Let me try it a different way with you. What do you see her doing wrong with her lower body other then where her front foot lands?
10 y/o hitting, help please
- Thread starter inde53546
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
Let me try it a different way with you. What do you see her doing wrong with her lower body other then where her front foot lands?
Stepping out, stepping in the bucket, I'm not a fan of. Some hitters are able to step out, step open with no problem. Maybe this hitter steps out for a reason? The hitter opens her hips with her front leg step out. Needs to learn to use her rear leg to open her front side/leg. See it alot in hitters who stride using their front leg instead of the rear leg/side. To me if this was my DD I would address the upper half. I would work on the swing sequence, barrel path and how she turns the barrel. JMHO. I posted this early. I think this would help "clean up" the upper half:http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/11783-dd-bat-drag.html
Last edited:
I read the Bat Drag post again. So start thinking turn the barrell correct rdbass? What about loading the hands, scap loading what ever its called?
Redhot. I know your an advocate of a wider stance/stride. do you or anybody think she should be striding a little further?
I will definitely work on a stronger front side. And from what I gather there is some agreement that she is stepping out too far, how to fix seems to be where the disagreement comes in.
Redhot. I know your an advocate of a wider stance/stride. do you or anybody think she should be striding a little further?
I will definitely work on a stronger front side. And from what I gather there is some agreement that she is stepping out too far, how to fix seems to be where the disagreement comes in.
I think the only other thing I commented on was her bent front leg at contact.
Indie...I think her stance width looks OK, it will widen just a little at contact when she goes forward instead of backwards with that front foot.
Her lead leg is firming up at contact. I am sure you will disagree but if you fix the upper body and she gets the needed resistance. There will be a more explosive hip and the lead leg will firm up quicker.
I am going to bow out of this thread.
Leave her lower body alone right now. Fix the upper body.
Get her to load her hands behind and closer to the rear shoulder as the coiled rear hip moves forward. Think of throwing. All it will take is for her to feel like she is nudging someone in the chin standing behind her. Take the rear elbow to the 3rd base dugout whatever works. If she can do this, it will give her a better chance to get the barrel loaded behind and will add the resistance that she needs right now. It will also keep her hands in a strong position, so the elbows can work around her hands instead of the hands working around the elbows. She will then be able to throw the barrel and not swing the bat.
Good luck
Leave her lower body alone right now. Fix the upper body.
Get her to load her hands behind and closer to the rear shoulder as the coiled rear hip moves forward. Think of throwing. All it will take is for her to feel like she is nudging someone in the chin standing behind her. Take the rear elbow to the 3rd base dugout whatever works. If she can do this, it will give her a better chance to get the barrel loaded behind and will add the resistance that she needs right now. It will also keep her hands in a strong position, so the elbows can work around her hands instead of the hands working around the elbows. She will then be able to throw the barrel and not swing the bat.
Good luck
redhotcoach
Out on good behavior
- May 8, 2009
- 4,706
- 38
I think she will get wider down the road on her own, if she feels stronger now wider then good, if it feels strange to her, I wouldn't worry about it.
I would today make sure you both are understanding the feeling of resisting the upper half. Have her stand with most of her weight on her right leg, now she should slowly, not forcefully internally rotate her right thigh, turn her knee in, or whatever makes sense. At the same time, have pick a point in middle to upper back and think about resisting that point from turning. Allow the motion to happen, but resist it, like pulling through honey.
Now with her right leg turning in, and her back resisting turning (like ringing a rag out at her hip socket), a pivot point at her right hip will start going forward, that point will start pulling her right shoulder, it pulls down toward a tilted position, it pulls forward. If her hands are near held near shoulder, her hip will pull those (like Hyp said in another thread last night "the rear hip pulls the hands".
Try it...do it with her...see if you get the feeling.
Inde..I think you probably have enough advice from everyone by now HYP has actually given very good advice about the upper half and I would take it to heart.
As far as the lower half you can take my advice or leave it but obviously she should try and get her front foot going straight at the pitcher if possible. As far as bent front leg pause the video of the frames around the :13 sec mark and you will see what I mean about bent front leg at contact. In the first swing at the :01sec mark she is much closer to Ok. I agree with HYP do not change what she is doing with the lower half at all (except for straight step) just get it sequenced right she should have the strong front side like at the :14 sec mark except she needs it at the :13 sec point of contact. Actually if she loads her hands as her hips move forward as HYP suggests this should give that extra sec you need for her to have a firmer front side closer to contact.
Good luck maybe another video after a month or so to see how she is progressing think you have plenty of advice to digest for now.
As far as the lower half you can take my advice or leave it but obviously she should try and get her front foot going straight at the pitcher if possible. As far as bent front leg pause the video of the frames around the :13 sec mark and you will see what I mean about bent front leg at contact. In the first swing at the :01sec mark she is much closer to Ok. I agree with HYP do not change what she is doing with the lower half at all (except for straight step) just get it sequenced right she should have the strong front side like at the :14 sec mark except she needs it at the :13 sec point of contact. Actually if she loads her hands as her hips move forward as HYP suggests this should give that extra sec you need for her to have a firmer front side closer to contact.
Good luck maybe another video after a month or so to see how she is progressing think you have plenty of advice to digest for now.
- Oct 25, 2009
- 3,342
- 48
Why? Out of habit, probably. I don't believe she's stepping out in an attempt to adjust to the pitch, or some other reason related to the pitch.
What disadvantage does stepping away from the plate cause? Not being able to handle the outside pitches that will surely come when a catcher sees this? Losing much of her coil?
I believe the foundation should be correct first. I don't see how she will be able to stay inside the ball if she's stepping open.
I believe in teaching the correct fundamentals in practice. In a game it may all go out the window, but from a tee and front toss it should be as close to perfect as possible.
