Is the Reverse Hand Drill Good? Maybe not so much!!!

rdbass said:

Some posters may not be aware that this RHD gif is used as a good demo:
Not even close as a good RHD or for that matter a swing:

Compared to this good example:

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Since Casey was brought up, will post 2 photos from 2 weeks ago. She went 7-9 in 3 games, three different pitchers.
2 home runs, 3 doubles, 2 singles.

First is being relaxed at the plate.
Second was out to toe touch just before she drove one over the left field fence.
Temps were maybe 40.



Straightleg

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My dad always told if your going to take advise take from some one who is successful!!!!!!

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It's not an extension drill. It's a hand resistance drill. It makes the hitter turn the barrel while the hands are back and means that only the rotation takes the hands forward and not the arms taking the hands forward.

Have the player keep his back elbow up. Tell him to make it stay up. Then while he is doing that tell him to get the barrel behind the ball that's sitting on a Tee. But tell him he can't let the elbow drop. He has to fight and keep it up and turn the barrel with his hands. Swivel the top hand in a circle. But make him keep the elbow up.

That's what the reverse top hand drill does. It makes the hitter turn the barrel while indirectly keeping the rear elbow up because the change in the hand position.

It's not an extension drill. It's a deep whoosh drill.

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Again, this isn't an offensive jab at the hitter or the dad, coach, instructor. Its a learning tool to help others understand better so that they can help their players and kids.

Txjinx....notice the difference in the two swing clips related to the rear elbow. Notice how much more sudden the reverse hand grip swing is. Notice how that rear elbow stays up UNTIL her top hand starts to turn.....and when that top hand starts to turn that barrel is turned instantly.....from behind her.

That is the beauty of that reverse grip drill....it makes the hands have resistance....why? because the hands can't go forward with the arms if the hands are turning the barrel.

The hands MUST be used as a motor.

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In a couple of weeks when she gets home from college will take a video of her current swing. I think this swing was when she was in 10th grade.
She is a junior in college now.

I do see the difference in her bat path and flow. She has learned more about her swing in the last 6 years and so have I.
Still learning and trying to be a better teacher.

Takes time to build a swing
Takes time to learn to teach a kid to build a swing

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When I read about it being an "extension" focus drill, I was wondering why. When I first tried the reverse top hand, what I really liked is the feel of the proper initial barrel path that it forces. I rarely use it with full swings. What I like to do is have them feel the initial barrel path with top hand reversed. Like a GOOD deep check would feel. Then I have them turn the top hand to the normal position and duplicate the barrel path and feeling they just experienced with it reversed, yet still no full swing. Eventually after many check swings, we progress to full swings, (normal hand placement) utilizing the same barrel path they have been trying to duplicate. It is a new feeling for every hitter I've introduced it to. It reminds me somewhat of the hitter #1 turn the barrel clip. I know it is different, but I think feeling that initial barrel turn is a good thing to drill.

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