Video of Me Using a Heavy Bag for Hitting

[FJRGerry]

I thought I'd post this separately from my other hitting post since it would have been buried in the other post. The video is of me practicing stopping at contact by hitting against a heavy bag using a tee ball bat. The idea, as I posted before, is to work on reviewing contact positioning, as well as working on proper balance at contact. I'm not attempting to swing through the bag, as that would be damaging to my wrists and other joints.

In this video I'm working on a two step drill: 1) Load then 2) swing into contact.

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[Mark H]

Couple of quick things. Move your contact point deeper and keep your lead arm closer to your chest longer. Also notice your back foot is spinning? Should be rolling up rather than spinning. Also, you need to address the lack of an athletic posture rather than standing up. You need to get the lead arm better in the swing plane. I'm sure I'll notice more later. Good for you though lefty. Way to get in there and work at it.

 

[FJRGerry]

Thanks for the advice Mark. Actually though, the post is more for showing what I mean by using a heavy bag as part of a well-rounding hitting training regimen.

 

[Mark H]

Point taken.

 

[Mark H]

Stole this from a very smart guy on another site. Thought you, and everyone else, should hear this:

"...1) the contact point being to much "out front" of the plate and 2) the idea that the body is to be in some type of "pushing" position at contact...where the muscles of the upper body/arms are still actively applying force through contact as opposed to a position better showing the body's momentum being fully transferred to the bat."



These two items are related. Understand this and people will understand why there should be little to no shock to the joints at contact if you are doing it right. Which is why you should be able to do it all day long without any effect besides blisters. Not that I wouldn't rather be hitting live bp but the point here is to understand what this tells us about a good swing.

 

[FJRGerry]

Mark, I'm not sure I understand the quote.

 

[ifubuildit]

Hitting a bag.

This kind of thing sets hitting instruction back 30 years. It reminds me of the old hitting the semi deflated basketball drills that some still do today. The biggest risk to doing this kind of thing is that it can cause injury to the wrist.

It may work for a fully grown adult but for a young player who isnt fully developed in strength and stability this is one thing I cannot endorse as good training method for teaching a swing. Too much opportunity to cause injury to the wrist in a young hitter.

Dana

 

[SBFAMILY]

Thanks Dana that is what I told Mark on a different post. Bustos as strong as she is doesn't even approve of this drill.

 

[Mark H]

Mark, I'm not sure I understand the quote.

Which part?

 

[Mark H]

This kind of thing sets hitting instruction back 30 years. It reminds me of the old hitting the semi deflated basketball drills that some still do today. The biggest risk to doing this kind of thing is that it can cause injury to the wrist.

It may work for a fully grown adult but for a young player who isnt fully developed in strength and stability this is one thing I cannot endorse as good training method for teaching a swing. Too much opportunity to cause injury to the wrist in a young hitter.

Dana

Next time I'm in Dallas let's get together and I'll explain how the two are completely different. Since I completely agree with you about deflated balls that should pique your curiosity.