Brandon's Journey Continues

[Lclifton]

Good stuff - I gotta ask though..............what's up with the extra batting gloves in the back pocket?

Strategically placed they serve as counter balances. This is well known in hitting circles across the country. They assist with turning of the lower body.
Get them off center just a tad in the back pockets and nothing works right.

Could just be superstition too. (Naw, not from ballplayers)

[Teacherman]

Game day and another well hit ball. Single against a good pitcher.



I love how deep he hits the ball.

[Pronk]

I really like how his back looks in this clip. Strong load, and he holds it until the fire. The Stretch is working well.

[Teacherman]

Hitless tonight. First at bat....a little slack present due to trapped hands....ground out to the 2B.

Next at bat....this absolute rope that just about took the 3B head off.

Third at bat....K.....that dreaded change up.

He said it didn't feel right at the end of the last game and the first at bat this game. He diagnosed it himself. Proud of that.

Hands were getting too far back behind/around the corner....they had to move to a new position before the hands could turn the barrel. Slack. Slop. No rhythm. Not smooth. Not crisp. No cusp.

Hands more "out over the plate" or "out in front of him".......all energy/load/movement goes into the forearms to turn the barrel.

POW.

I am proud of this kids ability to hit opposite field. And hit it hard. I/We took some slack when he was in high school because he rarely pulled the ball. At his stage of development then, I was perfectly fine with it. He hits the ball deep and I believe it's much easier to learn to pull from there than to learn to go oppo from the pull swing.

The game has always been fun for him, with a little bit (lotta bit) of stress due to the ongoing instruction and hopes and expectations that come out of all the workouts. But, this summer, he is having a blast. He feels like he belongs. He expects to get a hit every time up instead of hoping something good happens. He is no longer surprised when he gets a hit...instead he's surprised if he doesn't hit it hard. It's been a long but worthwhile journey.

He is approaching his potential. And that is all you can hope for.

The swing plane he is having success with reminds me of Manny.

[Teacherman]

We have a had a great Thu - Sun. Regular league on Thu and a tournament in KC this weekend.



Brandon was 5 for 8 with 1 HR, a triple, 3 singles, 3 walks and 7 or 8 rbi's over 4 games against quality pitching.

His HR was hit out of a slow pitch field probably 275'-300'..........with a softball. An absolute bomb......and I didn't get video because I was on deck.

Brad had football coaching responsibilities so he couldn't make the tournament.

A couple of these swings aren't the greatest. However, a serendipity of having a pretty decent swing is you hit the "other ones" harder than you used to and they go through.

[tom.guerry]

Great looking stuff !!!!


Now I would try to shorten him up by getting axis up a little/more level, but without forgetting what he learned swinging more diagonally. He really needs this for the FP type zone with lots of high stuff/heaters plus more ability to stop forward axis setup and lean back for offspeed.

[Teacherman]

Remember these...



...against the best pitcher in St. Louis....actually arguably the best in Missouri and maybe the best in the region.

Well well........looky here my dear...



The first one is a one hop to the center field fence for a triple. The second is a rope down the third base line for a double. He said he was looking change up and still was able to catch up enough.

...against that same pitcher. He is ecstatic. Success. Against the best.

[Pronk]

Great stuff.

Also no more freezing on the outside corner on that hit down the 3B line. Those days are long gone.

[wrstdude]

Great swings! The pronounced front shoulder tilt new?

[Stealth]

His swings are getting so much better............

What would happen if he learns to get off his back side?

[Thewdawg]

WOW!!!

OMG... look at that lead shoulder pull the frame at contact and just after... STRONG! (1st swing)

Nice Job, TM & Brandon!

[Teacherman]

OMG.......We have 3 fields at our complex. One pure softball field (250' fence all the way around), one pure baseball field, and one tweener.

We played on the tweener tonight......290' down the right field line. Brandon hit this ball on the street 10-20' beyond the fence.

I've played in this park since I was in my 20's. I've only seen one other ball hit out of right field by a fastpitch player......he was a linebacker for the University of Missouri....very well built.....very powerful.

Brandon had 5 hits in a doubleheader.....a triple down the left field line and 3 line drive singles....sprayed all over the field.

[swingbuilder]

Easy to have intent when your not in a knot! really loose stroke

[Lclifton]

Easy to have intent when your not in a knot! really loose stroke

Wait you don't need to get tied up first???

Great job Brandon !!!
I'm glad to hear he pulled one.

[Pronk]

Gotta say I like that rip. Looks a little more loaded outside the helmet than in some of the other clips.