How do you teach the stride?

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Jun 18, 2010
2,624
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DD is having problems with her stride, she tends to reach with her stride leg, but not really transfer her weight forward.

In another post MTS wrote:

Learning to walk off the back heel is very foreign to most hitters so it takes time....it is about learning how to transfer their weight using their legs and hips...not using their upper torso/shoulders to power the swing....

A stride is supposed to build momentum to make the weight transfer easier and set up the throw of the barrel....most stride but don't transfer their weight so the stride is basically movement forward as the hands drop....swinging with front foot still in the air and weight sitting on the back foot...

How do you teach your hitters to stride?
What ques and drills do you use?
 
Jan 13, 2012
693
0
I believe in teaching the stride by not teaching the stride. Just get her coiled, and then if you try to turn the pelvis clockwise (for a right handed hitter) you'll move forward.
 
R

RayR

Guest
I wrote that over a year ago - my thoughts have changed on this subject.

While I still believe it is about your lower half - I now place focus exclusively on the back leg.

DD is having problems with her stride, she tends to reach with her stride leg, but not really transfer her weight forward.

In another post MTS wrote:



How do you teach your hitters to stride?
What ques and drills do you use?
 
Oct 25, 2009
3,345
48
My favorite stride is the Babe Ruth stride, but there is no player that I work with that strides that way. I do use it as a drill occasionally. I believe if other coaches/parents weren't opposed to it, that a few of the players could benefit from using it.

Babe Ruth started with his feet about shoulder width apart. To me, that makes more sense than bringing the feet closer together from a wider stance and then striding forward. He already has them there.

Babe Ruth Hitting Mechanics - YouTube
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
The stride should be a result of rear leg drive and not the cause of it. Stride is the rear leg. Coil and swing
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
My favorite stride is the Babe Ruth stride, but there is no player that I work with that strides that way. I do use it as a drill occasionally. I believe if other coaches/parents weren't opposed to it, that a few of the players could benefit from using it.

Babe Ruth started with his feet about shoulder width apart. To me, that makes more sense than bringing the feet closer together from a wider stance and then striding forward. He already has them there.

Babe Ruth Hitting Mechanics - YouTube

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Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
For me,
The Mechanics are: Once the weight is gathered into the inside of the back upper leg by hip coil (or at least by "sitting down into" the inside of the back leg), the front leg leads the hips to eventual unloading/uncoiling by stepping onto the inside of the front foot on a flexed front knee, keeping the front side closed so the hips stay coiled and closed until you initiate the swing by planting the heel (no teach) and then uncoiling the loaded back side by driving the back hip into the front hip into a firm (but not rigid/locked) front leg/front side. That's a long sentence, but it's hard to break up because it's all part of one connected sequence.

The Thought Process is: "I'm trying to drive (transfer energy) the back hip (back side) into the front hip (front side), I don't want to overstride (3"-4" is plenty), and I want to hit into a firm front leg/stay tall on the front side."

I think you should show her lots of video from the "Model Swings" thread and see just how all of the great hitters posted there do it. While there is some degree of difference as to exactly how each of them stride, most have basically the same mechanics. Aside: Watch out for those Univ. of Florida hitters, you may want to gloss over them for now! :)
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I like to use a block that elevates the kids about 4" and they stretch hands back as body weight comes forward. Land on toe. When the stride foot heel plants the hands can start. Bottom line is, they need to understand the difference between the linear phase and rotational phase.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
I don't teach it...and don't need to, but I am interested why some of you teach and talk "toe touch" "heel plant" "when the front foot is down then..."
What does the front toes touching the ground do for you?
 
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