Fixing early stride

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May 15, 2017
29
1
Trying to fix timing issues. She was always late before and now she's always really early. We've been working on getting better coil and some separation and she's finally getting at least a little but since she's so early she drops her elbow and when she resets she's flat with the barrel.

So my number one question is how to fix timing. If you have any other suggestions I'd be happy to hear them. She's improved a ton and has hits off the three best pitchers in our league but hasn't hit with the power she's capable of when she hits off me (or our next door neighbor who pitches on a travel team and has a much quicker release) and I think it's because she slides her foot and starts her swing very early.

Here are three examples. Any critique would be great. Rec league is done and all we have left are all stars if she makes the team (or possibly joining one of the TB teams for a tournament or two).

 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
My suggestion is to skip the foot slide thing she's doing and help her learn how to ride her rear leg forward (forward by coil). An early start is good, but the timing of when the foot lands needs to be adjustable for the speed of the pitch. Don't get the foot down early...or late. Get it down at the right time for the pitch. The rear leg is in control.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
To piggyback onto what Eric said, Tewksbary's Go drill (Go! Drill A - Tewksbary Hitting - ) can be useful. You can start doing it off the tee and then progress to front toss. You can play around
with how high you start your knee. My DD has a bit of a leg kick so I just have her get to the position she gets to with her leg kick and go from there.
 
May 15, 2017
29
1
I guess the reason I want her to step down once is because up until she gets her toe down her hands are moving back and I'm looking for an easy fix. How do I get her to fix that problem?
 
Jan 30, 2018
252
0
SE Michigan
My daughter has a similar issue but not as bad. She hardly ever strikes out, maybe once every 7 games, but she hits more weak ground balls than she should. She also crushes one every now and then. She used to coil too much and would get her weight behind her back leg even. We (her hitting coach and I) quickly fixed that. She also would drop her hands and make an "L" shaped path to the ball, causing flat bat. Your daughter seems to make more of a "C" path. I have mine get her back elbow up. When she started playing she had elbow down like your DD does as I was told by her coaches "that is what softball players do, it's not like baseball". I even preached keeping elbow down, ugh. Then one day a friend of mine who's daughter was a little older and way better than mine told me that wasn't true and to check out video from good college hitters. So thanks to YOUTUBE I now know that keeping the elbow down is not the way.
Back to the timing thing. We play at a very high level and we see some very good/fast pitchers so my daughter developed an early load as well, so she started off bad from the get go. She would rather face a pitcher throwing high 50s than to see one that throws mid 40s. We have been working on timing drills of different kinds. One of which is the bouncing tennis balls at her drill, I bounce them at different speeds etc. Side toss is another but I toss the ball higher and lower etc. I like the drill Pattar posted above as well.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Trying to fix timing issues. She was always late before and now she's always really early. We've been working on getting better coil and some separation and she's finally getting at least a little but since she's so early she drops her elbow and when she resets she's flat with the barrel.

So my number one question is how to fix timing. If you have any other suggestions I'd be happy to hear them. She's improved a ton and has hits off the three best pitchers in our league but hasn't hit with the power she's capable of when she hits off me (or our next door neighbor who pitches on a travel team and has a much quicker release) and I think it's because she slides her foot and starts her swing very early.

Here are three examples. Any critique would be great. Rec league is done and all we have left are all stars if she makes the team (or possibly joining one of the TB teams for a tournament or two).



Timing looks pretty good. The barrel is passing under the ball at an opportune time.

Capture.gif
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
My suggestion is to skip the foot slide thing she's doing and help her learn how to ride her rear leg forward (forward by coil). An early start is good, but the timing of when the foot lands needs to be adjustable for the speed of the pitch. Don't get the foot down early...or late. Get it down at the right time for the pitch. The rear leg is in control.

Do you truly believe this is good advice? I don't.
 

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