Would appreciate comments/thoughts on what you see in DD's swing. Gave her the new bat just saying it was the latest from Easton. DD did not fully appreciate what she had in her hands until her hitting coach mentioned that this was the hottest bat out there and wondered how the bat was legal. She got the warm fuzzies after that. BTW, thanks to Core for bat.
Comments/thoughts on DD's swing
- Thread starter itguy
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The first thing that jumps out at me is that she has an all-back/all-forward movement pattern. She loads all her weight over her rear foot - outside of her rear foot, actually - and pushes everything forward to swing. There's no stretch, no separation, no resistance. She looks strong and athletic. I'm betting there's a LOT more in the tank if her sequence gets sorted out.
I've posted this lots and lots of times for hitters who have fundamental sequence issues. This has been helpful for quite a few people in getting them on a better path...
I've posted this lots and lots of times for hitters who have fundamental sequence issues. This has been helpful for quite a few people in getting them on a better path...
At contact the lead arm and barrel aren't an extension of each other
Have her stop trying to time her load with the pitch and see what happens...CP
This is the first time that I actually slowed down her swing to review. I will show the hitting coach at her next lesson and ask her about what she sees. I will have DD review the video Eric provided. I did see initially that DD is not loading and the sequence is off. I didn't grow up playing baseball/softball and do not know enough to put my finger on everything that I'm seeing. I still cringe when I think about squish the bug the first few years of little league. I'm trying to understand what is happening now so that we can improve going forward. I appreciate the feedback pointing out the specifics and would appreciate any suggestions regarding drills.
I've read some stuff about separation. Where does stretch and resistance fit in?
Is the push swing the result of lack of loading and improper weight shift? What is the significance/implications of a level swing?
I've read some stuff about separation. Where does stretch and resistance fit in?
Is the push swing the result of lack of loading and improper weight shift? What is the significance/implications of a level swing?
Get on YouTube and search for your favorite MLB hitter (if you need a suggestion...Cabrera, Trout, Pujols, Posey...). Find a slow-motion video of their swing, and study what's going on. The first thing to pay attention to is the relationship of their back knee to their back foot, and where the weight is carried on that foot. You will notice that the back knee never gets outside of the rear foot, nor is their weight shifted outside of the foot. Next, pay attention to the movement of the stride foot and the hands. Look at the direction they are travelling and when they move in relation to each other. You will see that they move in opposite directions - they "separate". Some people call this "walking away from the hands". The pull-back of the hands is not a movement of the arms, but caused by retraction of the scap (shoulder blade). As the lower body starts to turn, the scap retraction creates resistance/tension which links/connects the upper and lower body.
I didn't grow up playing baseball, either. When my DD needed help becoming a better hitter, I got busy with educating myself, and picked up a bat to feel things in my own body (this is important). From what I've seen, experience playing the game - even at a high level - isn't directly related to a better understanding of swing mechanics. I've seen plenty of bad stuff taught by good players. Keep learning. Lack of personal experience is not a road block.
EDIT: I definitely recommend watching video with your DD, if you can. Learn together. However, make sure she understands that this about helping her be a better player, not about you criticizing her. No one expects perfection. It's a journey of improvements.
I didn't grow up playing baseball, either. When my DD needed help becoming a better hitter, I got busy with educating myself, and picked up a bat to feel things in my own body (this is important). From what I've seen, experience playing the game - even at a high level - isn't directly related to a better understanding of swing mechanics. I've seen plenty of bad stuff taught by good players. Keep learning. Lack of personal experience is not a road block.
EDIT: I definitely recommend watching video with your DD, if you can. Learn together. However, make sure she understands that this about helping her be a better player, not about you criticizing her. No one expects perfection. It's a journey of improvements.
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Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely review this with DD. We will do some homework on this.
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Looks like a strong, athletic kid. Get her with a coach that fixes her load and stretch and hand path, and she will be killing the ball. A couple of drills I would have her start doing are the stork, or some call it flamingo, and the happy gilmore. Should be examples on youtube. Stress to her to keep hands high and back and let the lower body lead the swing.
I see over and over in her in college and pros looks like load on back leg. Then step forward with front leg instead of pushing forward off back foot which pushes hips around and then landing on strong front leg. The video Eric posted is great make sure not losing power by releaseing back drive to step forward.
The Justin Stone video is the best. I have posted it also as my favorite drill. My DD was a coiler with very little separation. Thru this drill she has become much better hitter. Also watching video(slow motion is the best) she will gain insight. You don't even have to have the sound on or try to explain what it happening. Just let her absorb it.
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