Megan 1-Tee

[Immortal1]

Hello all, been working with my DD for a few years on improving her batting skills. Found this forum around the end of last summer and have been trying to sort thru the various threads looking for pointers. Many very knowledgeable people on here and was hoping to get some specifics on improving her mechanics. Having looked at the video after i got home I did note some bat drag. In this particular T session I was working on screw in with the rear foot and lowering her lead shoulder prior to initiating swing.

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Again, any help or comments would be appreciated.

Coach Linn

 

[Amy in AZ.]

If you find a hitting coach teaching "screw in with the back foot" move on. You need to keep reading here.
That isn't proper form, in my book. Sorry.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Posted this elsewhere and feel it applies to your daughter ...

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Me ... I'd target the sequence first ... Coil-Stretch-Swing. While focusing on the sequence I'd continue to emphasize the importance ... even go as far as to tell her that "sequence trumps everything". Point out how Dixon considers the "Stretch" to be one of the main differentiating factors between being "average" and being "exceptional". Get that right ... then move on to other points of emphasis.

You can use some drills to get the basic Coil-Stretch sequence going ... ... ... the intent being to capture the Coil-Stretch sequence exhibited in those drills, and bring that sequence it into his swing.

The Coil-Stretch sequence is very easy to understand from a throwing perspective ... almost natural for many kids ... the intent of course is to bring that natural sequence into the swing.

The walk-through is another drill that allows one to flow with a good sequence. You can use this drill to get the Coil-Stretch sequence going, then capture it, and bring it into your normal swing.

Just some thoughts. Would like to see his sequence improved.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

I believe there may be some misunderstanding.

I do see what may be a “setting of the screw” … but it’s all for not. That is, your daughter pre-sets her swing and then spins her rear foot. The setting of the screw is serving no purpose here … since the swing basically starts from a pre-load static position and the pressure between the ground and rear foot is ignored, suggesting a lack of understanding of what “setting the screw” is meant to accomplish and promote.

IMO, this girl would be well served to learn "the move" in terms of developing a lower body running start, while also learning a clean swing sequence ... such as 'coil-stretch-swing'.

 

[straightleg]

Work on the sequence. I would work on throwing first. Load, step out and seperate. After throwing back foot toes should point to china.
The girls remember that easily. Work on her lower half weight shift.

The swings above is an all arm swing. Not using lower half.

It will come. She is young, have patience. Work on alittle bit at a time.

I work on only one swing thought at a time. Do a few reps and then move on to another swing thought. Then I might go back to the first swing though. Working on 1-3 things in one session is plenty.




Straightleg

 

[Immortal1]

Amy, thank you for your input. Unfortunately for this group of girls a professional (paid) hitting coach is not really an option. Most of the girls on the feeder team (14u) can barely cover the cost of playing. So, I guess that leaves me as their best option . As for the screw-in I thought I had that one right, guess I will have to go back and re-read the article (thread).

FFS, very helpful info – will work on Coil-Stretch-Swing. She said she loves the drill shown in the 3rd video clip. Now I just need to get her to do it correctly.

“suggesting a lack of understanding of what “setting the screw” is meant to accomplish and promote.” Probably a very correct statement. “IMO, this girl would be well served to learn "the move". Been trying to wrap my mind around this one as well.

 

[Immortal1]

I agree with ffs
Work on the sequence. I would work on throwing first She does this well, will try to post video clip. Load, step out and seperate. After throwing back foot toes should point to china.
The girls remember that easily. Work on her lower half weight shift.

The swings above is an all arm swing. Not using lower half. Agreed

It will come. She is young, have patience. Work on alittle bit at a time.

I work on only one swing thought at a time. Do a few reps and then move on to another swing thought. Then I might go back to the first swing though. Working on 1-3 things in one session is plenty. This statement is definitely one that I promote. To many of the other coaches will step in, discuss 5-6 different things, then complain that the player did not listen. With my DD I try to work on 1 or 2 topics per session, then touch upon them at the start of the next session before moving on to new business.

Straightleg

Thank you all for your input!!! Have practice tonite so hopefully will have a chance to review the above info.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

It is alright. At one point, we were taught exactly what you are doing. Make certain that you are not trying to teach a softball swing. I am an advocate that there is no difference between a baseball and a softball swing.

I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I run into many dads that think that they need to teach something called a softball swing.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

It is alright. At one point, we were taught exactly what you are doing. Make certain that you are not trying to teach a softball swing. I am an advocate that there is no difference between a baseball and a softball swing.

I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I run into many dads that think that they need to teach something called a softball swing.

Bingo! Well said Amy.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Amy, thank you for your input. Unfortunately for this group of girls a professional (paid) hitting coach is not really an option. Most of the girls on the feeder team (14u) can barely cover the cost of playing. So, I guess that leaves me as their best option . As for the screw-in I thought I had that one right, guess I will have to go back and re-read the article (thread).

FFS, very helpful info – will work on Coil-Stretch-Swing. She said she loves the drill shown in the 3rd video clip. Now I just need to get her to do it correctly.

“suggesting a lack of understanding of what “setting the screw” is meant to accomplish and promote.” Probably a very correct statement. “IMO, this girl would be well served to learn "the move". Been trying to wrap my mind around this one as well.

Okay, let's get started.

Looking for two improvements.

One ... let's correct the spinning bug squishing action and build a lower body main engine. Without that, your daughter will continue to be an "arm swinger" and never tap into what should be her main source of power ..... that being a 'connection' to her rotating torso.

Two ... let's clean up the sequence. No more pre-set load. There will only be 'coil' and 'uncoil'. No pauses. During tee swings I want to see a 2:1 ratio ... which basically means that I'm looking for a slow & fluid 'coil' ... as in a smooth gathering of energy ... followed by a much more rapid uncoil. Depending on how far we go with this we'll talk about the timing of the 'thrust' on top of the 'uncoil'. The sequence will be 1) cock the rear hip, basically moving the rear butt check behind her (not back to the catcher, but behind her ... as in twisting her rear right leg); followed by 2) coil & stretch ... and this coil will serve as the source of any forward stride; followed by 3) swing.

Let's start with "the move".

1) Step into the batter's box with the rear foot. In doing so have the bulk of the pressure on the rear foot on the inside 'ball' of the rear foot. That will help serve as a reminder that the ball of the rear foot will serve as a sort of pivot point.

2) Step into the batter's box with the front foot. Be 'balanced' statically. No rearward lean. Have the quads and hamstrings 'dynamically' balanced ... that is the legs are bent, and the quads & hams are opposing each other ... they are 'balanced' in opposition ... they are 'dynamically balanced' ... they are activated. The upper body will have a slight lean forward ... just enough to 'activate' the upper torso.

3) Using the muscles in the rear upper leg ... cock the rear hip. This may feel like the rear leg is being twisted. Being a right handed hitter, your daughter should feel a pressure that travels down to the rear foot which will give her the feel that the rear foot "wants" to turn "clockwise" ... but it is resisted from turning clockwise because of friction between her cleat & the ground. Feel that "clockwise" pressure. Don't go any further until you feel that "clockwise" pressure as if the "inside" portion of the rear foot has a pressure between it and the ground, that would have the rear foot turning "clockwise". You need to "feel" that if we are going to proceed.

4) Continue to coil. To do this your daughter may recruit her frontside. She may turn her front knee inward. She may internally rotate her front foot. She may/should bend more at the waist (anterior tilt), which will assist the coil and load the lower back muscles for the upcoming rotation that is to take place. During this time, feel the continued "pressure" between the "ground" and the "rear foot". There is a build-up in pressure trying to turn it "clockwise" ... but because of the resistance the foot will remain planted ... yet the pressure build-up will continue. As you continue to coil, the pressure by the rear foot will become more active, and will push ... a push as in adding pressure that would turn the foot "clockwise", but because the rear foot is restricted from moving ... AND because the coiling action is still occurring, the body will move forward ... this is the 'stride' ... we refer to this as "forward by coiling". There is a "dynamic balance" established between the "coiling" taking place and the "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot resisting/opposing that coil.

5) As the front foot moves to foot plant the "rear leg" will "uncoil" ... that is it will "untwist". The pressure at the back foot will continue to be a "clockwise" pressure. The "feel" from a hitter's perspective is that the "clockwise" pressure will continue to be exerted in a "clockwise" direction until "contact", although in reality it is only until rear foot eversion.

6) In terms of the lower body, have the mindset of the "rear leg" being in charge. It's "coil" and "uncoil". Simply allow the front leg to catch the body. Take whatever stride "results" from the "coil" ... that is, do not force a particular stride and do not purposely stride linearly so as to bypass the 'coil' & 'uncoil' action of the rear leg.

What I would like your daughter to do is work on "coil" and "uncoil" ... starting the action with the muscles in the upper rear leg ... feel the "rear leg" twisting/coiling and feel the build up of "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot. Allow a slow and fluid 'coil' to allow the build-up of that "clockwise" pressure and maintain a "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot during the "uncoiling" of the "rear leg". Keep that "clockwise" pressure sensation of the rear foot until the rear hip pulls the rear foot forward off the ground. Do this ... and the bug squish will be gone ... and your daughter will be on her way to building a lower body that is worth "connecting" to.

Keep working on 'coil' and 'uncoil'. Use the 2:1 ratio. Get to the point where the bug squishing is long gone and the "feel" is that of a slow & fluid gathering of energy to explode/uncoil.

Good luck ... and be patient.