Extending through the ball

Have a player who recently switched to the left side primarily to slap. However she doesn't want to be one dimensional so we're also working with her on straight up hitting. Took some video because her swing is really lacking power. Video confirms what I thought, she's not getting extended through the ball.

Here is the link: hitting needs extension - YouTube

Looking for drills, best ideas to teach her to get extended. Thanks!

southpaw coach said:

Have a player who recently switched to the left side primarily to slap. However she doesn't want to be one dimensional so we're also working with her on straight up hitting. Took some video because her swing is really lacking power. Video confirms what I thought, she's not getting extended through the ball.

Here is the link: hitting needs extension - YouTube

Looking for drills, best ideas to teach her to get extended. Thanks!

Click to expand...

What a great swing! However, IMO, for the type of swing she has, I think that Tee is too far out in front.

What is the purpose of the tee drill you are working on with Her? I ask because it looks like the tee is set up on the outside corner AND out front which causes Her to lean over the plate.

tjintx said:

What is the purpose of the tee drill you are working on with Her? I ask because it looks like the tee is set up on the outside corner AND out front which causes Her to lean over the plate.

Click to expand...

No it was set up middle. Her mom was setting the balls up but it looks like the tee creeped forward as she was hitting. I went to get the ipad to get some video so I could slow it down and see her arms better. I don't know how to show it in slo motion on youtube but her swing is "short to it AND short through it".

Her bottom hand is restricting her ability to achieve extension.

The bottom hand should not be hammering through contact, nor even throwing through contact, it should be 'releasing' through contact. It should release and have the 'feel' at extension of the barrel trying to pull the arm.

Forget the "palm-down" idiocy. Allow the bottom hand to roll. Think of the bottom hand back-handing the ball ... or at least back-handing in a sense of back-handing the barrel with the punching portion of the bottom hand having the feel of performing the back-handed motion.

You don't pull through contact with the bottom hand palm-down and flat wristed bottom hand. I know that is taught ... but it is wrong ... very wrong ... and this here is generally the result of such teaching. All that will do is re-enforce 'swinging around' as opposed to 'swinging out-from' (extension).

Disclamer: Can't view youtube at work.
Extension should not be the goal to give a hitter. Turning/launch the barrel rearward should be the goal for a hitter. The rearward launch will help 'whip' the barrel with great force that extension will happen. Thats why I would look more 'upstream' of the swing.

rdbass said:

Disclamer: Can't view youtube at work.
Extension should not be the goal to give a hitter. Turning/launch the barrel rearward should be the goal for a hitter. The rearward launch will help 'whip' the barrel with great force that extension will happen. Thats why I would look more 'upstream' of the swing.

Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong with having a desire to achieve a long straight rear arm. It's a solid goal.

For some, that 'objective' is the difference between 'hitting' and 'swinging'.

Let me leave you with a short video of the late Tom Tomasello describing the "out from" action as well as the "straight right arm" (RH hitter).



Have you ever heard how Ben Hogan wished he had three right hands? It was because he wanted the power of three right hands for the section of the swing Tom is describing above.

Extension is a fine goal.

rdbass said:

Disclamer: Can't view youtube at work.
Extension should not be the goal to give a hitter. Turning/launch the barrel rearward should be the goal for a hitter. The rearward launch will help 'whip' the barrel with great force that extension will happen. Thats why I would look more 'upstream' of the swing.

Click to expand...

While there are certain cases where this is a good goal for a 'particular' hitter with a 'particular' swing issue, once the usage of the hands is mildly understood, the goal should be to "turn the barrel" to the "ball". Turning the barrel is what you want ... and for many young hitters the notion of turning the barrel "rearward" simply messes them up. Turn the barrel ... to the "ball".

Look how much her shoulders and arms are rotating. The rest of her body isn't involved much. One of the possible problems with having extension as a goal. Extension is good, but IMO forcing isn't always good.

Also, was just reading Tewks article about bp with an mlber. One thing to take away from it was all the time the guy took inbetween swings. Thinking about each swing, preparing for each swing. My thoughts added: engage their mind, and imagination. Give them a model swing video to picture themselves doing in there mind, then help them use their mind to review how they think their swing compared. Don't just swingswingswingswingswing.

redhotcoach said:

Look how much her shoulders and arms are rotating. The rest of her body isn't involved much. One of the possible problems with having extension as a goal. Extension is good, but IMO forcing isn't always good.

Also, was just reading Tewks article about bp with an mlber. One thing to take away from it was all the time the guy took inbetween swings. Thinking about each swing, preparing for each swing. My thoughts added: engage their mind, and imagination. Give them a model swing video to picture themselves doing in there mind, then help them use their mind to review how they think their swing compared. Don't just swingswingswingswingswing.

Click to expand...

IMO this is an OTT type swing. She initiates her swing with her "arms". She was "off course" from the start of her swing. There was no 'corner' to throw 'out from'.