Just got back from my son's hitting lesson. He did pretty good but just didn't seem to be "on" today. This got me thinking about what the best advice is for players during an at-bat or during a game when they seem to be slightly off with their mechanics. It happens all the time with pitchers and hitters.

I told my son when that happens to go back and focus on the swing fundamentals beginning with the foundation, the lower half, and work your way up. Take several practice swings and focus on the hips the first couple swings, on the upperbody turn on the next couple and then the extension.

Is this good advice or are there better ways for a hitter correct minor swing flaws during an at-bat or between at-bats?

What have you coaches and instructors been teaching to help kids make game-time adjustments.

Missouri Dad,

IMO – You can work on your swing at all times except for when you’re at the plate in a game. All the work you have put in before that at bat, now needs to be enough. While the old saying “See the ball – Hit the ball” may not be true during practice when you are working on things, it becomes absolute when you are in the batters box during a game. This is where all the work pays off! If there is a problem fix it afterwards.

Same holds true for pitching. When that pitcher steps on the mound in a game, he should be getting the sign and pitching the ball.

In both cases, a player has plenty to think about without thinking about mechanics. Good mechanics are developed before game time!

Regarding post above. There are hitters and pitchers that recognize mechanical problems during the game and can correct them.

The previous reply I made was regarding a player cluttering his mind with too much thinking at a time when total concentration is most important.

Thanks PG

I think players that are able to make adjustments during a game are the ones that have learned the importance of the mental side of the game. Granted, some players need more adjusting than others and the top players generally are good enough that a slight mechanics flaw isn't a big problem for them.

I will agree with you about the clutter. Too much focus on mechanics can actually take a player the other way with overcompensation. Situation recognition and management should be number one on a players mind.

concerning in game hitting i usually think one thing. hit the ball with power to right center. this helps me keep my shoulder in and wait for the ball and etc..instead of thinking all those things i just think right center. something to think about...

atl,

Not a bad approach, there are a lot of great hitters who use the same type thinking.

Some just think up the middle, others think opposite field on all off speed pitches. Bottom line... it keeps them doing the right things without thinking about it. Their approach takes care of the mechanics.

For example the thinking oppo field on off speed helps them stay back. It doesn't necessarily mean they will actually go to the opposite field.

Good luck this year... Whens your season start?

season starts march 3rd. but tryouts start on monday. and you hit it dead on..most balls i hit are to left center.

atl,

Keep working hard... you have a bright future.
Best of luck

I forget the players name, but he was either minor league player of the year a year or two ago or he was his organizations' minor league player of the year.

Every bp in preseason, every bp in pregame, every at bat, his goal was to hit an line drive oppo.

Of course, he didn't hit line drives oppo all the time. Pulled, pushed...hit it all over the place. But he hit for a very high average with power......minor league player of the year.

I gave away too many at bats during my career trying to fix a mechancial problem during a game. Game time, throw mechanics out the window and focus on the ball and getting the job done. Work on mechanics in practice. If you are thinking about anything else besides the ball, you are beaten. What happens is, our mind gets foucsed on ourselves and forgets what the pitcher is trying to do to us. Then, we are 0-4, we think we suck and our mechanics our horrible. When in reality, if we would of forgotten about mechanics and focused on putting the barrel on the ball, we could have dropped a duck **** bloop double with two Rbi's to win the game and walked away with all the confidence in the world going in to the next game. You would be amazed how good mechancis can be when a player's confidence is high. I hope this helps.

AB

This is a good thread for me. I am a person that gets into how things work, where most people just care that it works. This is good when it comes to working on mechanics during practice, but I think it can be a bad thing during game situations. I find myself often trying to correct swing faults during the game, and this probably does more harm than good. If you think too much during the game you are probably going to struggle, and as a result you will lose confidence. That's how you end up in a slump.

Hopefully this thread will remind me to work hard on mechanics during practice, then let them relax and play during the game.

Very helpful! Thanks.

For me, I just think keep my shoulder in and focus on the ball and everything else will come together (or at least it does for me). When I step into the batter box, I clear my head and zone everything else out.

bubandbran

I hear what you are saying and agree with you if you strike out on 3 pretty good swings. But, if you strike out on 3 weak swings or break down badly in some area of the swing, why would you want to go back to the plate with that in your mind?

I think in those instances some additional work is probably needed behind the dugout before your next at-bat. Review your swing and regain a little confidence. Maybe this can be done in the on-deck circle but you may not have enough time.

I don't know first hand but I think MLB players do this regularly if they're struggling at the plate.

I didn't say anything about three weak swings. I am just saying, you will give at bats away trying to fix mechanics instead of focusing on the ball. Hitting a baseball is difficult and it is not golf. There are many other variables. Defiantely try and make corrections here and there, but don't go up to the plate with mechanics in your mind. Most professional players are taught to make last minute corrections in the batter's box, but some days fellas, you just don't have the swing, so you battle. Focus on the battle instead of making the swing perfect when it comes game time is all I am saying.

AB

quote:

Focus on the battle instead of making the swing perfect when it comes game time is all I am saying.

AGREE

Missouri, what I tell my guys is after taking a bad swing during a game or even batting practice , step out of the box and take a dry swing to clear out the mind and bring yourself back to where you want to be both phisically and mentally. By that I mean every major league hitter has some drill that helps pull there swing back together and clear their mind after a bad swing, watch them for ex, frank Thomas many time takes a 1 arm swing, Sammy sosay takes what I call a high and dry they all have something that brings them back to the level they want to be at.After that they step back in and let all the work take over. JMO hope it might help.

I have the same apporach as ATL, just I think more on the lines of look oppo and react to the fastball.

Look away react in, sounds like a great approach.

Another thing is, react to the pitch and do not guess the pitch.