I am looking for recommendation for a hitting instructoe in Northern Virginia for Div 3 son for this summer.

There is a thread about this on page 3 of the Virginia posts.

People mentioned Gregg Ritche in Fredericksburg. But he may just be available for a winter clinic. Not sure.

Pudge Gjormand (Madison coach) who works out of MVP Baseball on Pickett Road. He does know his stuff.

Chuck Hoyle.

Also, I thought I read somewhere that people really liked Dan Raley. He works out of VBC in Merrifield and is a coach for the Vienna Senators in the summertime:

Coach Raley is a welcome addition to the VBC staff. Coach Raley helped lead nearby Potomac (Va.) High School to a state championship in 1983 before going on to earn All-American honors and play in the College World Series while at Wichita State University. He later played in the Detroit Tigers' organization before serving as a Minor League hitting instructor for four years. Dan is a coach with the Vienna Senators of the Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League (CGL) and has helped lead the team to seven championships. He is also an assistant varsity baseball coach at O'Connell High School in Arlington.

My son worked with Mike Murray of Virginia Baseball Club for two years. Mike is a superb hitting instructor and a true gentleman. There is no one finer to work with in the baseball world than Mike Murray. He understands the mechanics, somehow imparts his knowledge so that a player can put it to good use when swinging the bat. And he will always be straightforward and honest. Always.

Would highly recommend Pudge.....

Also consider Sam Plank (Stone Bridge HS HC). He works out of a brand new facility (Diamond Elite) in Sterling/Dulles area.

I heartedly concur about Mike Murray at Virginia Baseball Club. My son worked him for years. I just wasn't sure he was still giving lessons. Last I checked he was running VBC and not teaching so much.

He's wonderful....

But my son also highly respected Pudge.

Pudge is the man, I have seen great strides in my swing since going to him. Someone reccomended Chuck Hoyle above, even though he is "certified" to teach hitting... don't go to him he tried to teach a whole team of 13 year olds to hit rotational and they became the laughing stock of a travel league (my brother's team).

Shantzee,

On what team does your brother play?

Mazda Mets 13u, He played last year. He doesn't play now, he just focuses on Basketball.

Are implying that your brother gave up baseball because of one coach? If so, that's ridiculous.

If you really do the research, on sites such as the hitting forum on this site, you will find many more advocates of rotational hitting than not, especially for more advanced players. Chuck Hoyle has coached many fine players, as have the others mentioned on this thread, but there is no need to bash him out of your own ignorance.

The right advice for anyone looking for hitting instructors is do the research, talk to various coaches and istructors, and find whats comfortable for the individual player/parent. If its not working, then make some changes.

No, he quit Baseball because he doesn't want to play anymore, not because of Hoyle. He's better at Basketball anyway he plays AAU.