Not using Hips

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Jan 17, 2010
40
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My 12 YO DD does not use her hips when swinging. She typically hits to the outfield but her swing is all arm. Any suggestions?
 
Apr 8, 2010
97
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my dd was the same way. we went to a heel drop (lifting her front heel but leaving the toes on the ground) with the toes turned slightly in. when she swings, her hips have to come around to snap the front leg straight and create the leverage. my son and dd both use this method and it is working out well.
 
Jan 14, 2009
1,591
0
Atlanta, Georgia
First thing is to check to see if she hits flat footed. If so, then I would start by teaching her the "Elvis" move and how dropping the front heel triggers the hips. At some point you may also want to get into some of the more advanced stuff regarding how to create a bind in the rear hip and how to maintain balance during the stride.

Once she has the "Elvis" move down I would focus on how she gets the barrel started. In layman terms, there are a couple of different ways to tuck/slot the back elbow as she prepares to swing. Most young FP players simply drop their back elbow to their side as they swing. Doing it this way does not allow the hips a chance to get out in front. The result is more often than not a one piece gate swing powered primarily by the arms.

A better way to tuck the back elbow is to externally rotate the rear arm as if you were turning a double play. Doing it this way keeps the hands back and up, allowing the hips to get out in front and lead the way. If the hips are leading and the hands stay back, which they will be because it's impossible to move them forward as the back arm externally rotates, your daughter will get some seperation and more power. Once she learns to tuck the back arm by external rotation, she won't have to think about the hips leading because it happens automatically.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
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".
 
Aug 2, 2008
553
0
Catscratch,
Could you post this in the practical hitting section also? It would be an interensting test case for the two sections, no offense to anyone but so far the help IMO is pretty much useless to the laymen.


Where is Howard when you need him.......BTW how is your daughters overhand throw? does she stride when she throws, and does her rear foot pivot when she throws?

Good luck, I would be happy to add some more of what has helped my kids if you post this in the practical section.
Mike
 
Aug 2, 2008
553
0
I am afraid of my simple terms and simple understanding getting swallowed up. You or any other techs should not be offended, I do enjoy reading your posts. I am a big Howard Carrier fan but on the other hand I cant understand why he cant explain to you why he teaches a stacked rear forearm at bat lag but cant produce any video of it actually happening during a swing. But to me its not worth arguing, dont like it dont use it....move on. I love the idea of the two different hitting sections. Should be interesting. Hope I answered your question.

Mike
 

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