'Conceal the bat knob' ... Good objective?

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Jun 27, 2011
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DD done w/ HS ball, starts today on goal of further eradicating drop-barrel-swing-flat (DBSF).

Going to approach it from this direction.

When viewed from the side, the best hitters in the world will show less of the face of the bat knob once they have launched the swing.

Can't see Cabrera's bat knob.

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Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Virtually every player on DD's travel team (and it's a pretty good one) shows more face of bat knob during launch and swing than elite hitters. I see this as a very common difference between hitters at the highest level and those that I watch on the TB circuit.

Pujols shows a little bat knob crescent on a higher pitch. Still less than lower level hitters.

Is this significant?

Just another way to say encourage a more vertical swing.

I'm not trying to teach hitting, just looking for feedback. I'm thinking that DD might do better at focusing on the knob, since it's close to the hands, than barrel.

 
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Sep 29, 2014
2,421
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I was actually going to mention this; in general you will see more knob on a high pitch.

but concealing the knob is just a natural by product of a good swing. Video a couple of her swings. Then have her get in the correct launch position (below) then slowly swing release hips first and let hands follow and have her demonstrate to you what she thinks the correct hand path is. Then if she is not doing it right then show her what Lauren or Miggy look like then correct her motion slowly so she can feel it. Turning the barrel versus swinging around is key. The feel thing is also key if she can't feel the difference she can't self correct which is the point she needs to be at for the HS level.

donaldsontoetouch.JPGtoe touch model.JPG
 

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Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
... concealing the knob is just a natural by product of a good swing.

Thanks, DJ. ... Seems that every great hitter conceals the knob well, and almost every hitter in TB or HS shows too much knob.

I guess a fair question is whether emulating the ''by product,'' as you call it, will fix it or mask it. I know there's more to it than just have a more vertical swing path.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Thanks, DJ. ... Seems that every great hitter conceals the knob well, and almost every hitter in TB or HS shows too much knob.

I guess a fair question is whether emulating the ''by product,'' as you call it, will fix it or mask it. I know there's more to it than just have a more vertical swing path.

different hitters respond to different cue so I'm always OK with trying different things, but I think it should be obvious after demonstrating for her the difference of course the problem always is seeing and understanding what's wrong with your swing and even doing it on a tee are different than reacting to a pitch which seems to be when muscle memory (bad habits) creep back in...good luck remember it's a marathon not a sprint
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
DD done w/ HS ball, starts today on goal of further eradicating drop-barrel-swing-flat (DBSF).
Just another way to say encourage a more vertical swing.
A more vertical bat/barrel before and going into 'launch'. The problem with DBSF is a 2 move swing(slop). Drop bat/barrel(direction) then swing flat(launch/swing).
A better cue that might help is 'point the knob back at/towards the catcher'.
I would be doing a good dose of the Command Drill. With emphasis on consent reminder of vertical bat/barrel. No dropping of the bat(DBSF).
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
A more vertical bat/barrel before and going into 'launch'. The problem with DBSF is a 2 move swing(slop). Drop bat/barrel(direction) then swing flat(launch/swing).
A better cue that might help is 'point the knob back at/towards the catcher'.
I would be doing a good dose of the Command Drill. With emphasis on consent reminder of vertical bat/barrel. No dropping of the bat(DBSF).

Agree w/ command drill and the cue of pointing knob toward catcher. But, sometimes you see hitters get to correct launch position and then flatten too much from there (aka slop).
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
sometimes you see hitters get to correct launch position and then flatten too much from there (aka slop).
Yeah, that 'slop' is a hitter 'directing' before launching. Directing then launching is THE CAUSE of flatten then swing. Should have the thought of swinging then flattening
 
Dec 4, 2013
865
18
I've had a lot of recent success putting players in the neckslot. You don't have much of a choice except to turn it.............Usually a temporary move, some end up staying there.
 
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