Drills for improving bat speed and strength

[Slushy]

What are some good drills for improving bat speed and strength in regards to hitting? My son is always the smallest kid on the team. He has good fundamental skills in regards to playing the field and hitting. He rarely strikes out, but because of his size doesn't hit the ball hard. He is 10 years old and has just barely hit 60 pounds! I'd like to find some drills he can do to improve his bat speed and his strength to help him drive thru the ball better. Any help/tips? Thanks!

[Whatwasthat?]

I'm just a dad and not coach. But here a few ideas you can try.

OPITION A:

1:Hip rotation drills; focus on getting his hips open quickly, with not lifting the back foot, just piviting it, and keeping his hands back. Do this about 15-20 times.

2:Heavier bat; Take about 10-15 swings (soft toss) with a bat that is way heavier then his game bat. Lets say his game bat is 29/18. Then he should be swinging something like 31/28 in this part of the drill.

3:Medium bat; Repeat step 2 with a mid size bat, but try to get back to about the same length as his game bat. Again lets say his game bat is 29/18. Then he should swing something about 29/23 range.

4:Game bat; Take about 10-15 cuts with his game bat. You should immediately see a difference.

Do this no more then 2 times at any given practice, a couple times a week. He'll increase his speed.

The 2 practice bats try finding at a garage sale or at a local batting cage or play it again sports/good will.

OPITION B:

Take him to the batting cages where you can pick the ball speed.

Take 2 full reps (about 12-20 pitch's each) at the normal pitch speed he sees during practice and games. Then take a quick little breather no more then 5 min. Put him back in the cage for another 2 full reps at the next level up. Have him focus on making contact and not worring about where the ball goes or how far. If he's any thing like my son, he'll start out missing them (almost all the first rep), but most likely he'll start making contact halfway thru the 2nd rep. Take another quick breather, then put him back in the cage at his normal speed. Do this a couple times and He'll for sure be pulling the ball and with power.

OPITION C:

Another nice training device that came across last year, is something called a Jimmer Stick. It's great device to not only help build bat speed, but also increase contact accuracy. It's pretty much just a soild metal pipe. Only it has a normal baseball knob, grip, taper, barrel, and its balanced. All that but the barrel is only about 1 1/2" in dia and weighs a few lbs. They have several different weights and lengths and colors. I don't think the guy has an actual store, but you can find him on facebook at JIM_MER STICK. or this web page http://www.eteamz.com/jim_mersticksfla/

I personally don't have one, but wanna get one for me and my boy for when we're doing bp and tee work.

One of the fastest swings in Pro Baseball ever was Frank Thomas and he used a large stick of Iron in the on deck circle before every at bat.

[Slushy]

thanks for the response. I'll have to try the heavier bat to lighter bat one.

[Slushy]

any other thoughts?

[4for4]

My son was in the same spot a few years ago. Relax, be supportive puberty is just around the corner. What you can do are work on his mechanics. The big kids are getting by on there size, poor mechanics and high drop bats. (*please note not ALL big kids)

Focus on the mechanics, size, strength, speed are coming.

[cen1]

I got my son a youth ax. It's about 4 lbs. We have a large woods behind the house. I have take his stance and grip, and chop a tree. U can put a target on the tree, or a spot of paint, or a knot in the tree, helps with wrist action too

[PT'S 70 CST]

If you can find a heavy bag like boxers use. You will sometimes see them at yard sales and thrift stores. Hang one up and let him take some cuts each day 25-30 times on it. Then soft toss, soft toss, soft toss. You cannot do enough soft toss. I work with a guy that made it to the majors and played for the L.A Dodgers and he is hired by half of my plants parents that their children play ball and he told me one day the key is soft toss. I do it alot with my boy and he is not a power hitter but cuts the ball in half and hits shots up the gut. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ramsey_%28outfielder%29


PT

[tradosaurus]

If you can find a heavy bag like boxers use. You will sometimes see them at yard sales and thrift stores. Hang one up and let him take some cuts each day 25-30 times on it. Then soft toss, soft toss, soft toss. You cannot do enough soft toss. I work with a guy that made it to the majors and played for the L.A Dodgers and he is hired by half of my plants parents that their children play ball and he told me one day the key is soft toss. I do it alot with my boy and he is not a power hitter but cuts the ball in half and hits shots up the gut. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ra...8outfielder%29
PT


I agree with you about the importance of soft toss.

I find it hard to believe that soft toss is big key to breaking in the majors especially considering Mike Ramsey's stats and 6 months in the MLB.

[Hookem74]

Soft toss & Tee work w/softballs!......excellent power drill that I've used for years.
ex: I had 2 new guys that had never hit a homerun before, we performed this drill right before their batting practice and they hit several over the fence for the first time, said it made the baseball feel like butter!

Using a Demarini Chute, it can be applied to the same drill Whatwasthat mention. It take's the place of the heavier bat. The parachute keeps the bat head from dragging. Said to increase bat speed and add 10-15 ft distance.

small tractor tire slams(no rim) just the tire it's a great core workout similar to medicine ball slams. It works the core and enhances the hitter's power & explosion by recruiting more fast twitch muscle fibers into each thrust.

[jdecker]

I know I'm late in replying, but thought I'd put my 2 cents in.
I agree with the soft toss or tee work with the heavy bat to build strength and then get a bat that is lighter than his game bat and have him hit deflated soccer or basketballs off the tee. The lighter bat will keep him quick and the deflated ball will get him to drive strong through the ball.