Just some discussion: What are your top 3 absolutes that you try to teach all hitters

FiveFrameSwing said:

The issue many young hitters have is that they don't understand that they need to be 'on time' twice on every pitch. They need to be 'on time' to move forward, and they need to be 'on time' to square the ball. If they fail to be 'on time' with their 'move out', then they will feel rushed and they will short-circuit their swing ... they will not be religious to their mechanics.

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Just warning you in advance that I am stealing this line

FiveFrameSwing said:

Twitch ....

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Interesting..not what where I was mentally going by just reading that…. but I actually like that.

IF one was to say an overall generalize core/torso pattern of the swing was simply put as…
Contralateral core (shoulder down & in, load ect)
into Core Stretch (separation, hips before hands ect)
into IpsiLateral Core Swing

THEN Torso twitch would be the transition (first move, initiation of launch/swing) between or from the core stretch and ipsilateral swing.

Been reading and thinking about Anticipatory Posture Adaptation in movement since reading a robot article a while back. In regards to what your showing..and the concepts of anticipatory adaptation/transitions/preparation for transitions ect ….I like the descriptor “torso twitch”.

"Anticipatory Posture Adaptation in movement"

Yeah I was reading about this too! LOL. "the concepts of anticipatory adaptation/transitions/preparation for transitions ect "- Natural Hitting. You don't have to teach the torso twitch its already there instinctually. Nobody ever taught a caveman how to throw a rock or swing his club. Right? NO! I find the more athletic (involve in gymnastics or martial arts) hitters are much more natural and instinctively find power. Their cores are strong and they know how to use them.

Rolling Hard said:

"Anticipatory Posture Adaptation in movement"

Yeah I was reading about this too! LOL. "the concepts of anticipatory adaptation/transitions/preparation for transitions ect "- Natural Hitting. You don't have to teach the torso twitch its already there instinctually. Nobody ever taught a caveman how to throw a rock or swing his club. Right? NO! I find the more athletic (involve in gymnastics or martial arts) hitters are much more natural and instinctively find power. Their cores are strong and they know how to use them.

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Maybe it is just me then ... I find a lot of young developing hitters lack an understanding of core usage.

Rolling Hard said:

"Anticipatory Posture Adaptation in movement"

Yeah I was reading about this too! LOL. "the concepts of anticipatory adaptation/transitions/preparation for transitions ect "- Natural Hitting. You don't have to teach the torso twitch its already there instinctually. Nobody ever taught a caveman how to throw a rock or swing his club. Right? NO! I find the more athletic (involve in gymnastics or martial arts) hitters are much more natural and instinctively find power. Their cores are strong and they know how to use them.

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I know...right!! Stupid neuromuscular stuff has no place in athletics!

Natural Hitting reminds me of a hitting DVD...I believe was named that... by Dixon (could be wrong, its been a while)...and his drill was to spin like a top.

If softball came natural...that would be awesome! It would save alot of time.

I do agree on the gymnastics and martial arts. I have many years in martial arts myself and the fundamentals of both (when understood and applied) do lead them to strong cores and knowledge of use. But I must be unfortunate...I just don't get players and students that are gymnast nor martial artist.

I agree with FFS...by far most of them lack understanding core usage. And their body awareness is less than desirable.

As to the original topic.
Overall mine is:
1. Mental
2. Seeing the ball
3. Rhythm & Timing
4. Mechanics

3 absolutes for me mechanically is
1. control the rear hip
2. hip extension
3. throwing the barrel (and all that goes with that)

bobbyb said:

As to the original topic.
Overall mine is:
1. Mental
2. Seeing the ball
3. Rhythm & Timing
4. Mechanics

3 absolutes for me mechanically is
1. control the rear hip
2. hip extension
3. throwing the barrel (and all that goes with that)

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Could you elaborate on hip control and extension.

Rolling Hard said:

Could you elaborate on hip control and extension.

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I am away from my computer for a few days and will follow up after Christmas.
In the mean time...what is yours?

Earlier in this thread I discussed a "Timing and Sequence" drill I perform with hitters. In the link below Teacherman is performing virtually the same drill. Instead of starting with the feet together he has the hitter starting with the front foot overlapped/behind the rear foot. This is an option I give my hitters instead of starting with the feet together.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1027359786029998085

Rolling Hard said:

Could you elaborate on hip control and extension.

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IMO..Controlling the rear hip is about getting into a good balanced stance and having the ability to stabilize the rear leg… so the core (torso & rear hip) can load. The rear hip has to develop properly…to handle a balancing act of stability and controlled mobility…while having the glutes active. While this usually comes easier for males…I haven’t found that it does for girls learning to hit.

So hip hinging correctly…activating glutes…especially in the rear hip,

Then a stable rear leg
Some miss the joint by joint approach…
The foot is a stable joint
Ankle a mobile joint
Knee a stable joint
Hip is a mobile joint.

So if you want a stable rear leg…you have stabilize the ankle. You do that by using the toes.
Then take the slack out of the rear hip joint by gently screwing the rear leg into the ground till they feel the rear hip muscles activate or do so as they get their weight into the rear leg…this is what gets them to start getting the stability and controlled mobility of the rear hip (hip abduction & external rotation) so the torso can act…with a contralateral (down & in) movement.

The initial movements for a good load pattern is important…so they don’t have to compensate down stream.


Hip Extension…this young lady explains hip extension pretty well with a young gymnast demonstrating the importance.
One of the first things a good gymnastic coach will teach is glute activation for stability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJLd0O7yZ3A

This is hip extension


This is hip extension in the swing


Its a posterior pelvic rotation (hip extension…not a thrust or goat hump)…. using the gluteus maximus. Want them to feel it where the glutes and hams meet & in the lower abdomen (where arrows point).

Along with a proper hip hinge when getting into stance… this is an important movement. This is one of the things that gives them power…even the smaller players.

Just saying squeeze the glutes…doesn’t get it. Many will simply lock their pelvis more in what ever position its in at the time when told that. If they are anteriorly tilted…they stay anteriorly tilted. They need to learn the pattern and feel of the glute movement. imo

I dont’ talk about much about hip rotation (belly button to pitcher) but rather…rotating to hip extension. Once the hips work right and the load is a good pattern……proper hip function finishes off rotation because of the way the glutes work.

Here are two good players…one uses the glutes and gets to good hip extension…a good hip pattern from load to contact.



This one is more rotational, collapse the rear leg, rotate around the front hip, no concern about hip extension or pattern.


One has more power, energy transfer up the kinetic chain. One rotates more around a rear hip axis, one can stay back and behind the ball, one has a rear leg driver, one leads to a more reactive front leg, one creates a more stable base to catch the whip…ect…all because of the glute involvement and a good core (torso & hip) pattern from load through swing.

Just my opinion.