how to recognize quality/correct hitting instruction

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May 6, 2015
2,397
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because I have heard so much about the phrase, I thought I would check in to see what everyone thought about what I heard saw at my DDs first hitting workout with her new (1st time) TB team. It was held at a hitting academy that does both BB and SB, the hitting instructor donates the time (I think 1.5 hours per week for each of about 4 teams) to the organization.

I did hear him utter the phrase "squish the bug" to a couple of girls once or twice. Context was he was trying to not have them lunge at the ball, but to remain balanced at end of their swing, weight equally distributed. that was a point of emphasis, to keep weight balance, not to load up very big. my only issue is I have heard so much negative comments about this phrase, I wanted to get other opinions.

he was talking to the girls before they got going about how he and another coach from the org. recently attended a seminar (not certain if it was hitting specific or softball in general) where the speakers where coaches from several top D1 programs (names I remember were MI and TN), and he was teaching hitting the way they taught, the same swing. that girls/women had to generate more power from their legs than upper body (makes sense to me).

he had 5 stations set up, so very little sitting around (2-3 of the stations involved one girl setting up ball for another). One station was bat behind back in crooks of elbows, hitting ball off a tee. could not necessarily see the other stations in great detail (1-4 were in one tunnel, all tee or soft toss), but one involved basketballs on the tee, one involved being on one knee with a one hand swing, last station was hitting off a pitching machine. was a shotgun start, so little to no sitting around

seemed to want hands up at face level, arms fairly relaxed, throwing hands/knob at the ball.

opinions?
 
Mar 22, 2016
505
63
Southern California
Sounds like the old ways of coaching to hit - the stuff I was taught in the 90s when I played high school ball. It's not the "elite" or "high-level" swing that I've discovered on #hittingtwitter or the guidance I read by the technical gurus here. But you should wait for a more educated response : )
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
hitting instructor donates the time
You get what you paid for......
A lot of bad cues you got going on there. I hope they were used as what not to do on some of those cues don't 'SQUISH THE BUG'.

Also not a fan of...
one involved basketballs on the tee
Could be harmful with improper hitting technic.
 
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obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
at the World Softball Coaches Convention last weekend, Don Slaught (RVP) was there and he told one of our instructors that "if you are teaching the same fundamentals you were taught, then you are about 20 years behind the times".

While I'm sure there is probably some truth to what he's teaching, It sounds like that coach hasn't done his homework. maybe went to one seminar in one convention and is basing everything on what he heard there. Look to Bobby Tewksbary or Matt Lisle who are hitting instructors who work with MLB as well as high level softball players.
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
so how do I recognize quality hitting instruction? the only thing that seemed off was his utterance of "squish the bug" a couple of times. what things specifically should they be teaching?
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
that girls/women had to generate more power from their legs than upper body (makes sense to me).

How would a girl's swing then be different than a boy's swing? What do girls need to do (that boys don't) to get more legs into their swing?

he had 5 stations set up, so very little sitting around (2-3 of the stations involved one girl setting up ball for another). One station was bat behind back in crooks of elbows, hitting ball off a tee.

Were the hitters pivoting their back foot? Squishing the bug to accomplish this?


so how do I recognize quality hitting instruction? the only thing that seemed off was his utterance of "squish the bug" a couple of times. what things specifically should they be teaching?

Best way is to educate yourself. It's a complicated subject. I've been reading stuff here and elsewhere for years and still change my opinions and get confused, but there are some things that I've come to believe are part of a good swing. But it's just my opinion, and there are better ones than mine. Just read and ask and learn and second-guess and be skeptical. And watch what good hitters do and compare that to what is being taught.
 
Aug 1, 2008
2,314
63
ohio
Right View Pro instructional dvd....
Bustos Instructional dvd's
Those two would give you some good knowledge of the swing and some drills to do...


SL
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Biggest issue I see is coach giving to much advice, batter starts thinking way to much.

Impressed some can hit the ball with all the advice they get.
 

ian

Jun 11, 2015
1,175
48
Even bad coaches can teach you something, usually it's what not to do.

Daughter played on a team that taught downward plane into contact, bat in crook of elbows behind back, squish the poo, basketball on a tee and more. Coach was also was in the Hello Elbow pitching camp. He taught what he was taught. Funny, when you watched him swing and pitch he didn't do the mechanics he was teaching, made the mistake of pointing this out to him. The team spent 4-6 hours a week going over defensive situations (ugh). Defense was always corners way in, half way to home, to defend the bunt and slap. Even when we were down by 10 runs and haddnt seen a bunt in two days, corners in. Even after two third basemen were hurt in one inning, corners in. The team couldn't hit couldnt field and got throttled by 10 runs most of the time.

Long story short, learn all the different styles of hitting. Watch the successful pros and see what style they use. Be very careful talking to the coaches about how/what they teach, not many are willing to learn.

Don't overly worry about developing bad habits from your coaches if you find your DD'S coach is not teaching the correct mechanics. If DD is not practicing enough at home to break bad habits then she isn't practicing enough.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
so how do I recognize quality hitting instruction?
I would refer you the the Hanson Principle
"always compare anything anyone tells you about hitting to lots of slow motion video of the best in the world".
Also read through the threads and educate yourself so you will be able to recognize quality hitting instruction or not.
 
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