Not using Hips

FiveFrameSwing · Jun 7, 2010

Mike, if it helps any, I like Hitter's input that can be confirmed via the Hansom Principle. The promotion of a hand path that can't be found to be part of any live swing isn't for me, but if it works for you then that's all that matters.

Catscratch · Jun 8, 2010

I am going to hopefully get video tonight and will post in both.
Thank you.

FiveFrameSwing · Jun 8, 2010

Good ... video will allow people to better target recommendations specific to your daughter.

Wellphyt · Jun 8, 2010

FiveFrameSwing said:
Wellphyt .... I liked what you had to say about the rear arm operation. It would be nice to get this correct and to see how a hitter's lower body adjusts.

Please explain what you mean wrt ... "create a bind in the rear hip".

It's hard to explain without getting too technical. I know you believe it's important to understand what is going on under the hood when teaching others, but others on here don't.

I work with 12, 13 and 14 year old girls. Without getting too technical here are a couple of areas I work with them on regarding the back leg.

The first thing I stress is balance. Not only balance while in their batting stance, but balance throughout the entire swing. I point out to the girls that placing too much weight over their front foot as they swing is not good balance and will result in them lunging.

I then ask them to get in their batting stance. I ask them to pick up their front leg and turn their front foot inward (internal rotation) as they do so. Once they understand this movement, I ask them to do it while at the same time straightening the back leg. The result is a very basic combination move that creates a bind in the rear hip and maintains a firm back leg. A firm back leg prevents the body and head from swaying rearward when they pick up the front foot to load. Most sway rearward as they load, putting most or all of their weight over the back leg. Some, like my daughter did, actually bend the back leg as they go back, collasping the back side, resulting in too steep of a swing.

Once they get comfortable with this movement, I ask them to carry their front foot approximately 4 inches forward, beyond where their front foot started from while in their stance. I use three pieces of masking tape to mark where their feet are in their stance and where 4 inches is during their stride.
The purpose of getting them to stride four inches is to teach them how to carry their weight forward while maintaining balance. Whether they stride or no-stride is a stylistic decision that will follow after they learn how their body needs to work to maintain balance during the entire swing.

During the forward 4 inch stride I ask them to try and turn their back foot outward (external rotation). Of course the back foot can't turn outwards because the ground is resisting. Intead the player's weight remains over the rear thigh during the stride, and the back foot doesn't just spin in place (squish the bug).

Any player can learn to do this movement. I'm old and I can do it. Doing it in a game swing is a different matter, and most will not do the mindless reps needed to make it into their game swings. Faceback, texting, swimmimg, sleepovers, boyfriends, etc.

For those who are fans of Howard, please feel free to ignore this post.

FiveFrameSwing · Jun 8, 2010

Wellphyt said:
The first thing I stress is balance. Not only balance while in their batting stance, but balance throughout the entire swing. I point out to the girls that placing too much weight over their front foot as they swing is not good balance and will result in them lunging.

I'm not 100% clear on this. There is indeed a “transfer” of weight taking place … otherwise we’re simply ‘spinning’.

Wellphyt said:
I then ask them to get in their batting stance. I ask them to pick up their front leg and turn their front foot inward (internal rotation) as they do so. Once they understand this movement, I ask them to do it while at the same time straightening the back leg. The result is a very basic combination move that creates a bind in the rear hip and maintains a firm back leg. A firm back leg prevents the body and head from swaying rearward when they pick up the front foot to load. Most sway rearward as they load, putting most or all of their weight over the back leg. Some, like my daughter did, actually bend the back leg as they go back, collasping the back side, resulting in too steep of a swing.

Thank you Wellphyt. I believe I can feel what you mean by 'bind' with this description. I equate what you describe to be equivalent to using the rear leg via "forward by turning", while using a cue like "show the pitcher your front pocket" with your front leg.

redhotcoach · Jun 8, 2010

Catscratch. I have older dd slam the heel, throw the hips, slot her elbow and stop. Then repeat about a dozen times everyday before bp. Younger dd does it naturally.

Catscratch · Jun 9, 2010

She's very lax in the cages but I will get a better video this weekend at a game. Baseball cage @ 65 mph.

Mike · Jun 10, 2010

Without getting too technical here are a couple of areas I work with them on regarding the back leg.

Thank you.

For those who are fans of Howard, please feel free to ignore this post.

Why ignore it? You have actually gave some detailed information that we can try, and as Howard always said, see it, feel it , and fix it.

I then ask them to get in their batting stance. I ask them to pick up their front leg and turn their front foot inward (internal rotation) as they do so.

Just there foot? or is there front leg supposed to rotate inward, should it rotate in the hip socket?

I ask them to do it while at the same time straightening the back leg. The result is a very basic combination move that creates a bind in the rear hip and maintains a firm back leg.

By straight back leg do you mean the leg should go from slightly bent to locked, or just firm with some bend in the knee?

Thanks,
Mike

Wellphyt · Jun 12, 2010

Mike said:
Thank you.

Just there foot? or is there front leg supposed to rotate inward, should it rotate in the hip socket?
When I try and turn my front foot in I feel my front leg rotate in my hip socket. Show the back pocket is another cue a lot of people use. Personally, I can't teach anything that I can't first do myself. Once I do a particular movement myself and it makes sense to me, then I try and figure out how to teach it. That's what I would recommend. Try it yourself first (sounds like you already have) and then come up with your own cues and methods to teach it.

By straight back leg do you mean the leg should go from slightly bent to locked, or just firm with some bend in the knee?
I don't lock out my knee when I do it. But I do straighten my leg more than where I start in my stance. Again, just give it a try for yourself and I think you will find that your body will do it correctly automatically. Then take what you just did and personalize it using your own cues and terminology.

straightleg · Jun 12, 2010

Catscratch said:
She's very lax in the cages but I will get a better video this weekend at a game. Baseball cage @ 65 mph.

Like many girls she swings with the arms. Also looks like she is getting the weight of her body to far over the front leg and dropping of the hands.

If I worked with her, would get a piece of chalk kids draw on sidewalks with and put a mark, one at the corner of the plate, one around 27 inches back and line the center of her feet up on those marks.
That will spread her feet apart and should help to keep her weight centered.

I do what looks right. Might be 26, or 28 inches. After her feet are on the marks, bend at waist to give her some tilt, then barely soften knees.
This should balance her.

Get her to start her hands around the top of the shoulder ( were she starts them) with that wider stance being balanced and see how her swing looks.

Straightleg

Not using Hips

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