Batting Practice to Game?

Have you ever seen great batting practice players, who can't seem to take it to the game, consistently? Any suggestions on how to communicate to the player and get him to take it to the game? What, if any of you had or have this problem, did ya'll do? This player takes batting practice a lot,( 4 to 5 times a week) does things about as correctly as asked, and every one says he has a great swing, hits pitches where they are thrown, but game time only shows up about 1 in 5 games. Then other players take no BP, and still have success just as much. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Happens on a lot of levels. If you want to get your point across say for a high school kid say "hit in the game like you do in BP or i'll bench you." But if it is a younger kid tell him to stay focused and imagine it is no different than BP and to try his best. Positive reinforcement is always a good thing for athletes and people for that matter.

 

Most of the time it is 1 of 3 things

- They are not relaxed at the plate during "real" hitting
- They are thinking too much at the plate and oftentime find themselves in pitcher's counts
- They have no gameplan how to attack the pitcher; Did not pay attention to other's at bats

 

I would say that at the HS level most of the time it is not paying attention to at bats by other players and having a plan against the other pitcher. There is not substitute to teaching kids at a young age to hit their pitch by looking for a pitch instead of guessing at a pitch. Learn the count and how to use that to your advantage.

 

Batting practice rarely simulates live action. Hitting a change-up or slider ain't hitting soft toss or 10 swing rounds thrown by the Coach.

 

You can simulate alot of situations in BP... While it is at times difficult to simulate sliders, or other breaking balls, you can simulate location and situations... you can simulate certain pitch sequences in certain counts, even in BP... It just depends on how the coach wants to utilize batting PRACTICE.

 

Threatening always works with performance

I'm sure that this kid, who hits well in BP, purposely gets up to the plate and decides that he isn't going to hit the ball. I'm sure that each time he goes to the plate - he is looking for that green light, and that hit that will bring his confidence back. There are times when kids just hit a wall when it comes to hitting.........fundamentals change, pressure to perform, wanting to hit the bomb every time, each time the kid doesn't get a hit, the confidence goes further and further in the hole...... So.... threatening to put him on the bench..... talk about putting more pressure on the kid..... we're not pro's here guys.... just kids....... we don't get paid..... and we love the game! How bout some coaching here instead.....

 

Some thoughts

Is he getting grooved bp - all fastballs - all the same speed? Sometimes this is the case with kids. BP should simulate game situations as closely as possible. The whole purpose of BP should be to prepare the batter to hit in a game. Now I understand that sometimes you are just working on your stroke and you need a few cream puffs thrown at you to get the feel of your stroke that is fine. But BP should be designed to put the hitter in as much of a game situation as possible in order to prepare him for game ab's.

Another problem is timing issues. Is he getting BP from the same distance all the time? Does he ever get BP from 60'6" off of live arm? When you hit in a game you are hitting from 60'6" off a guy changing speeds and locations. Every pitch is not a strike and you have to hit with a count. If your BP is totally different than what will be thrown at you in a game you can see where it can not be a true indicator of the ability to hit. Add in to that the "game pressure" and other possible distractions "runners on base" etc etc and well it speaks for itself.

It is one reason guys that get alot of game ab's throughout the year will be better hitters than guys that dont. BP and then game simulated BP. BP is good for working on the mechanics of the swing. Game simulated BP is designed to help you hit in a game situation. Its about taking bad pitches. Hitting with a count. Hitting the baseball where it is pitched. Moving runners ie hitting behind guys etc etc. Simulated Game BP with a live arm from the total distance from home to the rubber is what this kid needs. Continuing to mash in the cage , or from the L screen will only continue to make him a great 5:00 o'clock hitter.

If this is your son then go out and find some ex-hs guys and have them pitch to him with a count. Have him see it from the whole distance and take each swing like it was a game situation. He has already mastered the cage. Continuing to do just that will only leave him where is already. Jmho

 

Your last line of your post

says it all. They are just as good without the bp because improper bp does not help. And it sure doesnt hurt to not do something that does not help you.

 

Completely agree Coach.

I'll say the same thing a different way.

If someone is taking BP(or practicing batting) 3-5 times a week and they are not improving either in a game situation or practice then doing it is mute. Better just not doing at all if you are not improving or maintaining a well honed skill.

Additionally I think what Braves said of;
having a plan at the plate, staying out of pitchers counts, and staying confident and relaxed at the plate is right on target.

I would add that IMO some players are hitting instruction genius's. In other words they have been taught every imaginable hitting technique and there whole swing is a virtual [SIZE=-1]smörgåsbord of all of those lessons. Mecahnically they are sound. However what they where not taught to do (IMO) was to hit the ball. Elbow back, short quick stroke to the ball, knuckles aligned, weight back, brace off, extension, etc etc....though are all important technical aspects of hitting the ball....thinking to much about them can interrupt a players mental approach. I had a kid who was struggling at the plate. He asked me what he was doing wrong. I told him he wasn't hitting the ball. "But what am I doing wrong? Am I dropping my shoulder? I mean whats wrong?" I said, "Let me see your swing." He took a couple of swings and I could see a few hitches but I paused before I spoke again. "Yep I see whats wrong. You are not hitting the ball. Try to hit the ball." I turned and walked away. He was mad for a while. After he began to show more confidence we talked about somethings he could do to improve his hitting.
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