Swing mechanics feedback

[starsnuffer]

Her stance is most likely a product of her coach at the moment. I see coaches change stance because it's really the only thing they can change about a swing simply by "deeming it so". You'll frequently hear "all my hitters have the same style" "We swing like this", and all it really is, is just a stance.

That said, this hitter does a great job of getting balanced in spite of this stance. Look at where she is at toe touch, her body is over the back foot, but not nearly as much as it is in the stance. This is a kid who knows how to make a coach happy without messing herself up.

-W

 

[Immortal1]

Her stance is most likely a product of her coach at the moment. I see coaches change stance because it's really the only thing they can change about a swing simply by "deeming it so". You'll frequently hear "all my hitters have the same style" "We swing like this", and all it really is, is just a stance.

That said, this hitter does a great job of getting balanced in spite of this stance. Look at where she is at toe touch, her body is over the back foot, but not nearly as much as it is in the stance. This is a kid who knows how to make a coach happy without messing herself up.

-W

Well put regarding "making coach happy without messing herself up". When I first looked at the video the first few frames made me think... wow, too far back. But like you said, at toe touch things looked much better. I understand why, in this particular video, dad has a few comment regarding what happens "after" contact. I would suspect if he posted up several other videos it would show her mechanics are pretty good overall.

 

[JimB]

I am no expert, but - she has no stretch and fire. Her upper body turns with her lower half at the exact same time. Then, just before contact, as her wrists are trying to release, her top hand takes over, causing a disconnect (look at her front elbow) and the barrel path to slightly lift.

It would be helpful to see additional live swings.

 

[cshilt]

Like others have pointed out, I don't care for the stance, but she does a good job of overcoming it. She might be landing a little too flat-footed on the stride foot. She seems to be sitting down a little too much. I'd actually like to see how she gets into her stance to see if she is sequentially loading her core muscles.

As far as the hand path goes... she has what we call a "bad first move." The first move her hands make are down instead of across the chest. Compare her hand path to Caitlin Benyi (former UCLA player)...

If I had a daughter with a body type similar to your daughter (and I do), I'd model her swing after Caitlin's (and I did). Take note of the path that Caitlin's lead elbow takes and how tight it stays with her chest.

 

[Wellphyt]

coachdan - IMO it would be educational to have your daughter describe to you in her own words how to weight shift. I'm not sure she has a clear understanding of the weight shift.

Common wisdom is that the negative move or backward weight shift is linear; as in transferring weight back onto the back foot. Your daughter starts off with her weight back on her back foot. She also looks to be slightly pre-coil. When she picks up her front foot to stride I see her immediately open up her front foot, which gives up the coil, assuming she had one to begin with. Why is that important?

Because in order to have a good forward weight shift into the pitch, you must have something to shift forward. Try and follow this logic. Most instructors will agree that good hitters need to turn their hips when they swing. You will often hear coaches and instructors say to players "use you hips", or; "get your hips into it". I wish I had a dollar everytime I heard those phrases at the ball park or cages.

What many don't seem to understand is that the turning of the hips toward the pitch is the forward weight shift. If the forward weight shift is a turning action, then doesn't the backward weight shift also need to be a turning action? If the hips don't get turned back as the front foot is lifted to stride, then their is little to shift forward. Your daughter's weight shift would improve a lot, if she would start in her stance from a balanced position, coil when she lifts her front foot to stride, and then hold the coil until she approaches toe touch. She needs to be coiling as she strides.

Check out the hip action on these hitters. As you watch these clips, keep this Ted Williams quote in mind:

"The hip movement is a spinning action with the head as the axis". Block out the arms and legs, and just focus on the hips.

[video]http://i47.tinypic.com/xc6j3n.gif[/video]

[video]http://i46.tinypic.com/33e5uts.gif[/video]

[video]http://i48.tinypic.com/256ejhk.gif[/video]

[video]http://i43.tinypic.com/14ky7uq.jpg[/video]

[video]http://i44.tinypic.com/iqwl5y.jpg[/video]

[video]http://i52.tinypic.com/rj34ph.gif[/video]

[video]http://i47.tinypic.com/nvejgy.gif[/video]

[video]http://i50.tinypic.com/vsi1j7.gif[/video]

All these players are weight shifting with their hips. Coil-uncoil.

 

[cshilt]

cshilt - IMO it would be educational to have your daughter describe to you in her own words how to weight shift. I'm not sure she has a clear understanding of the weight shift.

You do realize the picture I posted was of Caitlin Benyi, right? Here is her bio from her playing days:

Player Bio: Caitlin Benyi - UCLA Official Athletic Site

 

[Wellphyt]

You do realize the picture I posted was of Caitlin Benyi, right? Here is her bio from her playing days:

Player Bio: Caitlin Benyi - UCLA Official Athletic Site

Sorry, my bad. My post was suppose to be directed at coachdan. I'll go back and fix my post. Yes, I know who Caitlin Benyi is. I've had the clip you posted saved on my computer for a couple of years.

 

[cshilt]

Ok, I thought you did. Had me confused.

 

[Mike]

It very well could be she was just fooled a bit on the pitch and was a little early which might make it appear there are some flaws. That said 2 things I noticed were, 1)she seemed to give up at contact, no extention or follow through. Howard/Hitter might suggest the hand over drill to get the feel of extention and follow through after contact. 2) Up to and at contact her bat looks like it is all the way back in her palm, not allowing the bat to whip through the zone.
All and all it looks like a pretty good swing to me.

What did you take those videos with?

 

[coachdan]

It very well could be she was just fooled a bit on the pitch and was a little early which might make it appear there are some flaws. That said 2 things I noticed were, 1)she seemed to give up at contact, no extention or follow through. Howard/Hitter might suggest the hand over drill to get the feel of extention and follow through after contact. 2) Up to and at contact her bat looks like it is all the way back in her palm, not allowing the bat to whip through the zone.
All and all it looks like a pretty good swing to me.


What did you take those videos with?

Casio F2 shot at 300 fps very nice camera