This reminds me of when I was like 8 years old in the season after tee-ball when you first face a pitching machine instead of a tee. For the first 7/8ths of the season, I struck out in 100% of my plate appearances. All that was ever said to me by my coach was to "keep your eye on the ball". Its was just those same 6 words over and over again. My mom would yell "Keep your eye on the ball" from the stands when I came to the plate. I would get told "You're striking out all the time because you aren't keeping your eye on the ball". "Next time keep your eye on the ball." "You need to learn how to keep your eye on the ball", "Why are you not keeping your eye on the ball?" None of this helped me one bit.
What they were telling you is to find the ball at its earliest. Read the rotation. So your not late, or early. Fallow the ball watch it make contact with the bat. Really when it’s all set and done thats exactly what you’re doing. A lot of these coaches like to hype it up and get technical and make it a science, it’s how they make a living off of training. It’s all about being naturally gifted and putting in the work, but it comes Down to match ups will determine if you will have success. If what he was saying is really true then he would still be playing baseball and killing it.
I have a terrible secret: these instructional videos are aimed at "professionals" and offer no real advice except tweaks around the edges. They don't know how to build a throw out of nothing and they have no clue how to build a swing out of nothing. They work with people that are "basically there" and just need some adjustments to be better.
When it comes to teaching a young baseball player how to hit a ball, it's important to understand that there are three distinct stages of learning that they'll go through. In my experience as a coach (as limited as it is), these stages are: Cognitive Learning, Associative Learning, and Autonomous Learning. Let me break it down for you: Cognitive Learning: This is where the basics are taught and the player starts to get a handle on what hitting is all about. Think of this stage as the foundation-laying phase. The player is going to have lots of questions and need lots of guidance from the coach. But that's totally normal - we all have to start somewhere! Associative Learning: Once the player has a good grasp on the basics, they're going to start putting it all together and developing a feel for their swing. Repetition is key here, as the player starts to associate the correct technique with success. It's great to see the player taking ownership of their swing at this stage, and the coach can provide corrective feedback to help the player refine their technique. Autonomous Learning: This is the final stage and the holy grail of hitting, if you will. The player has internalized the correct swing and can execute it without thinking. It's effortless and automatic. The coach's role is less hands-on at this stage, and more focused on providing encouragement and support. This is where the player starts to "see the ball hit the ball." It's a beautiful thing to watch, and it takes time and consistent practice to get there. In my opinion, these stages are crucial to understand and apply when teaching a young player how to hit. With patience and dedication, I have no doubt that the player will reach that final stage and be hitting with confidence and ease. I really enjoy the excitement and education you teach on your channel.
I have said this phrase plenty of times to my own son and daughter in their early baseball/softball days until I finally educated myself on the fundamental swing mechanics from Legit sources such as Antonelli, Hitting Done Right and Ron Sullivan etc. I can't thank you coaches for contents like this enough. Keep up the good work ! you don't know how much your contents have helped the various Pony/LL coaches, dad coaches like me and the young players !
Great advice on doing the technical hitting stuff in practice and then trust yourself during the game. That is true in all sports. For baseball, even with great fundamental swing, players still need to get the practice swings to perform a a high level at game time. How many swings/cuts do you recommend a high school aged player take pre-season/season to get ready and stay sharp? 100/day, 200/day, and so that 3-5x/week?
I’m a huge fan, Matt, but think this needs altering to its title. I thank you for help in educating me the past three years. Suggestion: change the title of this video to “When see the ball hit the ball is wrong.” My high school used this phrase a lot as a method for hitters to clear their heads in game situations, but of course to not negate the complexities of hitting that of course need to be taught. You address the applicable exception of this “being wrong” 7 minutes into the video, but this back end of the video strays from the title that everyone reads. Let me ask you this: I throw instruction my son’s way when we practice, especially off tee, but when I throw BP to him, sometimes I’ll say “see ball hit ball.” I heard my son yell this to his buddy last week mid at bat, perhaps to balance out the cacophony of last minute advice that came after the kid swung and missed. If this being said in this context bothers you, then what strategies DO you suggest for a 16 year old to relax and keep from letting too much thinking bounce around his head as he attempts to focus? I think an explanation of this sort is necessary if you’re sticking to your guns with this title.
I almost never comment on videos (I guess I should more often) but I must say, I love this video. "See the ball hit the ball" is right up there with "Just relax" or how about "have fun up there!" It's ridiculous to say those things and think it's gonna help anyone. We've been accused of over-thinking things for years. I just shake my head and mutter to myself "I guarantee Mike Trout is working on something VERY specific today." He's certainly not just blasting his tunes and swinging like a maniac. If "see the ball hit the ball was the answer" everybody would be in Cooperstown. Sadly, you can't throw a rock without hitting somebody who's saying that.
Great points Matt! A lot of sayings just get thrown out at players in an attempt to make things simpler, and yet just makes things worse bc kids start to think it should be simple and still struggle. Funny enough, I played against you in Eugene back in ‘06 (shit🤦🏻♂️👴🏼). I was with Rockies on Tri-Cities. Anyway love the channel, been following for years👊
I totally agree with you. However, while we work on mechanics in practice, I tell both of my kids. There is nothing that we can do on game day. We will fix things in sessions. I just tell them see it, hit and trust your mechanics on game days. If not see it, hit and trust mechanics, what the hell do you tell them on game day. Just asking
My 7 year old doesn't comprehend mechanical coaching points while also focusing on the ball. It's why I have him hitting off the tee so much. But when he's facing live pitching, he can't do both. And he gets frustrated
I think this statement usually stems from watching players at the plate swinging at pitches that aren't close to hittable because they seem to be guessing what pitch will be thrown and swinging like that pitch is going to come, instead of reacting to what pitch is actually thrown. Look, I understand that when the guy on the mound is pumping 98+, a lot of it you probably can't see at the plate. I know I wouldn't see it because I never played at a high level. Watching some players though, it looks like they're sometimes letting meatballs fly right down Broadway and swinging at junk because they're so stuck in a rigid, technical guessing game that is supposedly a game plan when up in the box. At least that's my observation.
And to the parents with the kid crying while practicing in the cage because they can't hit the ball while you are yelling commands at them, this game is not for them!
Mechanics are super important, and ultimately the goal is to have a sound swing. However, some players can easily become way too mechanical and forget to be an athlete. This happens in golf all the time… kid has power, hits the ball a ton, but not too straight. They go get lessons and before you know it, they’re swinging like robots and lose 30 yards. I think it’s a balance. Can’t go full bore on mechanics without feeding the beast to go ape sh*t on explosiveness to merge the two together. That’s the sweet spot.
Yea I don't think that term works but for youth baseball I mean if you just get a new car your not going think well just see car and drive car. No your going to check out everything about that car before you drive it. See I pitched in highschool and during my youth years and I was fortunate enough to play for coaches that played pro or college and to this day my baseball knowledge is rich. But when I got to the age of 13 I started to work on my mechanics a little more but they didn't tell me to just see ball and throw ball. The coaches that I had would tell me that it doesn't matter how hard you throw if you can't throw strikes. So everyone from hitters, fielders, and even pitchers when they get to say 13 they start talking about mechanics. I mean there are some pitchers who can throw hard but they don't know how to pitch and there's a difference between throwing hard and pitching to get hitters out. So as baseball players you are always constantly especially if your playing travel ball, highschool ball or even at the major league level. You are always working on your approach or mechanics to get better as a baseball player
I think there needs to be MORE coaches in sports to just help kids improve and become more physically active. The "less competent" children need MORE coaching. I hope one day kids are given athletic development like they get academic development. It's not all about NCAA scholarships and the pros.
Without watching the full video, "see the ball, hit the ball" is _not_ a bad instruction. It's not informative, which I suspect is the point of this video. Because just like saying "squash the bug" has no meaning, neither does "see the ball--hit the ball"--well except that's exactly what needs to be done; you don't have to literally "squash a bug" and that's not even totally necessary for an MLB swing--although usually is. yet you _do_ literally have to "see" the ball hit the bat--it's kind of baked into the cake. "see the ball, hit the ball" is about a batter maintaining concentration (there is not a physical queue you can give to this other than it's obvious to an onlooker when they see it), to the point that they can exactly tell: 1) did they hit the ball square, 2) were they late (or early), 3) were they on top, or underneath the ball? It's that simple and a lot of beginners struggle with "pulling their head" (they look away as the bat actually makes contact), which is a roulette game,.
So I had the displeasure, as a person that barely made the JV team, see a high schooler (eventually MLB relief) pitch a nasty slider (he was from Yoakum, I don't think it was Boone). So what I "saw" was a fastball low and away, so I "have to swing at it" and then it broke away, so I was "like" no--oops already swung.
No matter how good you are. at the end you have to "see the ball and hit the ball" of course You can't hit it your eyes closed 😂 So , forget all the bull 💩 Trust your eye and your hand.
I was talking to my wife the other day about how weird the experience must be when you move up in the coaching world and first get to the point where you're coaching players who are better than you.
That's a little league saying see the ball hit the ball if Any has ever played or coached on a travel/more competitive league u never here that saying. CZcams ain't ready for your lessons matt
Get our FREE hitting drill by clicking the link below!
antonellibaseball.mykajabi.com/hittingdrill
This reminds me of when I was like 8 years old in the season after tee-ball when you first face a pitching machine instead of a tee. For the first 7/8ths of the season, I struck out in 100% of my plate appearances. All that was ever said to me by my coach was to "keep your eye on the ball". Its was just those same 6 words over and over again. My mom would yell "Keep your eye on the ball" from the stands when I came to the plate. I would get told "You're striking out all the time because you aren't keeping your eye on the ball". "Next time keep your eye on the ball." "You need to learn how to keep your eye on the ball", "Why are you not keeping your eye on the ball?" None of this helped me one bit.
That is pretty funny even though a bit sad.
What they were telling you is to find the ball at its earliest. Read the rotation. So your not late, or early. Fallow the ball watch it make contact with the bat. Really when it’s all set and done thats exactly what you’re doing. A lot of these coaches like to hype it up and get technical and make it a science, it’s how they make a living off of training. It’s all about being naturally gifted and putting in the work, but it comes Down to match ups will determine if you will have success. If what he was saying is really true then he would still be playing baseball and killing it.
I have a terrible secret: these instructional videos are aimed at "professionals" and offer no real advice except tweaks around the edges. They don't know how to build a throw out of nothing and they have no clue how to build a swing out of nothing. They work with people that are "basically there" and just need some adjustments to be better.
When it comes to teaching a young baseball player how to hit a ball, it's important to understand that there are three distinct stages of learning that they'll go through. In my experience as a coach (as limited as it is), these stages are: Cognitive Learning, Associative Learning, and Autonomous Learning. Let me break it down for you:
Cognitive Learning: This is where the basics are taught and the player starts to get a handle on what hitting is all about. Think of this stage as the foundation-laying phase. The player is going to have lots of questions and need lots of guidance from the coach. But that's totally normal - we all have to start somewhere!
Associative Learning: Once the player has a good grasp on the basics, they're going to start putting it all together and developing a feel for their swing. Repetition is key here, as the player starts to associate the correct technique with success. It's great to see the player taking ownership of their swing at this stage, and the coach can provide corrective feedback to help the player refine their technique.
Autonomous Learning: This is the final stage and the holy grail of hitting, if you will. The player has internalized the correct swing and can execute it without thinking. It's effortless and automatic. The coach's role is less hands-on at this stage, and more focused on providing encouragement and support. This is where the player starts to "see the ball hit the ball." It's a beautiful thing to watch, and it takes time and consistent practice to get there.
In my opinion, these stages are crucial to understand and apply when teaching a young player how to hit. With patience and dedication, I have no doubt that the player will reach that final stage and be hitting with confidence and ease. I really enjoy the excitement and education you teach on your channel.
I have said this phrase plenty of times to my own son and daughter in their early baseball/softball days until I finally educated myself on the fundamental swing mechanics from Legit sources such as Antonelli, Hitting Done Right and Ron Sullivan etc. I can't thank you coaches for contents like this enough. Keep up the good work ! you don't know how much your contents have helped the various Pony/LL coaches, dad coaches like me and the young players !
Great advice on doing the technical hitting stuff in practice and then trust yourself during the game. That is true in all sports. For baseball, even with great fundamental swing, players still need to get the practice swings to perform a a high level at game time. How many swings/cuts do you recommend a high school aged player take pre-season/season to get ready and stay sharp? 100/day, 200/day, and so that 3-5x/week?
GREAT advice. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Great advice from Matt Antonelli. As usual.
Great video and great approach to this topic, Matt. I see the like button, I hit the like button.
Thanks!!
I’m a huge fan, Matt, but think this needs altering to its title. I thank you for help in educating me the past three years. Suggestion: change the title of this video to “When see the ball hit the ball is wrong.” My high school used this phrase a lot as a method for hitters to clear their heads in game situations, but of course to not negate the complexities of hitting that of course need to be taught.
You address the applicable exception of this “being wrong” 7 minutes into the video, but this back end of the video strays from the title that everyone reads. Let me ask you this: I throw instruction my son’s way when we practice, especially off tee, but when I throw BP to him, sometimes I’ll say “see ball hit ball.” I heard my son yell this to his buddy last week mid at bat, perhaps to balance out the cacophony of last minute advice that came after the kid swung and missed. If this being said in this context bothers you, then what strategies DO you suggest for a 16 year old to relax and keep from letting too much thinking bounce around his head as he attempts to focus? I think an explanation of this sort is necessary if you’re sticking to your guns with this title.
I almost never comment on videos (I guess I should more often) but I must say, I love this video. "See the ball hit the ball" is right up there with "Just relax" or how about "have fun up there!" It's ridiculous to say those things and think it's gonna help anyone. We've been accused of over-thinking things for years. I just shake my head and mutter to myself "I guarantee Mike Trout is working on something VERY specific today." He's certainly not just blasting his tunes and swinging like a maniac. If "see the ball hit the ball was the answer" everybody would be in Cooperstown. Sadly, you can't throw a rock without hitting somebody who's saying that.
Great points Matt! A lot of sayings just get thrown out at players in an attempt to make things simpler, and yet just makes things worse bc kids start to think it should be simple and still struggle.
Funny enough, I played against you in Eugene back in ‘06 (shit🤦🏻♂️👴🏼).
I was with Rockies on Tri-Cities.
Anyway love the channel, been following for years👊
Now I know what to comment when I watch your mlb the show videos 😂😂 Hey Matt….
Here all the time keep your eye on the ball
I totally agree with you. However, while we work on mechanics in practice, I tell both of my kids. There is nothing that we can do on game day. We will fix things in sessions. I just tell them see it, hit and trust your mechanics on game days. If not see it, hit and trust mechanics, what the hell do you tell them on game day. Just asking
Make sense, game at bat is not the place/time to be thinking about mechanics.
AMEN. Had a coach who said this constantly. Drove me crazy. I asked him what he was trying to say. He had no answer but got pissed anyways....
Breaking. It. Down. Yes!! 👏👏
Very Very true
Facts! sometimes there is simplicity in complexity. (P.s.you still got that bat control!)
Thanks!!
This is very true. You can completely forget how to hit and basically have to retrain yourself
“Be the ball, Tiger. Be the ball.”
My 7 year old doesn't comprehend mechanical coaching points while also focusing on the ball. It's why I have him hitting off the tee so much. But when he's facing live pitching, he can't do both. And he gets frustrated
Actually to say that is stupid now you can overthink paralysis by analysis but you are very correct
I think this statement usually stems from watching players at the plate swinging at pitches that aren't close to hittable because they seem to be guessing what pitch will be thrown and swinging like that pitch is going to come, instead of reacting to what pitch is actually thrown.
Look, I understand that when the guy on the mound is pumping 98+, a lot of it you probably can't see at the plate. I know I wouldn't see it because I never played at a high level.
Watching some players though, it looks like they're sometimes letting meatballs fly right down Broadway and swinging at junk because they're so stuck in a rigid, technical guessing game that is supposedly a game plan when up in the box. At least that's my observation.
I always said this as a joke to my son, like no crap. Thanks dad.
And to the parents with the kid crying while practicing in the cage because they can't hit the ball while you are yelling commands at them, this game is not for them!
Mechanics are super important, and ultimately the goal is to have a sound swing. However, some players can easily become way too mechanical and forget to be an athlete. This happens in golf all the time… kid has power, hits the ball a ton, but not too straight. They go get lessons and before you know it, they’re swinging like robots and lose 30 yards.
I think it’s a balance. Can’t go full bore on mechanics without feeding the beast to go ape sh*t on explosiveness to merge the two together. That’s the sweet spot.
Train with excellent mechanics, perform with excellent mechanics, get excellent results.
If it were that easy, I could do it.
Yea I don't think that term works but for youth baseball I mean if you just get a new car your not going think well just see car and drive car. No your going to check out everything about that car before you drive it. See I pitched in highschool and during my youth years and I was fortunate enough to play for coaches that played pro or college and to this day my baseball knowledge is rich. But when I got to the age of 13 I started to work on my mechanics a little more but they didn't tell me to just see ball and throw ball. The coaches that I had would tell me that it doesn't matter how hard you throw if you can't throw strikes. So everyone from hitters, fielders, and even pitchers when they get to say 13 they start talking about mechanics. I mean there are some pitchers who can throw hard but they don't know how to pitch and there's a difference between throwing hard and pitching to get hitters out. So as baseball players you are always constantly especially if your playing travel ball, highschool ball or even at the major league level. You are always working on your approach or mechanics to get better as a baseball player
I think there needs to be MORE coaches in sports to just help kids improve and become more physically active. The "less competent" children need MORE coaching. I hope one day kids are given athletic development like they get academic development. It's not all about NCAA scholarships and the pros.
Without watching the full video, "see the ball, hit the ball" is _not_ a bad instruction. It's not informative, which I suspect is the point of this video. Because just like saying "squash the bug" has no meaning, neither does "see the ball--hit the ball"--well except that's exactly what needs to be done; you don't have to literally "squash a bug" and that's not even totally necessary for an MLB swing--although usually is. yet you _do_ literally have to "see" the ball hit the bat--it's kind of baked into the cake.
"see the ball, hit the ball" is about a batter maintaining concentration (there is not a physical queue you can give to this other than it's obvious to an onlooker when they see it), to the point that they can exactly tell: 1) did they hit the ball square, 2) were they late (or early), 3) were they on top, or underneath the ball? It's that simple and a lot of beginners struggle with "pulling their head" (they look away as the bat actually makes contact), which is a roulette game,.
So I had the displeasure, as a person that barely made the JV team, see a high schooler (eventually MLB relief) pitch a nasty slider (he was from Yoakum, I don't think it was Boone). So what I "saw" was a fastball low and away, so I "have to swing at it" and then it broke away, so I was "like" no--oops already swung.
train hard and correctly then "see ball hit ball"
haha good job coach
That’s great and all but just grip it and rip it
😂
"Gotta swing down on that ball"
And those people forgot to say "swing level". 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
No matter how good you are.
at the end you have to "see the ball and hit the ball"
of course You can't hit it your eyes closed 😂
So , forget all the bull 💩
Trust your eye and your hand.
I was talking to my wife the other day about how weird the experience must be when you move up in the coaching world and first get to the point where you're coaching players who are better than you.
see the ball hit the ball works for T-ball. after that no way. the ones who make it strive for excellence.
Just look at camera, make video. Simple.
😂
That's a little league saying see the ball hit the ball if Any has ever played or coached on a travel/more competitive league u never here that saying. CZcams ain't ready for your lessons matt
I dunno, I hear it from a lot of people lol
@Antonelli Baseball I preach and teach contact over power I like a less powerfull swing that is consistent over a very powerful sloppy swing
4 min in and I’m still waiting for it. Intro far too long.
Sorry to make you wait so long
Sounds like you were really over rated . It’s literally that easy
I guess so
Let's go Brandon
hey matt, why dont u 「see the ball, hit the ball」and 「grip it, rip it」