When is it bat wrap?

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Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
As a hitting coach or hobbyist, how do you distinguish between a good load of the hands and bat wrap?

Below is an example of what I'd consider an extreme but still healthy hand load that produces a sharp bat angle w/ but toward catcher. How far is too far? Or is it an issue of whether the bat is upward and not flat during this stage?

(PS - Thanks, rdbass, for showing me how to post these. I was using 'insert video' instead of 'insert image'.

1zohr0y.jpg
 
Mar 14, 2011
785
18
Silicon Valley, CA
Justin Stone defines baseline as back hand is in front of back elbow, i.e. not too far towards catcher, and hands are basically in line with front elbow, i.e. not towards the plate and not wrapped.

That seems reasonable. A very good hitter like the one you pictured may be able to get away with wrapping the bat. I would imagine most young girls would have problems with that amount of wrap, but girls seem mostly to underload, not overload.
 
Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
What I notice with hitters is that negative/bad things happen when the bat is already wrapped in the stance. Hands that start wrapped (hands behind the head) makes for a mess once other parts start moving. If you get a girl started in the right position, it's far easier to address and correct bat wrap issues.

I agree with Mr. T; the problem I usually deal with is girls doing nothing with the hands into toe touch/foot strike.
 
Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
Also, for girls who wrap too much, I like to remind them that loading the scap/hands is like pulling a bow string - you don't pull the bow string behind you, you pull it back (and only the teeniest, tiniest bit behind - but I don't tell them that - I show them!)
 
Mar 14, 2011
785
18
Silicon Valley, CA
I should have prefaced my statement with "younger". Younger girls, in my experience, typically under-load when facing good pitching. Then you get them on the tee and the first instinct is to ignore form, try to kill the ball, and then you will see them over-load, wrapping the bat and generally making exaggerated movements.
 
Oct 10, 2011
1,572
38
Pacific Northwest
I started to notice things like bat wrap, and bat drag, when i started to video my students. Without video, problems in a swing are hard to pick up, specialy if you are working front toss, and ducking after every pitch. Now i wonder, how can you be a good instructor Without video.
When a hitter has bat wrap, along with a longer swing, comes the inability to adjust to pitches, the bat is moving at rapid pace, and hard to change levels.
This is what i consider bat wrap, a sophmore.
[video]<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="318" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2305064598_QvFSfNp?width=425&height=318"></iframe>[/video]
mann's Photos : Photo Keywords : sabrinabatwrap 

with the help of many here and the great giffs, i am able to fix, improve upon the bat wrapping. still learning. always will be.
I think its better now. after a repair session.

ya, she's barefoot.
[video]<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="240" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2305074485_bTFqqWG?width=425&height=240"></iframe>[/video]
mann's Photos : Photo Keywords : sabrinaafterb 

i grew up in silicone valley,sunnyvale high 1975
 

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