Assume you're working with a hitter that has mastered grip and stance, loads well with a reasonable coil, and strides well to toe touch. What cues/drills do you use to describe and convey the feel of what happens next: heel plant, hips, uncoiling, etc?
Thanks! A lot of good information here.
I think I have a pretty good understanding of what is supposed to happen next. But, I'm not conveying that information to the 10U and 12U girls I work with as successfully/efficiently as I'd like. What I'm finding is that many girls tend to either spin their back leg or they peform a pseudo dance maneuver where they "switch" feet (put the front heel down and just lift the back one up).
Seems to me that the straightening of the front leg and the lifting of the rear heel are both driven by the rotation of the hips and the resulting weight shift. Using cues like "get your hips around" or "lead with your hips" doesn't seem to resonate with the girls or produce the results I'm looking for. So, I'm looking for some alternative cues or drills to try.
I've promoted that move using the phrase "Switch and swing." The result, though, is not what I think it should be. As I see it, that move results in a premature and artificial unweighting of the back foot. The difference is subtle, but (to me at least) the model swing videos make it clear there's a sequence: 1) front heel plants, 2) hips continue rotating, 3) back heel lifts. The girls response to "switch and swing" is to plant the front heel and lift the rear heel simultaneously and the resulting hip action isn't right.
Not sure I can describe it adequately.