batting -- pulling head

Question
Our son is 9 years old and plays both Pony baseball and AAU baseball (simultaneously).  He's played for 5 years.  He's always been a great hitter and fielder, but has been in a bit of a batting slump in Pony only.  He says it's because the pitching is slower and he's used to faster pitching (from AAu and because we have a cage and machine in our back yard).  My husband says it's because he is pulling his head when he swings.  Are there any obvious exercises that a batting coach would use to prevent this.  Telling him over and over is not working.  He doesn't do it in the cage and doesn't usually do it in AAU games.  Tell me you have a trick to make it stop!  thanks!----the mom

Answer
Pulling the head is often the result of wanting to see the flight of the ball.  Generally, the head moves before the swing begins, caasing a failure to make good contact.

The slower speed pitching might get your son very excited ( at the prospect of hitting a bomb ) and make him overanxious at the plate.

I suggest that you try and convince your son that the best hitters move their EYES and HANDS but not there heads when swinging.  Explain to him that the ball will not go further if he watches it fly.  He should be running on contact.  Especially at this level due to the high number of fielding errors.

Videotape a pro game and show him how little head movement there is.  Work to train his eyes to follow the ball without head movement.

Finally.....don't worry too much.  He's very young and will make adjustments naturally as he matures.

Best of luck.

Pete