13yo Maddie

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May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Looks like she would just drive the ball through the shift. Finding a coach who would give her the bunt sign would be hard IMO.

In 12U, she bunted on occasion, but that was mostly just to build her skills, and the occasional time where a ball on the ground is more important than the chance of a fly out.
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
Looking good Maddie! I REALLY like her swings in this video Eric..... The only thing I question is that she seems to be trying to fight off rolling over until well down stream of contact. May just be the camera angle though..... Have you thought about trying to incorporate some more momentum? I believe that would be my next step if she wouldn't push back to much and be receptive to it.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Looking good Maddie! I REALLY like her swings in this video Eric..... The only thing I question is that she seems to be trying to fight off rolling over until well down stream of contact. May just be the camera angle though..... Have you thought about trying to incorporate some more momentum? I believe that would be my next step if she wouldn't push back to much and be receptive to it.

Thanks for the kind words.

The only instruction I have given her recently is to extend (rear arm) out towards P/SS direction. She has had a tendency to be late with her extension (towards 3B dugout), or not get fully extended at all. Maybe what you're seeing is related to that. It might also be camera angle. This was on the ground, about 15' from her, about 3' left of center - kind of an odd POV.

It was mentioned by Coach Mike White (Oregon) that her rear hip should be moving forward to her front hip, rather than her front hip pulling back to the rear hip (which she tends to do). Looking at HL swings, I see examples of both. Maddie has heard Coach White's analysis, and has experimented with trying to incorporate that on occasion, but hasn't made a real change in that regard. At the moment, with the way she's hitting in games, I don't want to mess with much.

One thing that really comes across to me in this video is her intent to hit the ball hard...with violence...and extreme prejudice.
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
Thanks for the kind words.

The only instruction I have given her recently is to extend (rear arm) out towards P/SS direction. She has had a tendency to be late with her extension (towards 3B dugout), or not get fully extended at all. Maybe what you're seeing is related to that. It might also be camera angle. This was on the ground, about 15' from her, about 3' left of center - kind of an odd POV.

It was mentioned by Coach Mike White (Oregon) that her rear hip should be moving forward to her front hip, rather than her front hip pulling back to the rear hip (which she tends to do). Looking at HL swings, I see examples of both. Maddie has heard Coach White's analysis, and has experimented with trying to incorporate that on occasion, but hasn't made a real change in that regard. At the moment, with the way she's hitting in games, I don't want to mess with much.

One thing that really comes across to me in this video is her intent to hit the ball hard...with violence...and extreme prejudice.

I find that as an interesting check point for the coach. I do see that in some hitters, that have a more prominent shift to the front side and gain a lot of ground with the rear front after swinging, Cano is the first hitter that comes to mind for me. I am not saying that they get on top of the front leg or lunge they just have more forward momentum I guess. I find that a lot of the old greats had done that as well.

Anyway back to Maddie..... I really like the way she is loading in the video. The way her upper back side works down and in (I call that getting forward) and doesn't just drop. I use that as a check point for what I believe to be a proper hand path. Makenzie was having an issue with that for a little while, where she would laterally bend her spine then start to move the hands forward instead of it being one blended move.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I find that as an interesting check point for the coach. I do see that in some hitters, that have a more prominent shift to the front side and gain a lot of ground with the rear front after swinging, Cano is the first hitter that comes to mind for me. I am not saying that they get on top of the front leg or lunge they just have more forward momentum I guess. I find that a lot of the old greats had done that as well.

Anyway back to Maddie..... I really like the way she is loading in the video. The way her upper back side works down and in (I call that getting forward) and doesn't just drop. I use that as a check point for what I believe to be a proper hand path. Makenzie was having an issue with that for a little while, where she would laterally bend her spine then start to move the hands forward instead of it being one blended move.

I agree that it was an interesting check point. From what I've observed, Coach White and his crew teach a swing with forward momentum being a primary component. He also talked about wanting the the front hip to be be the pivot point for rotation, not the rear hip (like Maddie does).

IMO, she does a pretty good job using her back in these swings - loading and launching. She's at her best when she is pulling with her back. When she loses that component, her torso pushes forward over her front hip, and her hits become mediocre ground balls or pop-ups.
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
I agree that it was an interesting check point. From what I've observed, Coach White and his crew teach a swing with forward momentum being a primary component. He also talked about wanting the the front hip to be be the pivot point for rotation, not the rear hip (like Maddie does).

IMO, she does a pretty good job using her back in these swings - loading and launching. She's at her best when she is pulling with her back. When she loses that component, her torso pushes forward over her front hip, and her hits become mediocre ground balls or pop-ups.

Yes that is another way to put it... What the HI followers call the "Ferris Wheel" and when she doesn't use her back she is a "Merry Go Round". So does the coach at Oregon teach the Merry Go Round type swing?? I know that must be difficult for you to embrace if he does teach that type of swing..... Especially because I am assuming that Oregon is Maddie's dream school..... From what I remember seeing from Jenna Lilly she has an around the spine front front hip pivot point type swing.

Edit: Wanted to add when you say she uses her back to me that is the difference between launching the swing towards Right Center or an outside pitch and the hands working the barrel away for that location is what allows the resistance to happen. Do you find she doesn't use her back as well on inside pitches?? I found that, that can be a tough nut to crack.
 
Last edited:
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Yes that is another way to put it... What the HI followers call the "Ferris Wheel" and when she doesn't use her back she is a "Merry Go Round". So does the coach at Oregon teach the Merry Go Round type swing?? I know that must be difficult for you to embrace if he does teach that type of swing..... Especially because I am assuming that Oregon is Maddie's dream school..... From what I remember seeing from Jenna Lilly she has an around the spine front front hip pivot point type swing.

I'm not familiar with enough of the details of their entire hitting philosophy to answer confidently one way or another, but I would guess it's more of a ferris wheel action.

Yes, Oregon is Maddie's dream school. If Maddie gets an offer from Oregon, and gets to realize her dream, I will have no trouble keeping my mouth shut about their hitting instruction.
 
Last edited:
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
I'm not familiar with enough of the details of their entire hitting philosophy to answer confidently one way or another, but I would guess it's more of a ferris wheel action.

Yes, Oregon is Maddie's dream school. If Maddie gets an offer from Oregon, and gets to realize her dream, I will have no trouble keeping my mouth shut about their hitting instruction.

I probably edited my previous post while you were typing. Below is my edit. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Edit: Wanted to add when you say she uses her back to me that is the difference between launching the swing towards Right Center or an outside pitch and the hands working the barrel away for that location is what allows the resistance to happen. Do you find she doesn't use her back as well on inside pitches?? I found that, that can be a tough nut to crack.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I probably edited my previous post while you were typing. Below is my edit. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Edit: Wanted to add when you say she uses her back to me that is the difference between launching the swing towards Right Center or an outside pitch and the hands working the barrel away for that location is what allows the resistance to happen. Do you find she doesn't use her back as well on inside pitches?? I found that, that can be a tough nut to crack.

Maddie tends to push her hands away from her rear shoulder on outside pitches and hit around the ball, rather than attacking towards RC, as she should. This is a habit she has not been able to get away from, so far. This also ruins her ability to effectively pull with her back. She seems to do okay with inside pitches.

For Maddie, her back working well tends to result in her staying pretty well stacked over her back hip, rather than a reverse-C shape. When it falls apart, her rear shoulder and head push forward in front of her rear hip.
 

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