Why Young Hitters Struggle to Make Consistent Contact (And How Parents Can Help From Home)
Most parents think their kid struggles at the plate because their mechanics are off. And yes, mechanics matter. But after coaching hundreds of 9- to 14-year-olds, I’ve learned something big:
Most kids don’t struggle because of their swing.
They struggle because their brain can’t keep up with the speed of the game yet.
They swing late.
They panic.
They rush.
They get tight.
They forget everything they worked on in practice.
And then confidence drops fast.
As a coach and as a dad, I get it.
Watching your kid strike out again and again is tough.
Because you know they’re capable of more.
The good news?
You can help without turning into their full-time hitting coach or setting up a full practice in your backyard.
The Real Hidden Problem: Reaction Speed and Processing
At this age, the game gets faster before their brain does.
Pitchers throw harder.
They mix locations.
They move the ball in and out.
Kids try to react after they see the ball, which is too late.
So instead of training “swing harder,” we need to train their ability to see and decide faster.
That’s what builds real consistency.
One Drill You Can Start Today (Takes 4 Minutes)
The Color Call Drill
What you need:
Three baseballs with different color dots or stickers.
How it works:
Stand about 10–12 feet away and toss the ball underhand.
As the ball comes in, your child must call out the color before they swing.
If they can’t call it early, they don’t swing.
This trains the eyes to pick up the ball sooner instead of waiting until the last second.
Just this one drill helps kids stop guessing and start reacting with clarity.
Why This Drill Works
Kids start reading the ball earlier
Timing becomes smoother
Confidence grows because their brain isn’t rushed
They learn to make decisions before the swing starts
Most great hitters aren’t great because of the prettiest swing.
They’re great because they see the ball better and decide faster.
That’s what I call mentally tough hitting — calm, confident, and clear.
Final Thought for Parents
Your job isn’t to fix mechanics every time your child struggles.
Your job is to help them make the game feel slower, safer, and calmer.
Focus on reaction and visual speed first.
Mechanics make sense after that.
Next week, I’ll share why so many kids roll over ground balls and what actually fixes it. (Hint: it’s not more swings at practice.)
If you try this drill, reply and tell me how it goes. I love hearing the wins — even the small ones.
