Brooke vs my DD

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Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
Hate to throw my DD under the softball bus but I thought everyone here would find this instructional and helpful sooo...

First off I have followed Brooke's swing on this site for a while. Amazing swing and softball dad for sharing insights with all of us. If you are unfamiliar you will have to search. Most recent was thread right here in Technical Hitting of Brookes latest video. Secondly props to my kid. Extremely successful high school and summer ball player. Helped lead team to D-1 state championship last season with a .500+ average and 7 HR's but...

There are a number of things so much more efficient and powerful in Brooke's swing. I made a comparison video. Both hits in the video are SHOTS! I include a couple of isolation zooms to help. Hopefully you'll pick up some things for your DD like I have as I work with my DD to have an even better senior year.

 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Nice comparison.

One thing I have always been always been impressed with in Brooke's swing is her use of her core (upper-lower separation).
 
Feb 14, 2010
592
18
lhowser,

Your DD is explosive and athletic. A lot of good things going on with her just keep working and she'll get where you and she wants to. Like anyone Brooke has some things I would like to see improve but overall pretty satisfied with where she is. We did get the chance to reinstall some of her old mechanics over xmas break so I'm excited to see how that plays out. The feedback from her so far has been very promising so fingers crossed. The main is just stay healthy, lol
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
lhowser,

Your DD is explosive and athletic. A lot of good things going on with her just keep working and she'll get where you and she wants to. Like anyone Brooke has some things I would like to see improve but overall pretty satisfied with where she is. We did get the chance to reinstall some of her old mechanics over xmas break so I'm excited to see how that plays out. The feedback from her so far has been very promising so fingers crossed. The main is just stay healthy, lol

Thx!! I see a few difference right away.

1. Brooke working more around the rear lower. My dd working more around the front lower.

2. The rotation of Brooke's upper half, shoulders and forearms. Much more efficient than my DD's.

Mine does well. only 2 K's last season and a good average but she sees the difference in her swing and a few others we compare to. What are a few "key phrases" or "terms" you use with Brooke to keep her on track and BEST TO YOU AND HER.
 
Feb 14, 2010
592
18
The biggest thing we've always focused on was coiling into the backside and maintaining that coil until she was ready to unload by resisting with her hands against it i.e. turning the barrel with the hands. IMO the hands control the barrel and the upper half. It makes it less complicated for them instead of focusing on EVERY single aspect of the swing and turning them into robots.

People on these sites have a tendency to over complicate things by spitting out the new and hot lingo when it's just letting your body do what it wants. I could waste time and break down every single movement in the swing but to me it's waste of time and energy. The kids I work with I tend to let their bodies figure things out after you give them a good fundamental base to build off of.

That's just how I've approached it with Brooke and others and I've had good success that way but everyone is different
 
May 3, 2014
2,149
83
I have covered a lot of canvas over the years, but teaching in the last couple has been especially fulfilling since I dumbed it down to this:
1. Turn the barrel
2. Learn to turn the rear leg with the barrel turn
3. Then learn to stress the crap out of those to pivot points so you can snap the crap out of them

The style of the hitter (tipping, neck slot. leg kick, etc) develops out of that.

I like Lhowser's kids swing - I had a chance to work with all I would say to her is keep her head back and keep doing everything she is doing and her swing would smooth out nicely.
 
Oct 5, 2017
214
43
Western Indiana
Okay, just a question of hitting philosophy to the more knowledgeable than myself.

Both of these swings look strong and athletic, yes there are some things that can be adjusted. My question is, when do you apply the if it ain't broke don't fix it mentality? I understand there is always room for improvement. So during season do you leave it alone and tweak in off season?
 
Feb 14, 2010
592
18
Always tweak during the off season and compare in season swings versus what you built during the off season. Mechanics are obviously important but the ability to read a pitch early is just as important. Unfortunately in college you will get hitting coaches that like to change a lot of things that don't make sense so that's another animal to deal with.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Awesome swing and great player! Just gotta do something about that ugly uniform :)
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
The biggest thing we've always focused on was coiling into the backside and maintaining that coil until she was ready to unload by resisting with her hands against it i.e. turning the barrel with the hands. IMO the hands control the barrel and the upper half. It makes it less complicated for them instead of focusing on EVERY single aspect of the swing and turning them into robots.

People on these sites have a tendency to over complicate things by spitting out the new and hot lingo when it's just letting your body do what it wants. I could waste time and break down every single movement in the swing but to me it's waste of time and energy. The kids I work with I tend to let their bodies figure things out after you give them a good fundamental base to build off of.

That's just how I've approached it with Brooke and others and I've had good success that way but everyone is different

I know it's only January, but I nominate this for post of the year!!
 

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