Looking for some help, are we headed in the right direction?

rdbass said:

This was my concern(hitting coach) and scrapping old swing 3 months and starting with this swing.

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Not sure I follow you? Should we not have abandoned her old chop down at the ball, squish the bug swing? Her hitting coach has been very mechanical, trying to get the muscle memory in place. He does want her to land on her toe but there we are trying to work on one thing at a time and right now it is getting hips to fire correctly. The progression with her coach is just now moving into the swinging motion. In your opinion is this a swing we can clean up and end up with a good product? I really don't have much of a sounding board where we live. I haven't found anyone locally that can evaluate her swing without asking me why she doesnt keep her hands up high and chop down at the ball, thats why I am here.

I was not familiar with her old swing, so I wasn't commenting on the old swing. I agree you shouldn't chop down on the ball nor bug squish. If your looking for muscle memory why not work on the whole swing. I'm not a fan of working on pieces of a swing. I'm also not a fan of landing on the heel instead of the front toe/ball of the foot. I'm also not liking the tape in the front for where the front heel needs to land. I can't watch Youtube at work so this is from memory. I remember your DD swinging level (level to the ground). I think I remember your DD dropping her hands and front knee to aide in the level swing. I also would try to get your DD 'forward by coiling'. I would go to this thread:http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/2785-model-swings.html
and sit down with your DD and pick out a model swing that you and your DD might like to copy. Atleast go to the Model thread and view some of the hitters. That way you'll be about to decide whether or not your on the 'correct road'. I would read about the proper sequence and practice that. I just don't want your DD too have to start al over again. JMHO

These are the swings I like and try and copy for my DD:

thanks bass,

I have been watching lots of video and the end product of what her Hitting Coach is trying to achieve is very similar to some of the model swings I looked at. Biggest problem is the coach is in NC. Just realized you are from PA, we are too. Any good hitting coaches you know of?

pantherdad said:

thanks bass,

I have been watching lots of video and the end product of what her Hitting Coach is trying to achieve is very similar to some of the model swings I looked at. Biggest problem is the coach is in NC. Just realized you are from PA, we are too. Any good hitting coaches you know of?

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I'm in Delaware co. near philly. Sorry I don't know any hitting coaches. Because of this site there aren't to many hitting coaches I would take my DD too. They would have to be a poster on this site. I coach my DD on hitting. I coach her on everything I have learned on this site and a few other sites. There are a lot of great minds on this site. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Believe me I've been there (at times still there). Atleast you'll know what the instructor is saying is right or wrong. If I can be of any help just ask.

http://youtu.be/fsGFrxZsOfY
http://youtu.be/xdGNHgfaTJ8


Worked on some of the suggestions this evening. I know the bat is still flat and she is lacking the barrel turn but first things first. We were working on landing on the front toe and getting extension between the hands and the rear hip. I still think the hands are moving a little bit early. Thoughts?

pantherdad said:

020414 - YouTube
0204142 - YouTube


Worked on some of the suggestions this evening. I know the bat is still flat and she is lacking the barrel turn but first things first. We were working on landing on the front toe and getting extension between the hands and the rear hip. I still think the hands are moving a little bit early. Thoughts?

Click to expand...

She should be trying to keep her front hip coiled as she strides. Also, she is loading on top of her back foot instead of coiling.

As a drill, have her lift her lead knee and bring it back across her body (toward the catcher) and try to hold that until just before toe touch. Some call it a kick stride. Much like a baseball pitcher does when he's winding up. Creates a lot of power. Also good as a throwing drill.

Try it a few times and she'll feel the difference. You'll see the difference. Keep control of the hands/bat when doing it.

I didn't notice that load over the back foot. You are right. We nee to get to more of an inside load with the outside of the knee closer to being over the inside the foot. At least thats what I think you are talking about. Her hands are to busy as well. That is on the list of things to work on. Thanks

Panther, if we're just looking at the bottom half, the biggest thing I see is a step, then swing. As was mentioned above, there's no coil. Ted Williams says the "hip cock" is one of the most important parts of the swing. In her load, she should be "coiling" her hips to where her butt almost faces the pitcher. Then, as she strides forward she holds that coil until the front foot lands, then POW, all the energy is released and after the swing is finished her hips are now squared and facing the pitcher. My DD is 10 as well and this is exactly what we've started working on. I, like you, only focus on one thing at a time. In the off season I've been throwing several things at her to see what she could do. Now I'm 100% focused on the "coil by forward" notion.

I'd look up the Happy Gilmore drill.

This is one of my favorite GIFs of Clemente. Watch how he loads, or "pulls back" and his hips cock just like pulling the hammer back on a revolver. Then as he moves forward his hips keep that "cocked" position until the foot lands, then it all gets released.
Ok, when I upload a gif it automatically changes to a jpg, i have no idea why this won't work...

This won't be easy to teach, but if you're working on the bottom half, I think this needs to be your #1 priority. It's all going to be very confusing for quite a while. Just read and read and read, eventually you'll learn so much.