Top Hand...a few pages ago we saw that this hand has the strength in the grip to counteract the deflection. Does the top hand play the dominate role to hammer or drive through the swing? Is the top hand the dominate hand for power?
Hand Action at Contact
- Thread starter T.J.
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FiveFrameSwing
Banned
The good doctor has given his views on the grip at contact. What you likely mean is the value of the grip pre-contact and in the stance. It’s been covered multiple times here at DFP. For example … begin with post #13 here … http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/12110-all-knowing-board-why-does-swinging-down-cause-pop-ups-2.html
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
IMO what you saw were two instructors performing a test of resistance to the barrel being pushed back and showing that when the top hand was bent that there was more resistance. IMO that isn't the true value of the bent top hand. The true value is that a bent top hand leads to greater barrel speed.
TJ, IMO the strength in the grip that you are speaking of, in terms of not having the barrel defect back, comes more from a mentality of hitting with a bent top hand.
In the following demo observe how the the strength of the "grip" is tested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXWJ7vfYV5w#t=104s
Notice what is credited for preventing the bat from deflecting backwards.
Now take a closer look and notice a difference in the bend in the top hand wrist.
We'll be discussing the "bent top hand" more in a bit ... it does have a place in the swing ... and what is credited above for preventing bat deflection has to do with the bend in the top hand wrist.
If you have a hitter who does as in the first photo (top hand wrist in line with forearm) and also dumps the barrel while doing this on lower pitches, how do you correct it so that she does as in the second photo (top hand wrist extended and radially deviated)? Also what causes this?
OK. Just watched the Bat Jack video. Is it that simple to correct? Just use a Bat Jack?
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AW, I have no intention of giving up on golf analogies, ... but let's dumb it down a bit.
When you pull through contact with the bottom hand ... or hammer through contact with the bottom hand ... you end up with what in golf is referred to as a vertical hinge. That is, the bottom hand remains flat to the ground like we see here ....
The above is an example of resisting lead arm supination.
Take a look at some of the reverse top-hand drills sometimes shown here at DFP and you'll see the same anti-horizontal hinge action. Need to be careful when performing such drills that you don't teach the bottom hand improperly.
It's a common issue ... leads to an "around" swing, chicken-winging and lack of extension. Once addressed the top-hand is free to get the job done.
My DD does this. She has been told to pull with her bottom hand. What should she be doing to correct this? In non super technical language please. I am so lost in this thread but realize that she should not be pulling. What should she be doing? What should the cue be instead?
Nobody? I am serious that I read this whole thread and have not been able to determine how to address this. My DD looks just like the girl in the video above.
FFS - you said, "It's a common issue ... leads to an "around" swing, chicken-winging and lack of extension. Once addressed the top-hand is free to get the job done." Please explain how to address this.
FFS - you said, "It's a common issue ... leads to an "around" swing, chicken-winging and lack of extension. Once addressed the top-hand is free to get the job done." Please explain how to address this.
Bump - FFS please explain.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
The bottom hand does indeed pull … but not through impact. Pulling with the bottom hand is exactly what you don’t want to happen through impact. Instead the wrists ulnar deviate into and through impact.
The unhinging of the wrists, through ulnar deviation, just before and through impact, is the final and controlling factor of ensuring a repeatable and stable impact motion … along with the ‘extension’ that is lacking in many of the youth swings we often see.
In simple terms … you throw the barrel and release it with simultaneous ulnar deviation with both wrists, and that effectively has the bat whipping into the ball. You release through a path of ulnar deviation and then roll.
Getting through the ball, for the experience of quality impact, is why so many pros have a goal of becoming extended. It’s all about the very brief, yet highly important, quality of impact.
The unhinging of the wrists, through ulnar deviation, just before and through impact, is the final and controlling factor of ensuring a repeatable and stable impact motion … along with the ‘extension’ that is lacking in many of the youth swings we often see.
In simple terms … you throw the barrel and release it with simultaneous ulnar deviation with both wrists, and that effectively has the bat whipping into the ball. You release through a path of ulnar deviation and then roll.
Getting through the ball, for the experience of quality impact, is why so many pros have a goal of becoming extended. It’s all about the very brief, yet highly important, quality of impact.
Thanks FFS, long thread but some good stuff in it.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
You're welcome CLM.
Many folks speak of having the top hand being oriented "palm-up" into and through impact ... but if you look close it's basically the top hand wrist releasing through a path of ulnar deviation.
But it isn't just the top hand wrist that ulnar deviates into and through impact ... it is the bottom hand also. That's how educated wrists behave into and through impact.
Take a look at Utley's bottom hand wrist .....
Many folks speak of having the top hand being oriented "palm-up" into and through impact ... but if you look close it's basically the top hand wrist releasing through a path of ulnar deviation.
But it isn't just the top hand wrist that ulnar deviates into and through impact ... it is the bottom hand also. That's how educated wrists behave into and through impact.
Take a look at Utley's bottom hand wrist .....
