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Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Visual is in the front hip?

Sorry to be dense.

What's the point? Is it an active movement hitter creates or a result of good rear hip action? Do you teach it?

How does it relate to another similar term tossed around ... Forward press.

Tks....

The "forward press" as I use it, is a jump-start like action/movement that helps promote a healthy 'backswing', or the motion from one's 'stance' to their 'launch'. It is an action occurring prior to the initiation of the backswing.

Forward-by-coiling, or forward-yet-back, is basically the action you see leading to one's 'launch' position.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Never heard of the term forward press. Yes, visual is the front hip, but movement is created by the back leg IMO (at least how I teach it) shifting pressure or weight to the front leg as part of "throwing" the barrel, but hitters have to learn how the front leg accepts this shift before the hips rotate....I am trying different ways to describe, sorry....

Separation that people use as a description is incomplete...hands just don't go back as hitter strides....there needs to be the start off a throwing action of the lower body as the hands are still in the process of winding up....

FFS used to have a clip of an older golfer throwing a golf club....this is pretty much the same action that you would (or should) use to throw a ball....

Perhaps you are referring to this clip segment ......

 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
In golf the forward press is just prior to the backswing ... or in hitting, it is just prior to the negative move or the loading of the rear leg. It is a small micro-move that often goes unnoticed. It is the start of the swing sequence.

It can be as simple as a rear leg twitch forward, rear knee twitch forward, a slight rear heel lift, a slight hip bump forward, even bringing the hands slightly forward, etc. This movement pattern is often credited with improving rhythm/timing … but it is much more than that. With this movement pattern you basically can automate the feel of "getting on the hill" (the hill that Williams made when he got in the box [p. 34 of TSOH … guessing on the page number]) ... or "get on the wedge" at the start of the backswing. You are preparing your rear leg to be used in a resistive manner at the very start of the backswing. The backswing, or loading going into launch, is critical … and what I’m saying is that a movement pattern such as a forward press can help automate the building of a healthy backswing.



The forward press can prove to be very effective. I can't state enough that the quality of the backswing, or loading, is highly important.

Here is an 8yo kid that recently posted a swing clip. Not the prettiest of swings mind you … but that isn’t my point. My point is that this 8yo kid’s mechanics included an imbedded form of forward press ... something that could be built upon with significant success if he understood why he was doing it and how to make use of it.

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You’ll often see a forward press as part of a kid’s natural movement pattern ….. and I cringe when a coach stupidly removes it as wasted movement.

As you experiment with different forms of forward presses … think of the hill that Williams made in the batter’s box and think “get on the hill”. You’ll feel the pressure contained to the inside portion of your rear leg and foot.

Look closely and you'll see that the hitter's below use a "forward press". Something you may not be aware of unless you are looking for it.

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Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
Thanks to all for clarifications...I need to spend more time with these ideas. I tend to have a core bit of info/cues/drills I like to use and it's a bit of a hurdle for something new to fight its way in, lol : >

And of course, it helps if *I* understand it and can emulate it first!

Tks MTS, Hyp, FFS and RHC in this instance...appreciate it.
 
Jan 19, 2010
28
1
Hip bump: I just showed her this thread, and she took it from there. This is her first attempt. I don't like how much her upper body is gliding backwards and right knee not staying inside the front foot.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tLyo89Rpbac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited:
R

RayR

Guest
Tell her to fire her back knee like these hitters

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2ymwruq.gif
1587fde.gif

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Hip bump: I just showed her this thread, and she took it from there. This is her first attempt. I don't like how much her upper body is gliding backwards and right knee not staying inside the front foot.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tLyo89Rpbac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

HYP

Nov 17, 2012
427
0
Hip bump: I just showed her this thread, and she took it from there. This is her first attempt. I don't like how much her upper body is gliding backwards and right knee not staying inside the front foot.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tLyo89Rpbac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

First thing I notice is as she moves back she is letting her rear knee break outside her rear foot. See if you can get her to keep her rear knee inside of the rear foot.
 

HYP

Nov 17, 2012
427
0
Tell her to fire her back knee like these hitters

I understand what you are saying but I personally do not like the cue fire the rear knee. IMO, the rear knee is not fired. It is working under. The rear leg is working to turn forward and the rear hip is resisting. This will sit you down and the rear knee works under the rear hip. This gives control of launch.

Firing the rear knee to me means I move back and then move the rear knee forward with force. Kind of like coiling to uncoil. This, IMO will create slop or slack.

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Does Bonds fire his rear knee or does it just work under to force the hips open? Chipper has a more aggressive rear knee but he starts in a different place then Bonds. He is more upright and his rear knee doesn't get as far under before the swing gets to go. So when the swing is launched his knee has farther to travel which looks like firing. Same move but from a different stance.

Whatever works for you and your students is fine. I just don't use the cue fire the rear knee.

JMHO
 
R

RayR

Guest
The cue is meant to get the hitters to work the rear knee under as you say....when you give the cue work the rear knee under most hitters (in my experience) collapse because they process this cue as "Spin the back foot as my knee works under." Ultimately, we are looking for them to get the upper leg to IR without spinning on the back foot....as directly as possible....to transfer weight as they swing....I have not seen a girl not turn her hips using this cue....and ball exit speed increases in one swing...

As I said in another post somewhat quoting you - if you can think of everything in straight lines then the arcs will happen....

I use this same cue for throwing and have even applied it to windmill....

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I understand what you are saying but I personally do not like the cue fire the rear knee. IMO, the rear knee is not fired. It is working under. The rear leg is working to turn forward and the rear hip is resisting. This will sit you down and the rear knee works under the rear hip. This gives control of launch.

Firing the rear knee to me means I move back and then move the rear knee forward with force. Kind of like coiling to uncoil. This, IMO will create slop or slack.



Does Bonds fire his rear knee or does it just work under to force the hips open? Chipper has a more aggressive rear knee but he starts in a different place then Bonds. He is more upright and his rear knee doesn't get as far under before the swing gets to go. So when the swing is launched his knee has farther to travel which looks like firing. Same move but from a different stance.

Whatever works for you and your students is fine. I just don't use the cue fire the rear knee.

JMHO
 

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