Hip snap

coach james said:

NO TEACH!!!!
When the front side gets down as the ball reaches 12:00, the firming up process will turn the hips to match the angle of her front foot.... if the foot lands at an approx. 45 degree angle, the hips will naturally find that angle. This will greatly aid in the desired brush! However if her timing and drive mechanics are lacking, the landing of the front side is usually late and will result in a poor brush due to the hips being too open.
Have her focus on 2 things...
1st. Be sure her front side is down by 12:00 (explosive drive with a rear foot detaching off the rubber by 3:00)
2nd. Really firm up the front leg by "cracking the nut", and keeping the drag foot shoe laces facing down in the dirt... this will automatically turn her hips.
Call me if you have questions... James

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James

I cant tell you how many times I have help the kids with that one simple cue with the front foot. Getting the to feel how a closed off front foot will hip lock them is always an ahhh haaa moment. It WORKS. THE FRONT FOOT OPENS UP AND SO WILL THE HIPS.

But as far as a no teach I may not fully agree.

Front side down by 12 oclock is something I'm not understanding here.

How are these kids not having the front foot down by 12 oclock in the circle? How are you going to teach down by 12 oclock?

What are they doing that prohibits down by 12? How do you speed up the landing? Is the student taking the knee to the sky instead of the catcher. I have never taught get the front leg down sooner. Not seeing how this is teachable? If so please educate me on 2 things.

1. How are the late/whats making them late?

2. How can you fix it/by doing what to fix it?

Great post and it has me thinking!

coach james said:

"cracking the nut"

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What do you mean by this cue?

I'll get around to more reading previous threads as I go along but in regards to this hip snap, is this pre-release or post release that is being referenced. Ideally, hip rotation is minimized during the release phase to whip properly, correct?

I'm pretty sure "cracking the nut" means tightening the glutes (squeezing butt cheeks as if cracking a nut).

Corleone said:

I'm pretty sure "cracking the nut" means tightening the glutes (squeezing butt cheeks as if cracking a nut).

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wonder if [MENTION=2269]rdbass[/MENTION] would have a gif for this

BadMonkeys said:

What do you mean by this cue?

I'll get around to more reading previous threads as I go along but in regards to this hip snap, is this pre-release or post release that is being referenced. Ideally, hip rotation is minimized during the release phase to whip properly, correct?

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Nut crack verbal que is mostly found in hitting instructions, however the principles apply in pitching as well. The down by 12 is more of a suggestion to get the student to understand getting set and stable as they're approaching the pull.
I like toe touch at approx 12-1 and a firm heel plant (nut crack) by 10 or 9.... this allows for a natural kinetic chain.
If the front foot is at a 45° angle when the nut crack occurs, the hip snap will be automatic, and will rotate to match the front foots angle. The hips will always find the angle of our feet.

coach james said:

Nut crack verbal que is mostly found in hitting instructions, however the principles apply in pitching as well. The down by 12 is more of a suggestion to get the student to understand getting set and stable as they're approaching the pull.
I like toe touch at approx 12-1 and a firm heel plant (nut crack) by 2-3.... this allows for a natural kinetic chain.
If the front foot is at a 45° angle when the nut crack occurs, the hip snap will be automatic, and will rotate to match the front foots angle. The hips will always find the angle of our feet.

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2. How can you fix it/by doing what to fix it?

D Up said:

2. How can you fix it/by doing what to fix it?

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You can start with Javasource's 2 step drill. It's supposed to help with stride leg and stride mechanics.
https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/21961-java.html

D Up said:

2. How can you fix it/by doing what to fix it?

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I believe the hip snap needs to be a "no teach"... just emphasize a really firm front side, core, and butt as she is approaching the pull (9:00)... this will automatically turn the rear hip around the front hip acting as an axis. The rear hip is now in position to recieve the forearm for her brush trigger.