My son is a power hitter in baseball. He also is an excellent golfer. My question is?

Question

If he practices both sports at the same time, will this mess up his golf swing or baseball swing? He is 12...

Answer 1

Maybe, maybe not.  As he gets older and stronger, his swings for both golf and baseball will change (and hopefully improve).  As time goes on, I'd assume it would be difficult to maintain excellent technique with both swings.  Difficult, but not impossible.  

I play many amateur golf tournaments, and the problem I see is that many assets of a powerful baseball swing don't translate well into golf.  A good baseball swing involves arms that don't necessarily stay "connected" to the chest, a significant amount of weight on the back foot, a pronounced lean away from the pitcher, really quick hips, and a strong right arm rotation ("top hand" for a right-handed batter).  In some cases, these concepts can create a beautiful, powerful golf swing.  But in my experience, they mostly create big hooks.

Only time will tell.  :)

Answer 2

Funny that you asked that, because a friend of mine was talking about how he both golfs and plays ball. He had golfed one day, had baseball practice the same day and swung the bat w/ a golf-esk swing. So yeah, it happens. As for a personal answer, I don't know.

Answer 3

Both.  I had the exact same problem playing summer baseball.  I stopped playing golf until baseball was over.  His baseball swing will be affected more.  Golf swings are made when you are slightly bent over at the waist, and your shoulder has more of a downward (arc) when you swing.  You swing down and up.  Baseball swings require your shoulders to be more parallel to the ground when you swing (shoulders parallel to the ground and swing straight through the ball), if you drop or dip your shoulder (golf swing) you will constantly swing under the pitch or hit alot of pop flies.  Your son may find if he has a pretty good baseball swing, his golf swing will be affected by the reverse of this.  He will tend to not bend over the ball as much and lift when he swings causing him to top alot of his golf shots.

Answer 4

it depends on how athletic your son is. My son also plays both sports and he is very athletic and has mastered both swings. Good luck.

Answer 5

It's possible he could, but not definite.  I'd recommend not playing golf when it's time for baseball though, or vice versa.  You don't want to risk changing any subtle mechanics.

Answer 6

Question,

Absolutely not, if he plays both sports one will not hinder the other. The mechanics of swinging a baseball bat are very similar to those taught to golfers today and vise-versa. The biggest difference is the angle of attack since the baseball is thrown and the golf ball is stationary. The main thing is, the hardest thing to do, in both hitting baseballs and golf balls is, keeping the eyes on the ball until either the bat or golf club makes contact with the ball.

Hope this helps,

J

Answer 7

no it won't cause i play both golf and cricket(much similar to baseball).i still find golf easy.my coach did advice me to drop batting but i ignored him.

well it has nothing to do with your golf.



Definitely not! Ricky Ponting(A CRICKETER)  plays of a handicap of 1.7 and I dont care what any says, even if the figures dont agree hes still the best batsman in the world.

there are numerous cricketers who play golf!

baseball won't disrupt his golf!!!

Answer 8

My hubby was an excellent pitcher/hitter and golfer through out high school and still is wonderful at both sports.  He has a beautiful golf swing and has done long driving comp and he can still hit that baseball out of the park.  Don't make him choose unless he wants to.

Answer 9

I think his age works in his favor.  Sports are kind of like foreign languages.  The younger you are when you learn, the easier it seems to make these kind of switches.  I'd say go for them both!

Answer 10

One could help the other.  I've seen several articles in golf magazines about the similarities between the golf swing and the baseball swing.  There are several major league players who are good golfers(Many are pitchers, but Albert Pujols is a good golfer and so is Ken Griffey Jr.)  This may be an opportunity to hit from the other side of the plate.  I started playing co-ed softball a few years ago and I had to hit from the opposite side of the hand I write with.  So I hit left handed. Obviously, it doesn't affect my golf swing.

Answer 11

It's not very likely.  Keep in mind that an effective golf swing is a lot like a good baseball swing. There's weight transfer, torque, and balance that has to be applied in both disciplines, and overall it won't hurt him to do both.

...though if he gets tired of one or the other, I'd say let the kid take it easy.

Answer 12

He sounds like he has a natural gift so it shouldn't hurt for him to play both.  The swings are on entirely different planes but they do have similarities like others have said.  Let him enjoy both all he can.

Answer 13

Either!  I am a high school senior, and I played baseball from 2nd-10th grade, golf from 7th-12th.  The main difference is that a good golf swing is chest rotation, pulling with front side (left arm, chest, shoulder for righty), and steep, while baseball is back side dominant, loading up, and arm speed.  Which ever he practices more is what he will lean toward, though you can still be good at both.  A friend of mine is a unbelievable baseball hitter, and a good golfer, but as he leans toward baseball his golf swing has too much back side dominance and his golf potential will forever be limited. Good question!  Also if he chooses golf, his baseball swing is likely to lose power, dip below the ball, and limit control say for pulling balls to left field or pushing to right effectively (for a righty).  It depends on how much you or your child is or isn't determined for success and competitiveness in either sport, but his diversity will make him an above average athlete at both, though again his major potential  will be limited

Answer 14

i would stick with the one he likes best and try the other in the offseason..  i know they're both in the same season but unless he's really good at both, i would stick with one or the other...