How to drive your hip?
- Thread starter softballislife99
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
I've been, to the best of my ability, using Dr. Yeager's method with some of my students. 4 of the 7 have made excellent improvement, totally changed them as hitters. What I see is the commitment to change as the difference from the others. With this method, a lot less momentum is created by turning the the shoulders, because the hips are shifting forward before rotation. The reason I choose this method; read the pitch longer in a neutral position and keeping the front shoulder in, stop dropping the hands, plate coverage, and squaring up to the ball. An added benefit was the player could feel her swing and mechanical breakdowns herself, making it easier to fix and be consistent at the plate.
Last edited:
I just watched the whole clip again, and he is stated a common misconception , that the first move is turn your hips.
The first move(one way) is to set your hips in a "cradle" type position, to get "sat", at this point the hips and pelvis, are in a slightly open position,(flex) but you can still extend OPPO, or go more "pull"
If you do nothing but "hip slide" you have gained no "overlap" have gained no wrag wring" no resistance.
Many still teach yeager front block method, and the "hips will get turned" method, with success like yours, Mike.
The first move(one way) is to set your hips in a "cradle" type position, to get "sat", at this point the hips and pelvis, are in a slightly open position,(flex) but you can still extend OPPO, or go more "pull"
If you do nothing but "hip slide" you have gained no "overlap" have gained no wrag wring" no resistance.
Many still teach yeager front block method, and the "hips will get turned" method, with success like yours, Mike.
Last edited:
I'd be ok if they, as you describe "Set their hips" but most of my kids will rotate or twist early resulting in pop ups or weak grounders to second base. The goal is to hit line drives between the left center - right center gaps.
Interesting. I am finding that being SAT with arched lower back is a key to getting things moving around. I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing, but when I show girls the coil drill with the torquing lower leg, it Works best from this position.
Arched lower back, is a key component of Hip extension. it is the Upper part of the muscle group, butt and hammy being the other two major components.
redhotcoach
Out on good behavior
- May 8, 2009
- 4,698
- 38
Yes. A lot of kids will spin with no resistance.
My goals with this method are;
1. Early pitch recognition in a neutral but loaded (ready)position.
2. Consistent , duplicatiable, repeatable swing.
3. Principles that can be taught and understood.
4. Better contact with the bat on the ball.
With my small sample size I also got a less confused hitter. They could feel and fix their swing when it broke down. This led to a more confident hitter in the box. It's not that she pops up or swings and misses that's the problem, it's understanding why and how to, hopefully, have a better at bat next time. My players that have a different hitting style , I didn't use this with other than trying to create pressure between the legs to slow the spinners and bug squishers down. I know there is several great methods, I'm just sharing my experiences with what I've used. Good luck
1. Early pitch recognition in a neutral but loaded (ready)position.
2. Consistent , duplicatiable, repeatable swing.
3. Principles that can be taught and understood.
4. Better contact with the bat on the ball.
With my small sample size I also got a less confused hitter. They could feel and fix their swing when it broke down. This led to a more confident hitter in the box. It's not that she pops up or swings and misses that's the problem, it's understanding why and how to, hopefully, have a better at bat next time. My players that have a different hitting style , I didn't use this with other than trying to create pressure between the legs to slow the spinners and bug squishers down. I know there is several great methods, I'm just sharing my experiences with what I've used. Good luck
Last edited:
SWING KING
Banned
- May 19, 2015
- 9
- 1
Can you see how Lexie Elkins rear leg is turning forward and pulling rear hip forward as her hands are tight to her rear shoulder and the top of the bat is going backwards? She gets separation and stretch between her rear shoulder and upper torso that is resisting going forward and her (some call) "hip drive" that is driving forward. So in simple talk: hands are back, hips driving.
You are, like a majority of young hitters, are probably swinging at the ball with you arms. Your arms are going forward and your hips are staying back.
The finish of Lexie: can you see how the "hip drive" is pulling/launching her hands and bat through the ball? Her strong leg muscles are turning forward and her strong core/back muscles are pulling back so when released the swing is sling shot by the "hip drive" your coach is talking about.
^her hands are coming from behind the rear hip.
We do some pre set drills to help kids feel what it is like.
how are you teaching that down and in of the rear knee? are you teaching that goes first and pulls hips?
redhotcoach
Out on good behavior
- May 8, 2009
- 4,698
- 38
I don't teach it. I teach hip coil and turning the barrel. That's it. The rear leg turning, knee down and in, is a reaction when coiling around the rear leg and snapping the barrel around the hands when there is no slack between the rear leg and hands.
so many ways to teach kids how to hit, and each kid is, and does need a different set of repairs as time goes on.
One dad, says are teaching my DD a double hitch?
, I said I haven't worked hitting with your DD, she has never made a single hitting practice.
This thread "HOW TO DRIVE YOUR HIPS" can be eye opening for many if we can debate this through.
Sorry about large pics, I do not know how to shrink them.
Bonds gets that rear leg under him, in an above average "hip flexion" position.
He uses a powerful Hip thrust, "hip extension" using his back, butt, and hamstring, for this thrust. You can can see his clenched glute in the pic below
his rear is getting into his swing.
Yes there is rotation in the hips, but in many youth swings, the back leg remains straight, so there is NO hip flex or extension, all spin.
this work below would be over the top for my group, but not for high level.
http://www.top.me/fitness/the-one-glutes-exercise-you-should-be-doing-but-probably-arent-1357.html
One dad, says are teaching my DD a double hitch?
, I said I haven't worked hitting with your DD, she has never made a single hitting practice.This thread "HOW TO DRIVE YOUR HIPS" can be eye opening for many if we can debate this through.
Sorry about large pics, I do not know how to shrink them.
Bonds gets that rear leg under him, in an above average "hip flexion" position.
He uses a powerful Hip thrust, "hip extension" using his back, butt, and hamstring, for this thrust. You can can see his clenched glute in the pic below
his rear is getting into his swing.
Yes there is rotation in the hips, but in many youth swings, the back leg remains straight, so there is NO hip flex or extension, all spin.
this work below would be over the top for my group, but not for high level.
http://www.top.me/fitness/the-one-glutes-exercise-you-should-be-doing-but-probably-arent-1357.html
Last edited:
