IMO, the most important part of being a "teacher" is finding a way to help the student understand. It doesn't matter if it is hitting or calculus... As long as that cue works for her, keep using it. It may/may not work as well for another student.
How should a ball spin when hit off a tee?
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IMO, the most important part of being a "teacher" is finding a way to help the student understand. It doesn't matter if it is hitting or calculus... As long as that cue works for her, keep using it. It may/may not work as well for another student.
I agree. When DD was getting more under the ball then she like/wanted to. Resulting in fly balls. I went with the cue of 'thinking of hitting a one hop, hard ground ball to the SS or 2nd baseman. Took out the 'loop' in her swing and got back to line drives. Another player using the same cue may hit ground balls.
Absolutely!
The downside extension of this is applying cues literally, which (IMO) is a lot of where hitting instruction goes wrong for youth coaches with little knowledge. Cues are a trigger to help a specific player make an adjustment within the context of their own swing. In the example of CoogansBluff's DD, the idea of "vertical" - WHEN PROCESSED IN HER HEAD, WITH HER SWING TENDENCIES - helps her make an adjustment to a better bat path.
Albert Pujols has described one of his swing thoughts as "knob of the bat inside the ball", and has demonstrated it with a dramatic pulling of the knob diagonally across his body, with the barrel following behind. However, this isn't at all what we see happening when we watch video of him actually hitting the ball. What's going on?? For Albert, in the context of HIS swing, that thought in his head helps his body move in a way that has produced one of the greatest swings in the game.
Unfortunately, the "knob inside the ball" cue is an example of one that has been applied literally far too literally, far too often. Additionally, it is often mutated into a "push the knob at the ball" instruction, and - again - applied literally.
There have been a few times, with particular players, that I have used a "knob to the ball" instruction. This has sometimes been helpful for me in adjusting a hand path issue, getting them to take a more direct line to the ball. That said, there are some players I work with that I definitely would not use that cue.
I can't stop watching this, it just keeps revealing layers and layers of nonsense, in particular this coach sticking his butt into his hitter (to stop forward momentum?) and that poor girl thrusting that knob forward. My only solace is I'm sure she's a better hitter than the mechanics being instilled would have you imagine....
I can't stop watching this, it just keeps revealing layers and layers of nonsense, in particular this coach sticking his butt into his hitter (to stop forward momentum?) and that poor girl thrusting that knob forward. My only solace is I'm sure she's a better hitter than the mechanics being instilled would have you imagine....
Different cues and a different 'feel' and 'purpose' for each hitter
https://www.facebook.com/bryceharper/videos/1086390264752250/
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Different cues and a different 'feel' and 'purpose' for each hitter
https://www.facebook.com/bryceharper/videos/1086390264752250/
RDB, what is Harper trying to accomplish? Is it the same thing the Texas coach/girl is working on? What are the different 'feels' and 'purposes'? TKS.
For the record I have not done nor would I do what Harper is doing or the softball players. Unless Harper explained the purpose of the drill but, I can't argue with his success if the drill produced. I posted Harpers work out:
https://www.facebook.com/bryceharper/videos/1086390264752250/
Harper doesn't explain why he preforms this routine. Also I made fun of the softball girls when it was posted on BBD. I was later told by the poster that he didn't know the purpose of why these girls were doing this drill ether. He video because he too thought this was a bad drill. He did report I believe this team either won the tournament or did place high.
I was just playing a Grinch to have a little fun.
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Even though they look similar, I don't think the 2 hitters are doing the same thing. Look at Harper's front arm vs the girl.
Just a guess though.
Just a guess though.
Harper is pulling the knob through the ball with the front hand and elbow versus the Texas player pushing it through the ball with her back hand. It's a classic mistake with this drill which one must be aware of when doing this drill. The drill itself should be akin to throwing a Frisbee one handed with your left hand.
- Oct 10, 2011
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I read Mike Trout recommended that knob drill with the back hand choked up on the bat.
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