Before a kid swings, they have to know how to stand. The Set is the stance. The Load is what the hands and weight do before the swing starts. Most kids skip the Load because nobody taught it. Teach it now.
What you need: A bat. No ball today.
Setup: Kid stands in the batting box (or wherever you’d put one).
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Load, Step, Swing. Today the focus is Set and Load.
- Set: feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, weight even.
- Load: hands move back toward the back shoulder, weight shifts slightly to the back foot. The hands stay back, ready.
- Have them hold the Load position for 3 seconds. Reset. Do 10 reps of Set, Load, hold.
- Last 5: Set, Load, then swing through (no ball). The Load to Swing should feel like a coiled spring releasing.
What to watch: The hands during Load. If the hands stay forward by the chest, there’s no power coming. The hands have to go back.
If they’re struggling: Skip the Load. Just work on Set. Add Load next session.
If they’ve got it: Add a soft toss after the Load. They Set, Load, Step, Swing at a tossed ball.