My daughter tends to step toward third when hitting live (in games). Doesn't do it front toss, or often not with easy live pitching.
Since she does this, I like to watch her behind the backstop to see if she's making progress. In the process, I notice this issue of stepping out is pretty common. I'd say half of DD's team does it, and many on other teams.
Keep in mind this is a 16U team. These are big girls. This isn't the kinda fear you see w/ younger kids turning their head. You wouldn't think they are scared of the ball. The would deny they are. But my theory is that this instinct still lives in many, even after hundreds of at-bats through the years, even if they've never had a bad experience. It's a human thing, and it's hard to out-grow it.
Further, my theory is that if you step out only in games, then it's a subconscious fear issue. If you step out in both games and in front toss, then it's more of a swing issue. Jack Perconte talked briefly about this once, the idea that if you have a long swing, you'll find ways to get yourself away from the ball so you can hit w/ arms more extended. It's a subconscious adjustment that occurs because inner me is saying, 'I can't hit the ball with my swing if I step straight, so my foot will go where it will help me most.'
Similar thing happens w/ the girl who's subconsciously afraid - but she's not keeping herself at a distance b/c of her swing, but because of her fear. It's like she thinks to herself, at some level she might not be aware of, 'How can I hit this ball hard while also keeping the ball at a distance from me. I need to hit the ball after I've extended my arms a little bit.'
What do y'all think of that?
IMO, it's important for the hitter to realize she needs to be comfortable hitting a ball close to her. Better yet, she needs to want to hit a ball close to her. Needs to have the mentality that she wants to be up close and personal with the bell, let it enter the wheelhouse. I think a lot of hitters struggle with that in games. Many who are capable fall short because they just don't have the comfort level for it, like this Michigan girl here does --
Any truth in this discourse? Otherwise, I have no solution to a player who will not step straight even when you expressly ask her to do it pitch to pitch during live hitting. It's getting so hard that the only solution is to go to a side-stance, no-stride approach, and even then she cheats a little.
Since she does this, I like to watch her behind the backstop to see if she's making progress. In the process, I notice this issue of stepping out is pretty common. I'd say half of DD's team does it, and many on other teams.
Keep in mind this is a 16U team. These are big girls. This isn't the kinda fear you see w/ younger kids turning their head. You wouldn't think they are scared of the ball. The would deny they are. But my theory is that this instinct still lives in many, even after hundreds of at-bats through the years, even if they've never had a bad experience. It's a human thing, and it's hard to out-grow it.
Further, my theory is that if you step out only in games, then it's a subconscious fear issue. If you step out in both games and in front toss, then it's more of a swing issue. Jack Perconte talked briefly about this once, the idea that if you have a long swing, you'll find ways to get yourself away from the ball so you can hit w/ arms more extended. It's a subconscious adjustment that occurs because inner me is saying, 'I can't hit the ball with my swing if I step straight, so my foot will go where it will help me most.'
Similar thing happens w/ the girl who's subconsciously afraid - but she's not keeping herself at a distance b/c of her swing, but because of her fear. It's like she thinks to herself, at some level she might not be aware of, 'How can I hit this ball hard while also keeping the ball at a distance from me. I need to hit the ball after I've extended my arms a little bit.'
What do y'all think of that?
IMO, it's important for the hitter to realize she needs to be comfortable hitting a ball close to her. Better yet, she needs to want to hit a ball close to her. Needs to have the mentality that she wants to be up close and personal with the bell, let it enter the wheelhouse. I think a lot of hitters struggle with that in games. Many who are capable fall short because they just don't have the comfort level for it, like this Michigan girl here does --
Any truth in this discourse? Otherwise, I have no solution to a player who will not step straight even when you expressly ask her to do it pitch to pitch during live hitting. It's getting so hard that the only solution is to go to a side-stance, no-stride approach, and even then she cheats a little.
