What do you see?
- Thread starter CycloneSoftball22
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
If you have a set up of your DD, maybe you can post it and then put casey next to her. I dont know how to do that stuff.
We can then see what the differences are and talk about it.
Try to get back on tonight
SL
Before addressing the ideal 'stance' width, it helps to first address the ideal width at 'launch'.
There was a study that I read that stated that at 'launch' the average MLB hitter's big toe-to-toe spacing was 70% of their height ... both 'height' and 'width' measured at 'launch'. The majority fell within a spread of +/-10% ... having a width/height ratio of 60% to 80% ... but some fell outside of that range.
Most people will have a width/height ratio where they feel most powerful in their launch position.
If you move them back in their 'stance', then they will tend to stride further to realize their desired width/height ratio at launch.
Here is an example ....
Info supplied by FFS.
There was a study that I read that stated that at 'launch' the average MLB hitter's big toe-to-toe spacing was 70% of their height ... both 'height' and 'width' measured at 'launch'. The majority fell within a spread of +/-10% ... having a width/height ratio of 60% to 80% ... but some fell outside of that range.
Most people will have a width/height ratio where they feel most powerful in their launch position.
If you move them back in their 'stance', then they will tend to stride further to realize their desired width/height ratio at launch.
Here is an example ....
Info supplied by FFS.
- Jan 24, 2011
- 1,157
- 0
Guys , could you please move this discussion to another thread. I am trying to keep this thread clean and simple and focusing on my kids. That way it will make it easier to document their progress as we go along this Winter. Thanks
- Jan 25, 2011
- 2,280
- 38
understand sorry, but the set up or the width of the stance is real important to how your girls improve. Many of the girls in your post could use help with the stance or setup, I'm saying it in an a nice way. It could help in find what works for one girl and not the other. But thats all I will post on your thread
P.S. you have some really good help going on here, I hope you can keep an open mind, so don't dismiss some talk or question not pertaining to your girls with out understanding some of us have been in your spot before and now are a head in the game.
Last edited:
- Jan 24, 2011
- 1,157
- 0
understand sorry, but the set up or the width of the stance is real important to how your girls improve. Many of the girls in your post could use help with the stance or setup, I'm saying it in an a nice way. It could help in find what works for one girl and not the other. But thats all I will post on your thread
I love the discussion and the info. I read all the technical threads and use them to try and help my kids. I am just trying to keep this thread specific to my kids
I always wanted to do this but, was always dismissed by the coaches and parents of the DD's in my organization. Not sure why but, I thought this would help get everyone on the same page. I wanted to share what I and my DD have learned on this site. I wanted to have all the girls and parents over to my house or our gym for pizza and lay out what the proper swing sequence looked like and what movements were involved in the proper swing sequence. I would show gifs,videos and picture. I would have had good example along with bad examples of videos,gifs and pictures. I would have a Q & A segment. I then present want I proposed to teach their DD's. I would then ask who was own board and who wasn't. I then would get to work on improving the girls
Copied from Megan thread below info posted by FFS.
Okay, let's get started.
Looking for two improvements.
One ... let's correct the spinning bug squishing action and build a lower body main engine. Without that, your daughter will continue to be an "arm swinger" and never tap into what should be her main source of power ..... that being a 'connection' to her rotating torso.
Two ... let's clean up the sequence. No more pre-set load. There will only be 'coil' and 'uncoil'. No pauses. During tee swings I want to see a 2:1 ratio ... which basically means that I'm looking for a slow & fluid 'coil' ... as in a smooth gathering of energy ... followed by a much more rapid uncoil. Depending on how far we go with this we'll talk about the timing of the 'thrust' on top of the 'uncoil'. The sequence will be 1) cock the rear hip, basically moving the rear butt check behind her (not back to the catcher, but behind her ... as in twisting her rear right leg); followed by 2) coil & stretch ... and this coil will serve as the source of any forward stride; followed by 3) swing.
Let's start with "the move".
1) Step into the batter's box with the rear foot. In doing so have the bulk of the pressure on the rear foot on the inside 'ball' of the rear foot. That will help serve as a reminder that the ball of the rear foot will serve as a sort of pivot point.
2) Step into the batter's box with the front foot. Be 'balanced' statically. No rearward lean. Have the quads and hamstrings 'dynamically' balanced ... that is the legs are bent, and the quads & hams are opposing each other ... they are 'balanced' in opposition ... they are 'dynamically balanced' ... they are activated. The upper body will have a slight lean forward ... just enough to 'activate' the upper torso.
3) Using the muscles in the rear upper leg ... cock the rear hip. This may feel like the rear leg is being twisted. Being a right handed hitter, your daughter should feel a pressure that travels down to the rear foot which will give her the feel that the rear foot "wants" to turn "clockwise" ... but it is resisted from turning clockwise because of friction between her cleat & the ground. Feel that "clockwise" pressure. Don't go any further until you feel that "clockwise" pressure as if the "inside" portion of the rear foot has a pressure between it and the ground, that would have the rear foot turning "clockwise". You need to "feel" that if we are going to proceed.
4) Continue to coil. To do this your daughter may recruit her frontside. She may turn her front knee inward. She may internally rotate her front foot. She may/should bend more at the waist (anterior tilt), which will assist the coil and load the lower back muscles for the upcoming rotation that is to take place. During this time, feel the continued "pressure" between the "ground" and the "rear foot". There is a build-up in pressure trying to turn it "clockwise" ... but because of the resistance the foot will remain planted ... yet the pressure build-up will continue. As you continue to coil, the pressure by the rear foot will become more active, and will push ... a push as in adding pressure that would turn the foot "clockwise", but because the rear foot is restricted from moving ... AND because the coiling action is still occurring, the body will move forward ... this is the 'stride' ... we refer to this as "forward by coiling". There is a "dynamic balance" established between the "coiling" taking place and the "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot resisting/opposing that coil.
5) As the front foot moves to foot plant the "rear leg" will "uncoil" ... that is it will "untwist". The pressure at the back foot will continue to be a "clockwise" pressure. The "feel" from a hitter's perspective is that the "clockwise" pressure will continue to be exerted in a "clockwise" direction until "contact", although in reality it is only until rear foot eversion.
6) In terms of the lower body, have the mindset of the "rear leg" being in charge. It's "coil" and "uncoil". Simply allow the front leg to catch the body. Take whatever stride "results" from the "coil" ... that is, do not force a particular stride and do not purposely stride linearly so as to bypass the 'coil' & 'uncoil' action of the rear leg.
What I would like your daughter to do is work on "coil" and "uncoil" ... starting the action with the muscles in the upper rear leg ... feel the "rear leg" twisting/coiling and feel the build up of "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot. Allow a slow and fluid 'coil' to allow the build-up of that "clockwise" pressure and maintain a "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot during the "uncoiling" of the "rear leg". Keep that "clockwise" pressure sensation of the rear foot until the rear hip pulls the rear foot forward off the ground. Do this ... and the bug squish will be gone ... and your daughter will be on her way to building a lower body that is worth "connecting" to.
Keep working on 'coil' and 'uncoil'. Use the 2:1 ratio. Get to the point where the bug squishing is long gone and the "feel" is that of a slow & fluid gathering of energy to explode/uncoil.
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/5027-megan-1-tee.html
Good starting point
Copied from Megan thread below info posted by FFS.
Okay, let's get started.
Looking for two improvements.
One ... let's correct the spinning bug squishing action and build a lower body main engine. Without that, your daughter will continue to be an "arm swinger" and never tap into what should be her main source of power ..... that being a 'connection' to her rotating torso.
Two ... let's clean up the sequence. No more pre-set load. There will only be 'coil' and 'uncoil'. No pauses. During tee swings I want to see a 2:1 ratio ... which basically means that I'm looking for a slow & fluid 'coil' ... as in a smooth gathering of energy ... followed by a much more rapid uncoil. Depending on how far we go with this we'll talk about the timing of the 'thrust' on top of the 'uncoil'. The sequence will be 1) cock the rear hip, basically moving the rear butt check behind her (not back to the catcher, but behind her ... as in twisting her rear right leg); followed by 2) coil & stretch ... and this coil will serve as the source of any forward stride; followed by 3) swing.
Let's start with "the move".
1) Step into the batter's box with the rear foot. In doing so have the bulk of the pressure on the rear foot on the inside 'ball' of the rear foot. That will help serve as a reminder that the ball of the rear foot will serve as a sort of pivot point.
2) Step into the batter's box with the front foot. Be 'balanced' statically. No rearward lean. Have the quads and hamstrings 'dynamically' balanced ... that is the legs are bent, and the quads & hams are opposing each other ... they are 'balanced' in opposition ... they are 'dynamically balanced' ... they are activated. The upper body will have a slight lean forward ... just enough to 'activate' the upper torso.
3) Using the muscles in the rear upper leg ... cock the rear hip. This may feel like the rear leg is being twisted. Being a right handed hitter, your daughter should feel a pressure that travels down to the rear foot which will give her the feel that the rear foot "wants" to turn "clockwise" ... but it is resisted from turning clockwise because of friction between her cleat & the ground. Feel that "clockwise" pressure. Don't go any further until you feel that "clockwise" pressure as if the "inside" portion of the rear foot has a pressure between it and the ground, that would have the rear foot turning "clockwise". You need to "feel" that if we are going to proceed.
4) Continue to coil. To do this your daughter may recruit her frontside. She may turn her front knee inward. She may internally rotate her front foot. She may/should bend more at the waist (anterior tilt), which will assist the coil and load the lower back muscles for the upcoming rotation that is to take place. During this time, feel the continued "pressure" between the "ground" and the "rear foot". There is a build-up in pressure trying to turn it "clockwise" ... but because of the resistance the foot will remain planted ... yet the pressure build-up will continue. As you continue to coil, the pressure by the rear foot will become more active, and will push ... a push as in adding pressure that would turn the foot "clockwise", but because the rear foot is restricted from moving ... AND because the coiling action is still occurring, the body will move forward ... this is the 'stride' ... we refer to this as "forward by coiling". There is a "dynamic balance" established between the "coiling" taking place and the "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot resisting/opposing that coil.
5) As the front foot moves to foot plant the "rear leg" will "uncoil" ... that is it will "untwist". The pressure at the back foot will continue to be a "clockwise" pressure. The "feel" from a hitter's perspective is that the "clockwise" pressure will continue to be exerted in a "clockwise" direction until "contact", although in reality it is only until rear foot eversion.
6) In terms of the lower body, have the mindset of the "rear leg" being in charge. It's "coil" and "uncoil". Simply allow the front leg to catch the body. Take whatever stride "results" from the "coil" ... that is, do not force a particular stride and do not purposely stride linearly so as to bypass the 'coil' & 'uncoil' action of the rear leg.
What I would like your daughter to do is work on "coil" and "uncoil" ... starting the action with the muscles in the upper rear leg ... feel the "rear leg" twisting/coiling and feel the build up of "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot. Allow a slow and fluid 'coil' to allow the build-up of that "clockwise" pressure and maintain a "clockwise" pressure at the rear foot during the "uncoiling" of the "rear leg". Keep that "clockwise" pressure sensation of the rear foot until the rear hip pulls the rear foot forward off the ground. Do this ... and the bug squish will be gone ... and your daughter will be on her way to building a lower body that is worth "connecting" to.
Keep working on 'coil' and 'uncoil'. Use the 2:1 ratio. Get to the point where the bug squishing is long gone and the "feel" is that of a slow & fluid gathering of energy to explode/uncoil.
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-hitting-technical/5027-megan-1-tee.html
Good starting point
Last edited:
- Jan 24, 2011
- 1,157
- 0
Thanks for your input. I have a plan to get this going. Now , I just have to execute it and see if it works for us. I basically wanted to start this thread and post the videos as a baseline to judge our progress
- Jan 24, 2011
- 1,157
- 0
This will probably drive me insane , but I see no other way to make my team better and give these girls a chance to succeed. Once we hit a snag (and I know we will) , I will be begging for help. So everyone please be on call
