| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| grandDad |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 09:34:20
We are almost at the half way point of my grand son's 11U season and there are kids that are clearly the top third, middle and bottom third in the hitting department.
We asked the dad of one of the better hitters (Big John) what they were doing with little Johnny (really, he is one of the smaller kids) so our little Johnny could find the same success. I was very surprised to learn that absolutely no one else from the middle to bottom third has asked Big John how little Johnny does it.
Is there a reason that parents of struggling kids do not ask? Is it pride? They can't be blind to the struggles of their hitters. Even if they are working with a coach, at some point they need to cut their losses when there is little or no improvement.
In any case Big John was more than happy to set us on the path to better at-bats. Hopefully, this coach works out better for us. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| crzdirector |
Posted - 07/03/2014 : 11:12:54
With the expense that is travel baseball and the fact that its always been a struggle to pay for it, I've never been able to afford any private lessons for my son, so I've had to be his private hitting instructor. I played growing up and was a good enough high school player to get some interest from small colleges. I was a pretty good hitter but far from one of the best kids growing up. I combined what I know, with some youtube, and most importantly asking help from other people. Pride has never gotten in the way (although sometimes when people give me unsolicited advise its hard to take lol). I want him to be a success and we have enough super talented kids and super experienced parents around us that any and every thing I can learn from them is welcomed.
Luckily my son likes to work and even though he's had his ups and downs, he's always been in the top half of teams we've played on in hitting and usually hit leadoff. It has been a labor of love. |
| bfriendly |
Posted - 07/03/2014 : 08:24:20
quote:
Originally posted by jmac83
From my own experience, your kid has to want the help. If he's not eager about consulting another instructor, and the session happens on the parent's insistence, it can at the very least produce a resentful player.
oh yea, This too^^^^^^^ In all aspects of the game |
| bfriendly |
Posted - 07/03/2014 : 04:21:19
Still waiting for an update GrandDad.....hope all is well.
My son is no Super slugger, but has earned a Nick name of "Clutch", as he somehow gets it done when it counts............Biggest difference I have seen with him versus other players is his "Comfort" while at the plate. We practice quite a bit at a local field and while it is great to pull up and see no one there, it kind of makes me sad that well, no one is there.........why is no one there, McEVER! |
| jmac83 |
Posted - 07/02/2014 : 15:46:14
From my own experience, your kid has to want the help. If he's not eager about consulting another instructor, and the session happens on the parent's insistence, it can at the very least produce a resentful player. |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 07/02/2014 : 11:15:43
granddad any updates on this post? |
| TheNatural |
Posted - 05/09/2013 : 08:16:59
quote:
Originally posted by Kmk72
Great job asking for help... No matter how good a kid is asking for more help can only benefit him/her.
I may be nit picking but sometimes asking for more help can screw a kid up. You can take all the lessons in the world and eventually a large part of being successful at baseball comes down to genetics. I am talking about college and above. Hard work can get most kids on their high school teams whether they play full time or not. Lessons in my opinion aren't a bad thing but sometimes getting too many ideas and rushing to find the next great hitting instructor is counter productive. A players at the high school level can make adjustments to his swing in a week or so which might take a younger player a whole season or half a season. There are a ton of different theories and I have seen some pretty productive baseball swings get screwed up by some instructor that changed everything and started from scratch and the player would have been better off sticking to what he was doing and making slight adjustments. |
| Kmk72 |
Posted - 05/07/2013 : 18:47:24
Great job asking for help... No matter how good a kid is asking for more help can only benefit him/her.
As far as evaluating them you have to look at the entire picture.. Such as effort , attention span , and does the kid really want to play.
I am a huge baseball fan and have been coaching for years.. My oldest wasn't very good and didn't give much effort . Turned out he really didn't like it. I was crushed in the beginning ... But I have another shot with my younger son who loves the game like I do.
Good luck and always remind them that it's a game and to have fun! |
| Bigwhitevan |
Posted - 05/01/2013 : 11:40:54
I applaud you for asking someone for help. Look forward to hearing a good report.
Even pros have favorite bats. Train hard and find a good bat!!! I second the DeMarini vote!!! What a great looking bat that voodoo is. Would have loved to have swung that when I was younger.
If a kid is successful, let him have his day. The swing is and always will be an ever changing thing. That is one of the best things to tell your kid. The pros have to do it when they get picked apart by a pitch. You must adapt your swing to hit what the pitcher throws or you will be unsuccessful. Besides no guarantees in baseball future.
Parents mostly only see potential. Coaches mostly only see results. |
| Enine |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 15:44:15
I'll take a kid with an "unsound " swing and produces over a kid with a "pretty " swing that can't bat his own weight any day.
Really, at this age how many fundamentally sound swings are out there that are not the better hitters on the team?
No one bats 1.000. Good pitching will make anyone look terrible, not just the studs with swing flaws.
|
| SoxIn7 |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 15:15:52
I find the comment regarding parents of "lesser hitters" kind of funny....but let us not forget the "stud" hitters who hit well now, but are fundamentally incorrect. If they don't get it fixed young, they will be passed by.
I am sometimes amazed at what I see on the weekends....then a pitcher who can hit spots and change speeds comes along...and that bat goes silent....weight forward, completely off balance, etc. |
| rippit |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 14:25:46
quote:
Originally posted by grandDad
quote:
Originally posted by rippit
I'm glad they didn't credit the bat...but that's aNOTHER topic.
The bat was the first thing we did!  Didn't do any better than the one he had so we had to ask.
LOL. Sometimes the bat works better if A: you swing it and B: it's a mental love affair.
Ask my son. Demarini bats "work" better. |
| grandDad |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 13:49:47
quote:
Originally posted by HITANDRUN
granddad I would like to know what you found out? Sometimes its the player not what they are doing. Better eye sight, more reps from the day they started playing, not afraid of getting hit. Did asking help? Just curious.
Yes, asking is helping. I'll save final comments after a month.
You can get an idea of what part of the problem was in another topic I started "is it a hitting lesson". Let's just say the previous instructor was not a good fit for us.
We spend a lot of time with travel ball. It really helps make the season enjoyable if your player pulling his weight. I hope to sit with the rest of the parents/grandparents within a tournament or two! |
| grandDad |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 13:10:39
quote:
Originally posted by rippit
I'm glad they didn't credit the bat...but that's aNOTHER topic.
The bat was the first thing we did! Didn't do any better than the one he had so we had to ask. |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 13:04:34
granddad I would like to know what you found out? Sometimes its the player not what they are doing. Better eye sight, more reps from the day they started playing, not afraid of getting hit. Did asking help? Just curious. |
| rippit |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 12:50:30
Awesome topic. I agree with nastycurve.
Parents are blind and deaf. Unfortunately, they aren't mute as well.
It's easier to blame the coach, their spot in the order, the umpire, the weather and the bat than it is to fork out the time and money it takes to actually practice and get BETTER at something.
Golfers take a million swings. Basketball players shoot a million free throws. If they don't, their muscle memory is non existent. But somehow baseball mommies and daddies think a lesson or two without proper repetition cures all. And it doesn't.
I took tennis lessons once. Didn't make me Martina. You were smart to actually ASK somebody what their secret is. I'm glad they didn't credit the bat...but that's aNOTHER topic. |
| nastycurve |
Posted - 04/29/2013 : 12:22:48
Ive coached for 6 years, and in that time I have had two parents of lesser hitters actually be aware of their childrens short comings. Most parents of below average ballplayers believe their child does no wrong, and are reluctant to get help, get extra work or take criticism. I think its pride and disbelief that their child isn't succeeding. You are doing the right thing by asking those that do something well, how they do it. |
