Squishing the Bug!

[SBdad]

OK!
I've heard coaches use the term "squishing the bug" when working with kids on their swing. Can someone here explain exactly what this means?

 

[Mark H]

Spinning the back foot rather than letting weight shift and pelvic rotation roll it up and over onto the toe or at least unweight it enough to notice a rock back onto the foot after the swing.

 

[Ken Krause]

It's an old cue that was used to try to explain how to get body rotation on the swing. The problem is you can "squish the bug" by turning your foot without getting any sort of actual rotation. Best to avoid it, and anyone who is still teaching it.

 

[SBFAMILY]

Good way to test to see if a kid does this. Put a ball by the back heel. If the ball kicks out they squish. Fix it, we have them swing with a concrete block or a bucket by the back foot, so they must learn to swing like Mark H posted.

 

[obbay]

SBF- If the weight was shifting as Mark described, wouldn't the concrete block interfere with the natural movement of the rear foot? wouldn't that foot be turning for the right reasons?.

 

[Mark H]

Photo 11 of 31, Analysis

 

[obbay]

Ok, I see what you mean. thanks for the clarification!

as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[FJRGerry]

The problem with "squishing the bug" is that you can pivot the back foot this way while not really rotating the hips. I teach proper hip rotation which should result in pivoting the back foot - in other word hips rotate back foot, not the other way around.

 

[Mark H]

Yep.





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[SBFAMILY]

If you use RVP. Draw a line at the back foot on any Elite hitter and see how the back foot moves. As Mark H posted. No one squishes!