I want to discuss the advantages of using wood bats during BP sessions. We are going to assume that money is not an issue. I know the day and age we live in but for arguments sake you all have unlimited budgets here. OK, let's get back to the idea of using wooden bats.
I am a big believer that players swings are affected by using aluminum bats growing up. The reason I say that is because players don't use their bodies in general as well as they could. They leave a lot of power on their lower half because they don't load and unload properly from the waist down.
The biggest reason is the fact they don't have to with the aluminum bats. They can be arm swingers and still get the ball out of the infield and even into the gaps. I don't see a lot of players anymore who truly drive the ball on an consistent basis. With the space age technology we send our hitters to the plate with, you would think the ball would be jumping off their bats.
I really don't see that happening as much as you would think. I am not saying that there are not hitters who hit with their lower halves but at least in my observations I don't see it enough. The reason I believe is because kids hit with aluminum bats all their life now and they can be arm swingers and get away with it.
I know when you use a wooden bat it takes much more skill and technique to hit. First, if you expect to drive the ball you need to incorporate your lower half. Second, you need to hit the ball on the sweet spot. You can't cap it and have it fall in. You certainly can't get handcuffed and expect to get anything out of it swinging with half your body. In fact, I believe our hitters would do a much better job staying inside the ball and being quicker to the ball with a wood bat. If we could combine that swing with the aluminum bat then players would have the best of both worlds.
An interesting note you probably have never notice is how many players look to be in the right position when they finish but are not there at contact. I have seen a lot of players on film, my own and opponents, who hit with no lower half but afterwards turn the back foot and pivot the hips. At fast motion it appears to a point that they are doing it right. When in reality they are simply finishing with style to keep the coaches off their backs.
I have had fundamentally unsound hitters have good years because we can cheat the fundamentals with the aluminum bat. I have coached kids on how to take their bad swing and use the aluminum bat to their benefit. If you start messing with a players swing in the middle of the year you are asking for trouble. A kid who is comfortable and confident with a mediocre swing will have more success then a player who is working hard trying to change a flaw in his swing in the middle of the season.
The cool thing about this idea is the fact I believe hitters would better self-correct. I think they would naturally begin to make changes in order to have success. If you break enough bats you begin to make changes naturally. With aluminum bats I see players continually make the same mistakes over and over without ever making an adjustment. Getting jammed with an aluminum bat compared to a wooden bat just aren't the same thing.
Hitting a ball in the gap for a triple with an aluminum bat and flying out to the center fielder with a wooden bat with the exact same swing sends a clear message to the player. The message is simple: If I am going to drive the ball I need to load up correctly! I need to load with both the upper and lower body! I need to stay inside the ball and be quick taking my hands straight to the ball! I better get full extension after contact!
Is this going to make everyone on your team a good hitter? No! As long as there is baseball there will be good hitters and bad hitters. That will never change but I am completely convinced that every hitter in your program will improve. That every hitter in your program will hit the ball a little harder and be a little more consistent. And that hitters on your team will begin to naturally make some changes to help their success!
In Conclusion
I have never been a position where financially I could outfit the entire team to follow my own advice. Once I return to coaching this will be one of the first things I institute into our practice plan. I have worked with individual players who used this philosophy and seen tremendous results which is why I decided to write this post. I can remember when I first started coaching not allowing players to hit with anything other then the bat they would use in the game. At least the same specifications anyway. I can see now without question the advantage of the wood bat in BP.
The benefits are all there for us so it should be a no brainer in my opinion. It only takes a small improvement in order for you to get an edge on your competition and this is an easy way to get it. Your players will quickly see the advantages and begin to help themselves. Plus all players love to hit with wood some times because it makes us feel like major leaguers. There has never been a baseball player who hasn't dreamed of being in the show!!! Best of luck!
I am a big believer that players swings are affected by using aluminum bats growing up. The reason I say that is because players don't use their bodies in general as well as they could. They leave a lot of power on their lower half because they don't load and unload properly from the waist down.
The biggest reason is the fact they don't have to with the aluminum bats. They can be arm swingers and still get the ball out of the infield and even into the gaps. I don't see a lot of players anymore who truly drive the ball on an consistent basis. With the space age technology we send our hitters to the plate with, you would think the ball would be jumping off their bats.
I really don't see that happening as much as you would think. I am not saying that there are not hitters who hit with their lower halves but at least in my observations I don't see it enough. The reason I believe is because kids hit with aluminum bats all their life now and they can be arm swingers and get away with it.
I know when you use a wooden bat it takes much more skill and technique to hit. First, if you expect to drive the ball you need to incorporate your lower half. Second, you need to hit the ball on the sweet spot. You can't cap it and have it fall in. You certainly can't get handcuffed and expect to get anything out of it swinging with half your body. In fact, I believe our hitters would do a much better job staying inside the ball and being quicker to the ball with a wood bat. If we could combine that swing with the aluminum bat then players would have the best of both worlds.
An interesting note you probably have never notice is how many players look to be in the right position when they finish but are not there at contact. I have seen a lot of players on film, my own and opponents, who hit with no lower half but afterwards turn the back foot and pivot the hips. At fast motion it appears to a point that they are doing it right. When in reality they are simply finishing with style to keep the coaches off their backs.
I have had fundamentally unsound hitters have good years because we can cheat the fundamentals with the aluminum bat. I have coached kids on how to take their bad swing and use the aluminum bat to their benefit. If you start messing with a players swing in the middle of the year you are asking for trouble. A kid who is comfortable and confident with a mediocre swing will have more success then a player who is working hard trying to change a flaw in his swing in the middle of the season.
The cool thing about this idea is the fact I believe hitters would better self-correct. I think they would naturally begin to make changes in order to have success. If you break enough bats you begin to make changes naturally. With aluminum bats I see players continually make the same mistakes over and over without ever making an adjustment. Getting jammed with an aluminum bat compared to a wooden bat just aren't the same thing.
Hitting a ball in the gap for a triple with an aluminum bat and flying out to the center fielder with a wooden bat with the exact same swing sends a clear message to the player. The message is simple: If I am going to drive the ball I need to load up correctly! I need to load with both the upper and lower body! I need to stay inside the ball and be quick taking my hands straight to the ball! I better get full extension after contact!
Is this going to make everyone on your team a good hitter? No! As long as there is baseball there will be good hitters and bad hitters. That will never change but I am completely convinced that every hitter in your program will improve. That every hitter in your program will hit the ball a little harder and be a little more consistent. And that hitters on your team will begin to naturally make some changes to help their success!
In Conclusion
I have never been a position where financially I could outfit the entire team to follow my own advice. Once I return to coaching this will be one of the first things I institute into our practice plan. I have worked with individual players who used this philosophy and seen tremendous results which is why I decided to write this post. I can remember when I first started coaching not allowing players to hit with anything other then the bat they would use in the game. At least the same specifications anyway. I can see now without question the advantage of the wood bat in BP.
The benefits are all there for us so it should be a no brainer in my opinion. It only takes a small improvement in order for you to get an edge on your competition and this is an easy way to get it. Your players will quickly see the advantages and begin to help themselves. Plus all players love to hit with wood some times because it makes us feel like major leaguers. There has never been a baseball player who hasn't dreamed of being in the show!!! Best of luck!
Also, if you recall, wiffle ball bats are a great tool for BP too.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a great write up. We have an 11u select baseball team and will be practicing with wood bats this season.
ReplyDeleteI have a 7 year old who uses wood quite frequently. He has a nice metal bat too but honestly he hits the ball just as well if not better with the wood. Anytime his swing is off, using metal of course, I put a wood bat in his hands and it fixes his swing almost instantly. He realizes he has to use his whole body and time it just right. I'm amazed at how well it works and have told many coaches who just laugh at the fact. He was the only player I saw use a wood bat all season in a game, and he was by far one of the best all-star hitters in 8u. That's my input and real life example for all those doubting the power of a wood bat. F=MA too BTW, if you can swing the heavier bat just as fast the ball is going to fly! Builds arm strength too!
ReplyDeleteMy 9U player uses a $12 26" wood tee ball bat, taped the heck out of the barrel, for BP. Not sure what the drop is, need to weigh it. I just think wood bats provide the best feedback on swing mechanics. He uses a 26" big barrel for games.
ReplyDeleteMy son has been using wood bat for the past two years even during games. I never taught him how to bat but I just let him use wood during practice. Very noticeable improvement is the swing. I took and video of his swings and played it in slow motion. His forearms are just bigger than his counterparts and he drives the ball with authority. Hitting with metal bat makes a kid feel better but not good in the long run.
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