Coaching Hitters Effectively Is Hard Work

By: Dick Smith

Originally Published in Fastpitch Delivery

Provided by: NFCA

We have broached the subject of hitting a few times in the past, but Smitty notes things are happening which probably should be addressed.

How do we train young hitters? There are a variety of ways once we have established things like the grip on the bat, stance, position in the batter's box and the like.

We all know how important eye contact with the ball is and we know that the eyes cannot actually see a pitch hitting the bat. We lose sight and/or focus when the pitch is about 10 feet or so from the plate.

WE ALSO KNOW that our mind's eye sees it all the way through the "radar" of the eyes, something that has been discussed already. Thus, it is important that a batter see the ball all the way to the plate. This may be the first priority in training a person to hit a pitch.

So what's next? Well, the student-batter must learn to swing the bat properly. There are many very good coaches who are able to accomplish this without much trouble. It involves taking the hands to the ball when swinging, not dipping the shoulder, not leaning forward, keeping the weight back for rotational hitters and the like.

ONCE ALL THIS is set in motion, the next step is to swing at a pitch. His can be effectively trained in a variety of ways. Pitching a wiffle ball; hitting from a tee; front toss; side toss; slowly pitching the ball; using a pitching machine; actual live pitching and so forth. Now what's next and what's best?

Much depends on the available facilities. Often there isn't room or time for live pitching or there's a lack of funds to purchase a pitching machine.

Most of the methods are great for teaching fundamentals, observing and correcting swings, as well as helping batters to see the ball properly. However, other than live pitching, none of the methods allows a hitter to take them into the batter's box.

Most batters learning to hit will eventually become quite proficient at hitting soft tosses, machines, slow pitching, wiffle balls and balls off the tee. But once in a game and facing a live pitcher, things become rather unsettling.

Batters tend to disregard much of what is taught, plus the stress of facing someone pitching a ball in their direction. Mr. Fear is also present, as all batters have trepidation about being hit by a pitch. It hurts! Plus, it can cause an injury that could be devastating, although most instances do not cause much trauma.

The reason batters become proficient in practice is because the ball is always coming at them from the same direction. Smitty is of the opinion that a mentally challenged, spastic ape can learn to hit a pitching machine, side and front tosses, and slow pitching...and do it well.

THUS, THE CONCLUSION is that live pitching is the best, if it can be done with the available facilities. Even then, unless the pitcher is throwing meatballs (most will throw "stuff' and not groove a ball, per their training), hitters will have difficulty making contact. However, this is still the best way for a batter to become acclimated to game conditions.

One can simulate live pitching by using two pitching machines side by side and dropping balls randomly into each. Batters hate this, but it is fairly efficient to train hitting.

What to look for in batters, including their hitting faults, is not easy. Most faults have been previously discussed and can be found in just about any softball book. The very experienced eye, a rarity, can spot little things that might creep into a batter's swing, causing failure at the plate. Corrections can then be made at practice.

Smitty has one huge caveat regarding coaching batters. It must be done at practice and not at games. Coaches who demonstrate hitting motions while in the coaching box or from the dugout while a kid is hitting is taboo in Smitty's opinion.

Batters have enough to think about in the box, and their minds are often going in many directions at once. A coach throwing last-minute advice into the mix at these critical times does little good and can adversely affect hitters.

Remember, players do not always respond well to advice and/or coaching. They often say, "I can't." It has been noted that "I can't" means "I won't"

Coaching is not easy. Some think it is until they enter the fray, but they soon become experts at being the targets of advice from parents, fans and railbirds.

Dick Smith is the former head coach at the University of St. Francis and previously coached at Valparaiso University. Want to argue, cuss or discuss? Email Smitty at dicksmitty@sbcglobal.net.