Hands to the ball

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Jun 13, 2010
178
0
I have talked with about 10 hitting instructors trying to get some ideas on a couple things. One little thing kind of gets me All of them told me "HANDS TO THE BALL" they all said the same thing.

I teach Barrel of the bat to the ball. Seems so many say hands first.So am I on the wrong track? my teams have hit well in the past.
I was told that what I am teaching is out dated, Is that true? Help me out guys and gals.:confused:
 
Dec 4, 2009
236
0
Buffalo, NY
Wild man, I think at one time all of us taught hands to the ball. If you read through this forum and at various sites on the internet you will find that the prevailing view is barrel of the bat to the ball.
 
R

RayR

Guest
I use "get the hands through" a lot. The barrel cannot get to where it needs to go if the hands are casting away from the body (which is prevalent). My players/students understand what this means - keeping the hands inside the path of the ball - working in to out or in to in depending on the pitch location.

This is different from hands to the ball. But I would get clearer definitions from the instructors you are talking to.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
I agree that a "hands to the ball" cue is often used to teach a very poor disconnected, pushy swing -- just watch girls when they swing slow-mo in the on deck circle and you'll see them pushing their hands through the zone as they've been taught.

And of course your hands never literally go to the ball -- the bat does.

But I think many coaches have used "hands to the ball" as shorthand for "live and independent hands" type of a cue -- and that is a good thing. The hands need to be strong and active in a good swing. Once you the hips go, front elbow up the ramp, back elbow slotted, bat properly lagged and working a good angle, tilt to the ball, etc.....releasing those hands isn't the world's worst way of describing what happens next.

Also, although I've learned a lot from Tewks barrel to the ball video, both feeling it myself and teaching it to my DD, I could use a cue of "barrel to the ball" to teach and describe lots of bad swing points. Isn't a slot and go swing technically barrel to the ball? It's just getting that barrel there in a sub-optimal way.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
I always show the batter (I teach both boys and girls) that the sweet spot of the barrel needs to meet the sweet spot of the ball.

I don't know of any reputable hitting teacher, that I have a DVD of, that would ever say "Hands to the ball." Ask what that means and for them to demonstrate that, stopping their swing when that happens. I bet that they don't know.
 
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Jun 13, 2010
178
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I should have been more clear Iguess. Most of them say to teach this the knob of the bat can be used to bump the ball then they will get the idea.
 
Dec 3, 2009
218
0
Kansas City area
I should have been more clear Iguess. Most of them say to teach this the knob of the bat can be used to bump the ball then they will get the idea.

You'll also read on here that using this drill has ruined a lot of hitters. Hands to the ball causes disconnection, casting, and early extension all bad IMO.
 
Oct 12, 2009
1,465
0
I have talked with about 10 hitting instructors trying to get some ideas on a couple things. One little thing kind of gets me All of them told me "HANDS TO THE BALL" they all said the same thing.

Hands to the ball is an outdated and problematic cue.

While it can help some hitters avoid bat drag, in far more cases it causes problems with disconnection and a lack of power.

This is the single biggest problem and cue I see in the professional baseball hitters I work with.
 

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