Help with DD Swing (Tee)

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rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Also set the tee lower. Like someone already said,I see a level swing. DD drops her hands and bat and swings level to the ball.
 
Feb 5, 2013
245
16
Thanks StraightLeg and rdbass. I will get some additional videos and post them to this thread in the coming weeks.

Appreciate it!
 
Feb 5, 2013
245
16
Hey everyone, so I thought I'd post a follow up ... DD's swing a year later than the original post.

I'm wondering what kind of improvement you guys are seeing as well as areas that need work.



(Sorry for the video size and the #$!#@& netting, all I had was RVP on my phone this time around. Will get better quality soon.)
 
Last edited:
Mar 5, 2014
113
0
Hey everyone, so I thought I'd post a follow up ... DD's swing a year later than the original post.

I'm wondering what kind of improvement you guys are seeing as well as areas that need work.



(Sorry for the video size and the #$!#@& netting, all I had was RVP on my phone this time around. Will get better quality soon.)



I see pretty significant bat drag, a reverse weight shift through contact(notice the backwards head and body movement), shifts weight before she swings(I think this is the possible cause of the negative head and body movement around contact). I also see her front elbow collapsing and riding around her ribcage causing early wrist roll and the barrel to leave plane earlier than it should.

Here's the bat drag I see:
batdrag.jpg

I would work 3 things:
1.) Keeping the barrel/hands loaded until launch. Notice how when she launches, her hands have already dropped some and the barrel is falling/dropping back towards the catcher. Have her learn to turn the barrel with hands only from the rear shoulder from a loaded position. Not a swing, just get in a stance, stride/load the hands/barrel, and turn the barrel with the hands(no arm movement other than slotting the rear elbow) until the barrel is parallel to the chest. When finished, the hands should be at/near the rear shoulder.

2.) Keeping her rear hip loaded until "go". On tee swings, have her reach out with her front foot and land with heel up and put very little weight on it(stepping on thin ice). She should shift her weight into her front leg as she swings not well before as she's doing now.

3.) Work on front arm action. I'd have her do 3 things and see which 'sticks' the best with her:
a.) Pronation catch drill. This drill, setup like front toss without a bat. Have her get in her normal stance and stride/load and toss her balls up and in and have her catch the ball with her bottom hand as she rotates as she would in a swing. She will have to pronate(go thumbs down) to catch it. I've just started using this with some of my young guys who have lead arm collapse issues, and it is helping them.
b.) Frisbee throws into the top/back of the cage. Get a frisbee and have her throw into the back/top of the cage on an upward trajectory
c.) Front arm bat throws with a light(t-ball) bat. Have her throw the bat with front arm over the top of the pitcher's head into center field

Video a large % of her swings/drills and when you feel she has made significant improvement, repost.
 
Last edited:
Feb 5, 2013
245
16
Great info, bamajeff. Glad we are seeing a lot of the same things. Already working on your #2 and #3, but thanks for the drills in #3.

Can you (or someone) provide an example of the "drill" you mention in #1, slotting the rear elbow and turning the barrel. Yes, I know there are a million TTB posts here, but I'm curious how to work this in a drill. Every time I show DD this, she can mimic it but I can't get it to translate to a full swing.

Thanks!
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
For me, her stride is a bit big. That large of a stride will prevent her from being able to transfer all her weight onto the front side at contact. Secondly, the drag mentioned above, where her back elbow is getting ahead of her hands in the biggest issue for me. So, I'd work on reverse top hand drills to keep her connected as well as shortening up the stride closer to the the length of her bat. (I'm guessing approx. 31'') I also noticed that she goes straight into a heel plant, try to land on the toe as the hands are drawing back and use the heel plant as a trigger to start the hands forward. JMHO, James
 
Feb 5, 2013
245
16
Can't wait to show DD this post to have others reinforce what we've been discussing. Thanks to all for keeping it positive.

For me, her stride is a bit big. That large of a stride will prevent her from being able to transfer all her weight onto the front side at contact.

Absolutely, great point.

I also noticed that she goes straight into a heel plant, try to land on the toe as the hands are drawing back and use the heel plant as a trigger to start the hands forward. JMHO, James

Love it. We've been working on this, but are struggling a bit when translating it to a full swing. I guess just keep driving home this point or is there any drills to help with this?
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
There are two big things that I see that will change this swing for the better.

1) In her first move before she strides have her work her lower body around the inside lower pelvis with a slight inward turn with her front knee (call it coil or whatever but see if it comes natural to you if you can decently hit and see if you feel it when you throw)

2)keep the hands back or moving smoothly slightly back and in during this coil and stride phase until to touch. Do not leak them as she strides).

You'll see a big difference if you and her can understand these steps.
 
Feb 5, 2013
245
16
llhowser, thanks for the feedback.

If I'm hearing you correctly, it sounds like your saying she needs a more efficient load ... and needs to stay loaded until launch, correct?
 

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