Expert: John Priest - 4/6/2008

Question
My son is five years old and is playing T-ball for the first time.  He doesn't make a full swing and the swing he does make is a chopping motion from high to low.  What can I do to help correct his swing?  

Answer
Jeff,
         I would not worry to much as your son is only 5 years old.  At his age the most important thing is that he has a good experience as he starts his baseball career.  As far as mechanics at his age, eye hand coordination is the most important.  No matter if he is swinging down, up, full swings, or half swings as long as he improves his eye hand coordination he will be on the right path.  
         When I do private instruction with players I don't start them until they are 8 years old with the exception of some advanced 7 years old players.  From my experience kids as young as your son don't  fully understand the mechanics or physics of the swing.  It is too indepth and over their heads.  What you can do is make sure he has good positioning with his body in the stance.  Let me know if you what me to explain the proper positioning (Its a very long description that may not be needed to answer your question at this time).  Getting the proper stance and balance is very important to the beginning hitter.  These two aspects of hitting are the cornerstone to good mechanics.  
         Even with a good stance and good balance your son may not have a good swing.  This is the hardest part of hitting to explain to younger hitters.  The swing starts with the hips.  The hips guide the hands to the ball.  the hips generate the bat speed and power.  Most younger kids swing with their arms because the see the bat in their hands and they cant see the hips and hands as one.  Try to get your son to rotate first and use the pivot of the back knee, hip, and shoulder to drive the hands around the body and to the baseball.  This is called rotational hitting mechanics.  (This is another long and indepth description that I can answer later if needed).  Another thing to try is having your son watch MLB hitters and notice that the body goes first while the hands finish last.  If the hands finish last and the body does most of the work and the positioning is correct than the swing will fall into place and be correct.
Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Thank You,
John Priest
Nokona Batman
www.nokonawreckingcrew.com