My daughters swing..

[Eric F]

One of the swing components that is missing from hitters with a DBSF* pattern is a proper top hand swivel.

What is "top hand swivel"??...

Hold your right forearm vertically in front of you, with your hand in a fist, and your thumb pointing rearward over your right shoulder. With your arm remaining vertical, rotate your wrist/forearm so your thumb points to your right. That is "top hand swivel".

Top hand swivel gets the barrel turning to the ball while the hands stay in front of - and moving with - the rear shoulder. Top hand swivel can provide sudden, explosive, "NOW!" barrel movement. Rotation of the hands is fast. Hand travel is slow.

See it in action here...

Use the hands to turn the barrel to contact.

These drills have helped my DDs understand the feeling of using top hand swivel to launch the barrel...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_MT7wc_tfY&list=PLLo_t691U8DVQCriImV9Kt44VdEI6iFir&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7I6WMXnUPM


* Drop the Barrel and Swing Flat (aka "Level Then Swing")

 

[Doug Romrell]

One of the swing components that is missing from hitters with a DBSF* pattern is a proper top hand swivel.

What is "top hand swivel"??...

Hold your right forearm vertically in front of you, with your hand in a fist, and your thumb pointing over your rear shoulder. With your arm remaining vertical, rotate your wrist/forearm so your thumb points to your right. That is "top hand swivel".

Top hand swivel gets the barrel turning to the ball while the hands stay in front of - and moving with - the rear shoulder. Top hand swivel can provide sudden, explosive, "NOW!" barrel movement. Rotation of the hands is fast. Hand travel is slow.

See it in action here...

Use the hands to turn the barrel to contact.

These drills have helped my DDs understand the feeling of using top hand swivel to launch the barrel...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_MT7wc_tfY&list=PLLo_t691U8DVQCriImV9Kt44VdEI6iFir&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7I6WMXnUPM


* Drop the Barrel and Swing Flat (aka "Level Then Swing")

Okay...... THAT was one of the best posts ever regarding hitting!

 

[Eric F]

I appreciate that, Doug.

 

[Doug Romrell]

I appreciate that, Doug.

Eric, Maybe discuss the importance of back arm slotting to assist that top hand action. I sure see it in the Cabrera clip.

 

[Eric F]

Eric, Maybe discuss the importance of back arm slotting to assist that top hand action. I sure see it in the Cabrera clip.

The way I understand and approach it is that the rear elbow GETS SLOTTED as a reaction to what's happening with the hands. Dropping the elbow should not be a deliberate action. The pressure is in the hands.

 

[FP26]

The way I understand and approach it is that the rear elbow GETS SLOTTED as a reaction to what's happening with the hands. Dropping the elbow should not be a deliberate action. The pressure is in the hands.

I agree with Eric. Don't teach what to do with the elbows. Teach what to do with the hands. However, watching the elbows can be helpful with diagnosing problems.

 

[Buttermaker]

Yes - the rear elbow can drop from the wrist usage but that would be a top down approach and cause a circular barrel path.

Rear elbow gets pulled down by the core actions which pulls the rear forearm into supination.

Not looking to start a fight - just giving the people a different perspective.

The way I understand and approach it is that the rear elbow GETS SLOTTED as a reaction to what's happening with the hands. Dropping the elbow should not be a deliberate action. The pressure is in the hands.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Does anyone have a side view of this particular swing?

 

[Eric F]

Yes - the rear elbow can drop from the wrist usage but that would be a top down approach and cause a circular barrel path.

Rear elbow gets pulled down by the core actions which pulls the rear forearm into supination.

Not looking to start a fight - just giving the people a different perspective.

I would modify the way I phrased it before to say that both the core and hands act on the rear elbow movement.

 

[pctrips]

Rear elbow gets pulled down by the core actions which pulls the rear forearm into supination.

I'm trying to learn the details of hitting to help my DD. I feel like I'm miles ahead of where I was before I got here but I am far from where I'd like to get. This quote stands out to me because I cannot process it functionally. How can the core affect the position of the elbow/forearm?