help me find Hitter's post on revised grip, thanks

[SoCalSoftballdad]

Understanding similarity of throw and swing is very important here.

What do you mean exactly?

 

[tom.guerry]

Howard has found it very important to teach throw and swing together, so you can review his approach in the many posts here.

Slaught/Candrea/Enquist also stress an "if you can throw, you can hit" approach to teaching the swing, see Rightview info. Epstein also likens the swing to the pitching motion, but more in terms of the body torque as opposed to arm action aspect.

I base my approach (arm action is king) on the way Hodge describes the arm action of the overhand throw in his BIOMECHANICBASEBALL tape. You may be able to get a copy of this over the net from FFS or Wellphyt among other tech savvy contributors who have access to this content.

While the arms are not primary actors in the HLBB swing (because excessive arm action creates a "long" swing), the arm action sequence in the windup of the overhand throw is the same as for the preparation for the swing. Without a good preparation, a good short quick adjustable HLBB swing is not possible.

This arm action similarity can be best objectively described in my opinion using Hodge's tems and an approach that describes a universal joint motion sequence of the throwing/back arm action and how this synchs with limb actions in the lower body.

The place I start is teaching overhand throw using Hodge's info with a little Nyman "throwing for dummies" (ebook from defunct setpro.com website) thrown in.

If you are looking for a comprehensive overhand throw program, look for Ron Wolforth's athletic pitcher/pitching central info.

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

Howard has found it very important to teach throw and swing together, so you can review his apporach in the many posts here.

Slaught/CAndrea/Enquist also stress an "if you can throw, you can hit" approach to teaching the swing, see Rightview info. Epsetin also likens the swing to the pitching motion, but more in terms of the body torque as opposed to arm action aspect.

I base my approach (arm action is king) on the way Hodge describes the arm action of the overhand throw in his BIOMECHANICBASEBALL tape. You may be able to get a copy of this over the net from FFS or Wellphyt among other tech savvy contributors who have access to this content.

While the arms are not primary actors in the HLBB swing (because excessive arm action creates a "long" swing), the arm action sequence in the windup of the overhand throw is the same as for the preparation for the swing. Without a good preparation, a good short quick adjustable HLBB swing is not possible.

This can be best objectively described in my opinion using Hodge's tems and an apporach that describes a universal joint motion sequence of the throwing/back arm action and how this synchs with limb actions in the lower body.

The place I start is teaching overhand throw using Hodge's info with a little Nyman "throwing for dummies" (ebook from defunct setpro.com website) thrown in.

If you azre looking for a comprehensive overhand throw program, look for Ron Wolforth's athletic pitcher/pitching central info.

It seems that hitting, throwing overhand/underhand, and windmill/baseball pitching are all related in the way your body moves and how it generates a repeatable, powerful throw or swing. I'll check out some of the resources you listed. Thanks.

 

[tom.guerry]

in overhand throw and HLBB swing, the arm action helps create upper body resistance to turning with the hips the same way.

in windmill, the same type of resistance to turning is via turning/circling the arm the opposite way. The lower body support is still much the same.

So a good windmill pitcher has great lower body action for the swing and needs to learn upper body resistance/control by "transplanting" the overhand throw action/sequence.

Fastpitch kids rarely throw overhand very well, so this is a big area of opportunity.

Lower body action/HLBB swing is very difficult to learn if you do not throw overhand or windmill well in large part because you can not learn a good lower body action to support the upper body.

 

[straightleg]

The top hand is the hook with the index finger just like the photos I posted.
Its top hand not bottom hand

Just Saying



Straightleg

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

SL ... I personally promote having the index finger not chocking the bat, and promote the 'feel' of controlling the barrel with two fingers ... the "ring finger" & "middle finger", in both the 'top' & 'bottom' hands. I viewed multiple videos of Bustos this weekend, and it was fairly common to notice the index finger of the bottom hand off of the barrel as we see above.

 

[cshilt]

Bustos and Hitter both promote gripping the bat primarily with the middle two fingers in both hands. The index finger is wrapped loosely around the handle and acts as a guide. It may be easier to see the index finger of the bottom hand sticking up since the pinkie finger of the top hand is making it stick up a little more, but the top hand index finger is not gripping tightly. In fact, if you're gripping too tightly with the index finger you're likely to end up with the handle getting too deep into the palm.

 

[ArmWhip]

As long as we are on the subject of the grip has anyone ever noticed Albert Pujols has a grip that is different from what is commonly recommended. He does not have his palms aligned like in the picture above of Ted Williams. Pujols has his door knockers lined up which means that his palms are significantly opposed. It's noticeable at contact when you compare the back of his bottom hand with the palm of his top hand. Check it out.

Photos of Albert Pujols' Swing

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Bustos and Hitter both promote gripping the bat primarily with the middle two fingers in both hands. The index finger is wrapped loosely around the handle and acts as a guide. It may be easier to see the index finger of the bottom hand sticking up since the pinkie finger of the top hand is making it stick up a little more, but the top hand index finger is not gripping tightly. In fact, if you're gripping too tightly with the index finger you're likely to end up with the handle getting too deep into the palm.

I agree with this. I want to feel the middle two fingers of both hands controlling the bat. I haven't viewed the index finger as having a role of serving as a guide, but instead giving the role of controlling the barrel to the middle two fingers. To help gain this feel I have hitters place place a small pencil (blunt on both ends) between their index finger and middle finger when gripping the bat. I have them attempt to replicate the feel with their bottom hand. They perform swings with the pencil while being instructed to feel the two middle fingers controlling the barrel.

 

[SBFAMILY]

Spent weekend with Bustos. In terms of the index finger as a guide. Turn bat so you are putting with it like a golf club and see how the finger is used. She hooks it over the bat to control the bat , but not to grip with it.