Critique / Help Series of Swings

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Aug 29, 2011
1,114
0
Dallas, TX
And I am saying that "launching" is simply a rotation of the hands forward, and the elbow connecting at the hip. For the bat head to "launch", it would have to change immediately the relationship to the shoulder, and angle to the hands, and to the "box" of the arms. There is no separation of those elements in any of these videos. Without that separation, there is no "launch". The bat maintains that relationship until the hip, or pant seam. The back elbow, and the initiation of palm up palm down create the bat angle in the zone, not some intentional response by moving the bat head.

I have a question related to my question above. You see #24 take a swing at two pitches in two different parts of the strike zone. Two questions: Where does he complete extension in each? You can look at the first set or second set, doesn't matter. Cabrera doesn't have perfect backside rotation, but where is his core orientation in each?
 
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Aug 29, 2011
1,114
0
Dallas, TX


Coach Bucher....talk "turning the barrel".

disclaimer: I don't know Bucher, haven't looked at anything he has done, just saw he was talking about turning the barrel. So no one get all excited (Mann) and hold me accountable for anything this guy has teaches.


rdbass, you may not want to get involved, but this is the old snap the wrists, snap the bat barrel debate. Which came first, the wrists or the barrel? Try snapping the barrel without using your wrists. Try keeping the bat from forming an arc around the shoulder. Unless it is a noodle it is going to wrap around the shoulder. If you had NO bat wrap, there would be almost no arc or "circle" around the shoulder. The more bat wrap behind the head, the more the bat has to travel in that arc to get behind the hands. Pointed at catcher, pointed at pitcher! The bat head tip does not travel independently in any of those gifs. It is moved into that position behind the hands by hip rotation, which alone accomplishes most of it. The connection to the hip brings the barrel down to assume a palm up, palm down hand position. That isn't too complex.

Try this. Take a bat and get your stance. Put the bat in a connected position first with the back elbow at your pant seam. The barrel will be behind your hands. Now rotate completely until you can hit an inside pitch letter high.
Next rotate but stop 20 degrees short, facing your belly button toward RF. The core faces RF. The back knee faces RF, and the back foot shoe laces face RF. Keep the barrel behind the ball. Next you can take a swing in each position, and tell me what has changed?
Next you can put the bat against the shoulder, rotate, and watch the bat head swing around behind you so it lines up behind the hands toward the pitch. You can take a swing from the pull and RF hitting positions. What has changed?
 
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Aug 29, 2011
1,114
0
Dallas, TX
I have a series of three young girls in Croatia who came to a camp or clinic. Croatia is rather far behind the better nations in Europe. Which of these three girls do you think will show the most launch in her swing? Of these three girls, only one is doing anything right, and she is doing one thing correctly and a long list of things wrong. I know the answer, because I told her about it. In her case it is more bat drag than launch perhaps.

Croatia.jpg

The reason I ask is because mechanics, load, pitch location all change the amount or perception of "launch" as you call it. I call it physics laws, not choice.
 
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R

RayR

Guest
Steve Huff, how in the heck do you teach hitting by making them worry about pants seams lining up with the back elbow and you can see that in live motion I think you are trying to sap the athleticism out of your hitters by making them worry about what position to be in at a certain time and not just trying to turn the barrel into the ball hitting is a movement not a series of positions and I have a question for you if you hit a high pitch by using #24's mechanics can you feel the swing arc tighten up or do you just throw your hands high while trying to make sure you stay on top of the ball making sure your elbow lines up with your hip and pants seam.
 
Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
Last night we worked on many of the suggestions and drills.
-Walk-up Drill
-Launch Drill

*Edit Begin* I said Launch Drill... I believe this is the SnF Drill. *Edit End*

-Deep Low Tee Drill
-Raised Hand Position
-Raised Back Elbow
-Bat Angle
-Shortened the starting width of her feet.
-Tried to keep more "bend" in her front elbow.

She still reaches when she strides, but after all the video and images you guys have posted, she can visualize what she needs to do... we are just going to have to work on it.

Regarding the Deep Low Tee Drill... this really clicked for DD. As a pitcher, I used MTS's example of imagining the end of the barrel was her hand while pitching. We discussed why getting her bat head in the position and deep gave her a better chance of making contact with the ball longer in the strike zone. We also discuss why hitting it out in front so far was a problem especially when often times her hands were starting to roll at contact.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

[video=youtube_share;lpvDbNq0EVo]http://youtu.be/lpvDbNq0EVo[/video]
 
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Oct 25, 2009
3,345
48
Last night we worked on many of the suggestions and drills.
-Walk-up Drill
-Launch Drill
-Deep Low Tee Drill
-Raised Hand Position
-Raised Back Elbow
-Bat Angle
-Shortened the starting width of her feet.
-Tried to keep more "bend" in her front elbow.

She still reaches when she strides, but after all the video and images you guys have posted, she can visualize what she needs to do... we are just going to have to work on it.

Regarding the Deep Low Tee Drill... this really clicked for DD. As a pitcher, I used MTS's example of imagining the end of the barrel was her hand while pitching. We discussed why getting her bat head in the position and deep gave her a better chance of making contact with the ball longer in the strike zone. We also discuss why hitting it out in front so far was a problem especially when often times her hands were starting to roll at contact.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

[video=youtube_share;lpvDbNq0EVo]http://youtu.be/lpvDbNq0EVo[/video]

Drills look really effective, EXCEPT the last drill. The tee is TOO FAR OUT FRONT. Counter productive. Keep it deep in the zone for practice. Notice how much better the deeper tee drills are.

Great improvement overall. Good job!
 
R

RayR

Guest
Knight,

Barrel action is definitely improved, but still work to do!!

Launch drill - if you are trying for the SNF - the left foot should be on the tip of its toe with no weight on it....it is down just for balance. Point the front shoulder at the 1st basemen to force more coil - turn the barrel away from the 1st basemen to launch the swing.

KRSnF1-20-13G.gif


In all of the swings I would challenge her to figure out a way to turn the barrel sooner rearward....still a little armsy meaning the barrel is being "pushed" instead of turned.

The deep tee needs to be deeeeeeeeper to really force/challenge her to turn the barrel rearward.

Trust me - the deeper you train the quicker she will figure it out....

And great video skills - but next time use some Springsteen or AC/DC for the audio!!

Please understand that my critique is just trying to get you/her to really get deeper with the swing - she looks much better but the tee definitely needs to moved back.

And how about some rear leg only swings? Would love to see those.

good work and thanks for sharing!!
 
Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
Agree with softballphreak. When the tee is that far out, she becomes an arm swinger (which is exactly what she's working so hard to fix). I also agree she is really coming along.

Question: On the one-leg drill, should she be "finishing" better by rotating a bit more? I've not used this drill yet, but it still looks like she's using her arms to power her swing, rather than the back side. Should she drive more with the hips (which would also look like the shoulders finishing a bit more open)? I'm looking for clarification. Thanks!
 
Jun 18, 2010
2,624
38
Launch drill - if you are trying for the SNF - the left foot should be on the tip of its toe with no weight on it....it is down just for balance. Point the front shoulder at the 1st basemen to force more coil - turn the barrel away from the 1st basemen to launch the swing.

Will do. I am glad you provided feedback on this drill as I was a bit unsure of the set up.

The deep tee needs to be deeeeeeeeper to really force/challenge her to turn the barrel rearward.

Trust me - the deeper you train the quicker she will figure it out....
Got you... my bad... the tee position is a habit I have to break... She said she felt like with the deep tee that she really needed to get the hips open sooner to get the barrel to the ball... Is that the feeling she should have?


And great video skills - but next time use some Springsteen or AC/DC for the audio!!
Look for some "Back in Black" next video entry.

Please understand that my critique is just trying to get you/her to really get deeper with the swing - she looks much better but the tee definitely needs to moved back.
I understand and the the feedback is greatly appreciated.

And how about some rear leg only swings? Would love to see those.
Next video entry...


good work and thanks for sharing!!
Thanks to you and everyone else for contributing and helping.
 
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R

RayR

Guest
Mountie if you are talking about the launch drill or SnF - you are not concerned with rotating. If you create a tight coil and launch the bat correctly you will unwind....don't need to force the rotation.

Agree with softballphreak. When the tee is that far out, she becomes an arm swinger (which is exactly what she's working so hard to fix). I also agree she is really coming along.

Question: On the one-leg drill, should she be "finishing" better by rotating a bit more? I've not used this drill yet, but it still looks like she's using her arms to power her swing, rather than the back side. Should she drive more with the hips (which would also look like the shoulders finishing a bit more open)? I'm looking for clarification. Thanks!
 

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