The hitting sequence - hips, shoulders, bat

While this is nothing particularly revolutionary or even new for some, when it comes to softball hitting it can't be emphasized enough. There is a very specific sequence or order for the movements in the swing: first come the hips, then the shoulders, then the bat.

The reason I bring it up is that it's easy for players to slip back into old habits - ones that are hard notice unless you work with hitters all the time. Usually the hitters know the proper sequence as well. Yet there's something about holding that bat in your hands that makes hitters want to get it going too early.

When I'm teaching lessons, sometimes I will see a player who normally hits with good power struggling to make strong contact. Upon closer examination, I'll see that the shoulders are turning either along with the hips, or even slightly ahead of the hips. There is a certain look to the swing when the upper body is getting ahead, even by a little bit.

At that point, I will ask the hitters "what's the sequence?" She'll repeat it back: hips, shoulders, bat. Once she has everything going in the right order, the power returns and all is right with the world.

Getting the body parts moving in the right order is critical for quality at bats. Remember that sequence - hips, shoulders, bat. It absolutely makes a difference.


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I tried to move the hips before the shoulders. Seems hard to not have them move simultaneously. Any drill to help with this hip-shoulder-bat sequence? Thanks.

Part of it is just getting used to the concept. The natural tendency is to turn them all at once. Here's one you can try if you're outside, though.

Face the backstop (or any convenient high fence) and grab onto it with both hands. Then turn the hips while keeping your shoulders parallel to the backstop. Indoors, you can place the front hand on a wall and grab the door jamb with the back hand.

Another way to do it is hold the hitter's shoulders (or the back of her shirt at the shoulders), and have her slowly rotate her hips while you hold her shoulders in place.

With all of these you're looking for a lag, not a complete turn of one and then a complete turn of the next.

Hope that helps.

Ken

Can you go through the entire sequence from knee cock or weight being transferred? Thanks

Sure. Here's what I use for a full sequence. Trying to spare you a lot of the detail. Not saying everyone would agree or that I'm right, but it's how I've been teaching and it's been pretty successful. There's lots more info in the Softball Hitting Technical forum too.

Start from relaxed, balanced stance.
First move is slight weight shift shift back - I usually go with straight back. Others like to coil.
"Bounce" off the shift backward and start moving the body/center of gravity forward, with front shoulder lower than the back. Do this into toe touch.
As the body moves forward the hands cock the bat, i.e. point the knob at the catcher. Most players will cock the bat when the weight shifts back, but I've found it's better later.
Front toe touches.
Front heel immediately drops. As it does, back knee starts to pull in and back foot starts rolling up on the big toe. This initiates hip rotation.
As hips rotate, shoulders start to rotate. Hands stay around the area of the back shoulder
Once hips and shoulders have rotated fully (or close to it) the hands start to deliver the bat hear to the path of the ball.
Hands continue delivering the bat head into contact. Most times they're still around the height of back shoulder. Tilt as needed.
After contact, hands continue into extension, then the swing is finished.

When I say "hips rotated fully" I usually look for the back hip to be facing the pitcher, just like the front hip. Many problems occur when the hips only rotate part way. I'm sure someone can find video of great hitters not rotating fully and still hitting the ball, but I find it's a problem for younger players. The hands take over too soon and they wind up feeling like they're hitting too far in front. Which they are relative to their bodies, although it wouldn't be too far in front if they rotated fully.

Hope that helps.