF a child is capable of swinging a 19oz bat at this age, then by all means let him swing the bigger bat. I am a believer in swing the heaviest bat you can swing without decreasing bat speed. Typically, 14-16oz at 7 yo has worked best for our team.



It sounds like you are more in line with what Chris and I are saying. A 20.5oz bat imho is too heavy for a 50lb kid. Although I would not say he couldnt hit the ball, the bat speed would suffer for sure. Heck, I swing 26/27oz bats in softball.... Good luck!!

I don't think a 19oz bat is too heavy for a 7yr old. He had plenty of control of the bat. thinking back my boy was swinging a 27/18 as a 6yr old, but you could tell that the 20.5 swing was a little slower, but he still had no problem putting the barrel on it in the game, It was his choice to use it, he also overheard me talking with the other coach saying he was late with it because it was heavier, but he still got a stand up triple to RF. I asked him after the tourney why he didn't use it again and he said he heard me talking about it being to heavy.

I don't thik this kids bat is too heavy watching him swing.

[hitnpeas]

I don't think a 19oz bat is too heavy for a 7yr old. He had plenty of control of the bat. thinking back my boy was swinging a 27/18 as a 6yr old, but you could tell that the 20.5 swing was a little slower, but he still had no problem putting the barrel on it in the game, It was his choice to use it, he also overheard me talking with the other coach saying he was late with it because it was heavier, but he still got a stand up triple to RF. I asked him after the tourney why he didn't use it again and he said he heard me talking about it being to heavy.

I don't thik this kids bat is too heavy watching him swing.


I would agree but I would have said "without decreasing bat speed and quickness significantly". Having said that, training with a light bat can allow inefficiences that will hurt later. I like the idea of training with wood or a heavier bat.



Is it at all possible for you not to make every thread about your son? We get it, stand up triples and the whole nine yards. Did you ever think what might happen if your boy was to swing a 14, 15 or 16oz bat? The force generated might turn that stand up triple into a HR. Bat mass plays a role of course, but bat speed shouldn't be ignored. Take it FWIW!

I believe that MOST kids at 7 years old will be more productive at the plate if they have a greater bat speed. With bat drag already being a big issue with this age group, would it not increase the chances of this happening by giving them a log to swing? I do agree in part with Mark's opinion. I think as the kids get bigger, the lighter bats may have a tendancy to influence disconnection and I am sure other bad habits too. Unless of course they are properly trained to avoid this from happening then it shouldn't, in theory anyway, matter what they are swinging, right? Peace!!

[Mark H]

Swing the biggest stick you can with minimal loss of quickness and speed. Then practice with heavier would be my suggestion.

[hitnpeas]

Swing the biggest stick you can with minimal loss of quickness and speed. Then practice with heavier would be my suggestion.


Very sound advice.... F= MxA if I remember correctly!! :nod:

[tip184]

Notice that he moves his hands back towards the catcher prior to reaching forward with his front leg. This likely contributes to his lack of hip/shoulder spatial separation. Would rather see the kid learn to time these movements to occur in parallel ..... reach back with the hands as he reaches forward with his front leg .... after first loading his back leg.

Are you saying the correct technique is for the hitter to first shift weight onto the back leg, and only then he should load his hands? I always thought that putting weight on the back leg and loading the hands were supposed to be done simultaneously.

[FiveFrameSwing]

Are you saying the correct technique is for the hitter to first shift weight onto the back leg, and only then he should load his hands? I always thought that putting weight on the back leg and loading the hands were supposed to be done simultaneously.

This sequence is important. In fact Rudy Jamillio has this as one of his 5 roots.

The negative move should load the back leg, then the hands reach back as the front foot reaches forward.

Rudy: "You need separation - that is , as your front foot is going forward, your hands are going back."