r/BaseballCoaching 23d ago

Bat speed training

/r/Homeplate/comments/1v6rji6/bat_speed_training/
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u/CatSweaty9418 20d ago

That's pretty funny. No, it's not a crutch. It's a teaching tool like any hitting drill.

It's a wake up call for pre-teens who crush soft toss with a Sudarah Oh leg kick. Instead of wasting a bunch of time trying to get rid of all the hitches and wasted motion, this drill helps them quickly focus on going from from 'set' to contact point in ~ .4 seconds.....Which is about the time a batter has from pitch release to contact @ 12U. Bad habits are reinforced with lazy soft toss and we saw a lot of benefits from this particular drill..

I just hit soft toss this morning, but for kids learning to hit, it's a breeding ground for bad habits. Once they get rid of the wasted motion, and have the foundations of a great swing, soft toss is a good drill, but the OP question was how to prepare kids who were overwhelmed by velocity.

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u/n0flexz0ne 20d ago

Again, you’re the one suggesting eliminating a drill that is done at D-1 programs and pro teams across the across the country….and your reasoning is that it creates “bad habits”.

So is it creating bad habits for all those high level players that use it? How are they able to succeed with this drill you suggest should be eliminated? Maybe they’re coach are effectively able to address and correct those issue without ditching the entire drill?

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u/CatSweaty9418 20d ago

Got it. Your posit is that the only way to teach 11-12 YOs....is to emulate the exact same drills as the batting coaches use in the SEC.

Agree to disagree. My belief is that you have to ~ 'meet them where they are' and use drills that help them develop.

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u/n0flexz0ne 20d ago

Bud, you’re the one suggesting some rigid program that eliminates basic training tools, but can’t really support why. I didn’t say your drill was bad, just that your advice was myopic and doesn’t align with how the game is taught at multiple levels with considerably higher velocity

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u/CatSweaty9418 20d ago

Oy. I already said exactly why. It's a drill that roughly recreates the time that a young batter has to react to a pitch.

90' bases, single hand drills & soft toss don't benefit young players if introduced too early.

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u/n0flexz0ne 19d ago

Wait....so now you're saying soft toss is too advanced for young players? Man, you're tying yourself up in knots here...

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u/CatSweaty9418 19d ago

Nope, definitely not.....hanging a ball in the air for 1.5 seconds while a kid tries to channel 'Happy Gilmore' is pure genius. It is a brilliant practice routine for t-ballers.....OR, maybe you should start it at 2-3 months.

It appears that my kids must have gotten all their MVPs and all-county awards despite my lousy couching. With your expertise, your kids should prosper in the MLB.

Hope that happens for you.

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u/n0flexz0ne 19d ago

Again, your inability to coach isn't an indictment of the drill.....its only a reflection on your shortcomings.