Guys: I am sorry that I forgot about this thread. I never even realized I had comments.
Dale: With the youngster, usually the bat that they are using is too heavy. To find out, have him hold the bat straight out parallel to the ground with his power hand. If his forearm flexors start quivering before 10 seconds have elapsed, then the bat is too heavy. The little guys frequently need to choke up. As far as getting around late, I'd check the grip that he's using. Some kids find it easier to use a modified or "caveman" grip where the lower knuckles on the power hand are aligned with the the high knuckles on the weak hand. A conventional grip, which will give him his fastest bat speed is for the lower knuckles on each hand to be aligned.
Next, try and have the kid hold that bat at a 45 degree angle before the pitcher releases the ball. When he does decide to swing, the bat will have to be at the 45 degree angle, anyway. Sometimes kids hold it straight up (perpendicular) to the ground because the bat feels lightest this way. However, they will have to drop to 45 degrees after the release. It is better to start at that position. Don't let him wrap it around his head and hold it up high like Julio Franco did, the left-handed version of Reggie Smith's swing, or Yaz.
Baseball to a rather prominent degree is about getting your hips through on both your swing and your throw. Watch for that "squishing the bug" with the rear foot. Same as a golf swing. You have to spin on the toes of your back foot to get your hips through. Lastly, remind him to drop the barell head down on the ball. "Slap hands down" is a good mental imagery. I really can't get specific about your grandkid unless you can give me a clip of his swing. But I hope he loves baseball. Just be patient. Of all the games it is the hardest to learn and play. The difference between abject failure and euphoric success can be a matter of a couple of inches.
Lenn: Share you appreciation of the good catcher. I agree 100 percent that he can get 8-10 edge strikes called a game. I hate a 'noisy" catcher who is bouncing all around back there. I tell my guys to be still as they're receiving the ball. And I think these guys who set-up inside or outside on the pre-pitch give away both pitch type and location. Hitters can see that type of movement with their peripheral vision.
Question: It's very tough to get a high percentage of breaking balls called for strikes, even at the MLB level. Would you agree that a 40 percent ratio is excellent? Thanks for the input.
Dale: With the youngster, usually the bat that they are using is too heavy. To find out, have him hold the bat straight out parallel to the ground with his power hand. If his forearm flexors start quivering before 10 seconds have elapsed, then the bat is too heavy. The little guys frequently need to choke up. As far as getting around late, I'd check the grip that he's using. Some kids find it easier to use a modified or "caveman" grip where the lower knuckles on the power hand are aligned with the the high knuckles on the weak hand. A conventional grip, which will give him his fastest bat speed is for the lower knuckles on each hand to be aligned.
Next, try and have the kid hold that bat at a 45 degree angle before the pitcher releases the ball. When he does decide to swing, the bat will have to be at the 45 degree angle, anyway. Sometimes kids hold it straight up (perpendicular) to the ground because the bat feels lightest this way. However, they will have to drop to 45 degrees after the release. It is better to start at that position. Don't let him wrap it around his head and hold it up high like Julio Franco did, the left-handed version of Reggie Smith's swing, or Yaz.
Baseball to a rather prominent degree is about getting your hips through on both your swing and your throw. Watch for that "squishing the bug" with the rear foot. Same as a golf swing. You have to spin on the toes of your back foot to get your hips through. Lastly, remind him to drop the barell head down on the ball. "Slap hands down" is a good mental imagery. I really can't get specific about your grandkid unless you can give me a clip of his swing. But I hope he loves baseball. Just be patient. Of all the games it is the hardest to learn and play. The difference between abject failure and euphoric success can be a matter of a couple of inches.
Lenn: Share you appreciation of the good catcher. I agree 100 percent that he can get 8-10 edge strikes called a game. I hate a 'noisy" catcher who is bouncing all around back there. I tell my guys to be still as they're receiving the ball. And I think these guys who set-up inside or outside on the pre-pitch give away both pitch type and location. Hitters can see that type of movement with their peripheral vision.
Question: It's very tough to get a high percentage of breaking balls called for strikes, even at the MLB level. Would you agree that a 40 percent ratio is excellent? Thanks for the input.