Load or no load?

Okay, so DD has been working hard on her swing. We have an experienced coach on her team who is supposedly well versed in hitting/pitching, and we see a hitting/personal coach on the side. Some of you may or may not remember me posting a video a while back (May/June)...and I think you replied that he is old school. Anyway, so last night was her first hitting/pitching session with him in almost 4 months (he took a hiatus from softball). Her first two swings, she loads...he tells her to not load and that it's a waste of time. She is stumped because after that she felt like she lost power and timing was messed up. She couldn't believe how much of a difference it made (in the wrong direction).

So...load or no load? Unfortunately, he won't tolerate knowing she is getting lessons elsewhere but WTH do you do when you leave for 4 months? :| We are team shopping now (she wants to move back to 16U) so we are keeping options open.

BTW will post a video next week after both lessons (her hitting coach vs. team coach)...so you can see for your self.

maksoftball said:

he tells her to not load and that it's a waste of time. She is stumped because after that she felt like she lost power and timing was messed up. She couldn't believe how much of a difference it made (in the wrong direction).

So...load or no load? Unfortunately, he won't tolerate knowing she is getting lessons elsewhere but WTH do you do when you leave for 4 months?

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Very high probability that the coach is a moron, but I guess it depends on how he defines 'load.' If he's saying don't sway back and put center-of-mass over the back foot, then OK. If he says don't scrunch on the back foot like a basketball player shooting a free throw, then OK. But I don't know one good hitter who does not load - that is, weight the back side and then transfer that weight.

Or is the coach saying to be pre-loaded in the stance?

CoogansBluff said:

Very high probability that the coach is a moron, but I guess it depends on how he defines 'load.' If he's saying don't sway back and put center-of-mass over the back foot, then OK. If he says don't scrunch on the back foot like a basketball player shooting a free throw, then OK. But I don't one good hitter who does not load - that is, weight the back side and then transfer that weight.

Or is the coach saying to be pre-loaded in the stance?

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I am not the best person to answer these questions. I will ask her...I just know she was frustrated because she lost power and her timing was off.

Do you and your DD have a model swing that you refer to? Many here use Cabrera, Bonds, Bustos, etc. I suggest comparing what your chosen model swing does to what the coach is telling her. You might even ask the instructor, who they suggest as a swing model. IMO, it is important to see what the swing looks like you are trying to emulate. It is also helpful to video her swing and compare it to her chosen model swing.

My DD's D1 hitting coach really stresses the load...

I will say loading to a important phase in the swing to help generate energy to contact

If she was loading before, with success
I would not make whole sale changes

load

I agree with CoogansBluff. .. The load means so many different things to different people.

Energy in and energy out,.

Hitting is like breathing....
Soft breath in gets a slow exhale out.
Hitting for power is like a sneeze. In order to spray it across the room you first must inhale what your about to exhale.
So yes, my vote is to absolutely load, but load it up during the stride/ linear phase.

So...load or no load? Unfortunately, he won't tolerate knowing she is getting lessons elsewhere but WTH do you do when you leave for 4 months? :| We are team shopping now (she wants to move back to 16U) so we are keeping options open.

If he does not tolerate lessons that should be a flag to leave on its own. If someone gives you advice and cannot justify the reasoning except to say because I told you so. That is 2 major reasons not to allow him to coach your dd. A waste of time is not a justifiable reason.