Anybody out there got any info on hitting help for college age players. I'm talking high end quality hitting instructors. Almost all of us have a local batting facility which has past/present college level players trying to make spending money over the summer or hollidays by instructing youngsters. I'm looking for the real deal including video evaluation not some gimmicky hitting product advertised as the best hitting tool out there. Travel is not out of the question.
Posts: 242 | Location: pa. | Registered: August 14, 2007
One thing to be careful of with outside instructors----many colleges want their players hitting a certain way, namely their eay---you don't want the player taking lessons from an instructor that teaches different methods---it will only cause problems
Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind. I could see where it might cause some friction if it was happening during the season and was going against something they were being taught at school but I'm/We're looking to do something over the winter break. How could a coach have heartburn with something that produces results? I would like to think he would be happy with "Results".
Posts: 242 | Location: pa. | Registered: August 14, 2007
Yea I heard you the first time. We'll worry about weather we're stepping on anybody's toes or not. The reason I started this thread was to get some info on instructors. Anybody out there got any?
Posts: 242 | Location: pa. | Registered: August 14, 2007
Originally posted by plash3: Anybody out there got any info on hitting help for college age players. I'm talking high end quality hitting instructors. Almost all of us have a local batting facility which has past/present college level players trying to make spending money over the summer or hollidays by instructing youngsters. I'm looking for the real deal including video evaluation not some gimmicky hitting product advertised as the best hitting tool out there. Travel is not out of the question.
I suggest going to this clinic if you have the means and availability. You won't be sorry.
Makes perfect sense to me! Go teach someone else to hit like you do if you can't hit, that way you will both stink! I'm pretty sure that's what's been happening for years and that's why there are maybe 30 guys in the MLB that can hit over .300.
Posts: 1057 | Location: mid west | Registered: January 23, 2008
I am going to put in my 2 cents here, based on my experiences. I am not a hitting “expert” other than what I have learned watching instructors and hitters over the years.
I think that developing a good swing takes months (actually years) of work. I am not sure going to one hitting clinic will do you much long term good without a dedicated daily (or nearly) approach and help from a coach who really knows what he is talking about.
In my sons case he was the best hitter on his HS team however he did it with a lot of flaws in his swing. He knew it, his coach knew it, but in season was no time to revamp his swing. Once he got through a couple of big tournaments in the early summer he stopped hitting moving baseballs and worked on redoing his swing with a really good hitting coach. Initially he worked 2x per week with the coach and then on his own every night working on stuff he learned. They used video, T’s, and a hit-a-way to work on balance, swing plane, foot and hand positions, ball positions, load, etc. At home most of his work was in the mirror, and sometimes off the T. I think this took him 6-8 weeks.
He then started hitting live balls, and he played in the fall. I video taped some live action and we went back over it with the coach and he is now working weekly with him and still trying to get in his own work…maybe every other day or so…that darn school is getting in the way ;0.
When people see him hit, all say he has a great stroke, but his hitting coach (and me now that I know what to look for) still see flaws. His coach says that it will take him until the season to get rid of them and it will be something that he will always fight, because he has been doing it for so long.
My long-winded point is that to develop a good swing it takes lots of daily work and dedication and a very good coach. I have found that very few REALLY know what they are doing and video is a must IMO.
Posts: 1528 | Location: SoCal | Registered: July 24, 2007
Originally posted by BOF: I am going to put in my 2 cents here, based on my experiences. I am not a hitting “expert” other than what I have learned watching instructors and hitters over the years.
I think that developing a good swing takes months (actually years) of work. I am not sure going to one hitting clinic will do you much long term good without a dedicated daily (or nearly) approach and help from a coach who really knows what he is talking about.
In my sons case he was the best hitter on his HS team however he did it with a lot of flaws in his swing. He knew it, his coach knew it, but in season was no time to revamp his swing. Once he got through a couple of big tournaments in the early summer he stopped hitting moving baseballs and worked on redoing his swing with a really good hitting coach. Initially he worked 2x per week with the coach and then on his own every night working on stuff he learned. They used video, T’s, and a hit-a-way to work on balance, swing plane, foot and hand positions, ball positions, load, etc. At home most of his work was in the mirror, and sometimes off the T. I think this took him 6-8 weeks.
He then started hitting live balls, and he played in the fall. I video taped some live action and we went back over it with the coach and he is now working weekly with him and still trying to get in his own work…maybe every other day or so…that darn school is getting in the way ;0.
When people see him hit, all say he has a great stroke, but his hitting coach (and me now that I know what to look for) still see flaws. His coach says that it will take him until the season to get rid of them and it will be something that he will always fight, because he has been doing it for so long.
My long-winded point is that to develop a good swing it takes lots of daily work and dedication and a very good coach. I have found that very few REALLY know what they are doing and video is a must IMO.
I agree with most of this. The part I don't agree with is the, it takes months of work with a instructor or Coach to get it right. I think you should get better immediately. Will you get better over time with lots of reps? Absolutely! Will you need to go back once in a while to check things out? Yes! But, beware of instructors that say you need weekly instruction for months.
Posts: 1057 | Location: mid west | Registered: January 23, 2008
I completely understand your point, however in my case this was not costing me anything. He was working out with my son because he thought he could be a really good hitter and just wanted to help him improve, sort of a pet project for him. Obviously not everyone has this luxury.
That said a complete makeover of a swing takes a while, some can do it quicker than others and no question there was immediate improvement, but we chose not to hit live balls so my son could just focus on the mechanical aspects of his swing. I really liked the approach since all he did was work on mechanical nuances. As you are well aware hitting is much more than just than mechanical, but this allowed my son to focus solely on it and not have to worry about pitch selection, location, speed, etc.
I am really curious to see how this all works out, since he is in the middle of it. He has not even picked up a metal bat in 5 months. I will let you know how it ends up once he starts playing HS winter ball in December.
Posts: 1528 | Location: SoCal | Registered: July 24, 2007
You got it right! Learn to swing and then learn to hit! Sounds like you have him headed in the right direction. Winter ball??? Man! It must be nice to live in Southern California! Would love to see before and after clips when you get him where you want him. Good luck!
Posts: 1057 | Location: mid west | Registered: January 23, 2008
Originally posted by plash3: Anybody out there got any info on hitting help for college age players. I'm talking high end quality hitting instructors. Almost all of us have a local batting facility which has past/present college level players trying to make spending money over the summer or hollidays by instructing youngsters. I'm looking for the real deal including video evaluation not some gimmicky hitting product advertised as the best hitting tool out there. Travel is not out of the question.
Why is it that some on this board always want to throw their opinions in on what others should do instead of just answering the guys question? I mean the guy didnt ask whether his coach would be upset if he took hitting lessons from an instructor that teaches different than his coach. Now maybe its just me but I thought it was a simple question.
Plash if you have any minor league teams around your area contact one of them and tell them what you are seeking. With it being the winter months I am sure that you can find someone within a local minor league team that can work with you.
Whatever your issue might be its easier for others to see our mechanical flaws no matter what our knowledge or experience is. This is the reason all top MLB hitters have private hitting instructors. Hitting instructors are like women. Even though they all have the right tools, doesnt mean they will measure up to your requirements. This even includes college coaches.
Also any college coach who is worth his weight in gold will not care whether someone playing for him is using his teachings as long as they are producing. That coaches employment is based on production not ego.
Posts: 139 | Location: South Florida | Registered: April 06, 2009
