Fastpitch Discussions
Hitting advice
28 posts
• Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Whether the hips lead or not, the bat seems to be getting around in a hurry. The best swings look like the hips open up a tad bit before or simultaneously with the bat meeting the ball. Is that about right?
- Lench
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:10 am
My first goal was to get you to start comparing your thoughts and everyone else's hitting opinions to video of elite hitters. Mission accomplished. Be skeptical.
As to your hip question elite hitters rotate the hips as part of their forward shift. Some call it forward by turning. At heel plant the shoulders begin to turn as the front hip joint quickly stabilizes. Of course there are exceptions. Bagwell for instance. But most rotate the hips as part of their forward shift.
If you will find a clip you think disagrees with what I just said I'd be happy to discuss it.
As to your hip question elite hitters rotate the hips as part of their forward shift. Some call it forward by turning. At heel plant the shoulders begin to turn as the front hip joint quickly stabilizes. Of course there are exceptions. Bagwell for instance. But most rotate the hips as part of their forward shift.
If you will find a clip you think disagrees with what I just said I'd be happy to discuss it.
- Mark H
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:08 pm
Makes sense. Not so stressed about her opening up. Working on the swing, and it looks good. And thanks for the input.
Exactly why we dig Heybucket!
Exactly why we dig Heybucket!
- Lench
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:10 am
Glad you're happy. Please continue to be skeptical about anyone's hitting advice using lots of video of elite hitters to sort out the wheat from the chaff. I've only found two teachers I can't dismiss using this method. Post a clip sometime for comment and I'd be happy to tell you what I see.
- Mark H
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:08 pm
Thanks. I appreciate the kind words.
- Mark H
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:08 pm
Across the top of this page I see six pictures of fastpitch players. The orange and black hitter second from the right is almost in a great contact position. Her left forearm needs to be closer to parallel to the bat at contact for best bat speed. She may have just been a little late on this one or maybe she was trying to go the other way to move a base runner.
To get the lead arm parallel to the bat at contact she could have either started slightly earlier or she could have kept her lead arm closer to the chest causing wrist uncocking to happen sooner. (This points out the problem with pushing the hands forward during the swing as it delays and slows down wrist uncocking/bat whip.)
In any case, waist down, her position looks right to me if that helps in terms of your daughter's hip rotation.
To get the lead arm parallel to the bat at contact she could have either started slightly earlier or she could have kept her lead arm closer to the chest causing wrist uncocking to happen sooner. (This points out the problem with pushing the hands forward during the swing as it delays and slows down wrist uncocking/bat whip.)
In any case, waist down, her position looks right to me if that helps in terms of your daughter's hip rotation.
- Mark H
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:08 pm
Hips leading the swing is correct. This guy will tell you the same thing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZgBZzqhvxk
If the hands and/or shoulders are moving forward before the rear hip, it's a pushing swing, and not what happens in the pattern of high-level hitters.
The hip pulls the shoulders, which pull the hands, which whip the barrel through contact...
The big part of the equation is getting rid of the slop/slack in the connection between hip and hands, which can be challenging for long, lean, flexible young girls to feel and execute. Another important part of the equation is proper hand use. The hands are the pivot point for the rotation of the bat, rather than the arms swinging the bat around the spine.
This is my favorite example to show the hand pivot point...
An important thing to notice is that the hands stay connected to the movement of the rear shoulder early in the swing, pivoting the bat to the plane of the pitch, until the bat is whipped by the hands through contact. The hands do not loop around the body, they move in a short path out from the rear shoulder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZgBZzqhvxk
If the hands and/or shoulders are moving forward before the rear hip, it's a pushing swing, and not what happens in the pattern of high-level hitters.
The hip pulls the shoulders, which pull the hands, which whip the barrel through contact...
The big part of the equation is getting rid of the slop/slack in the connection between hip and hands, which can be challenging for long, lean, flexible young girls to feel and execute. Another important part of the equation is proper hand use. The hands are the pivot point for the rotation of the bat, rather than the arms swinging the bat around the spine.
This is my favorite example to show the hand pivot point...
An important thing to notice is that the hands stay connected to the movement of the rear shoulder early in the swing, pivoting the bat to the plane of the pitch, until the bat is whipped by the hands through contact. The hands do not loop around the body, they move in a short path out from the rear shoulder.
- Eric F
- Premium Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 2:17 pm
- Location: So Cal
Oh...but wait...these are baseball players, not softball players! The softball swing is DIFFERENT!!!
No, it's not. Hitting a ball with a stick is the same has hitting a ball with a stick.
No, it's not. Hitting a ball with a stick is the same has hitting a ball with a stick.
- Eric F
- Premium Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 2:17 pm
- Location: So Cal
Folks - all great points around the swing here. A couple of things I would like to weigh in on. First off, I would start by stating that I have been teaching hitting and "rotational" mechanics for over 8 years now and the controversy and evolution of the theory has drastically evolved over that same period of time. Eric F, you are totally correct - whether you are swinging at a baseball, a softball or a pinata....the swing is the swing, what varies is the axis and swing plane. I would also suggest that there is no such thing as the hips opening up "too fast", what should be cautionary is what is happening with the hands and shoulders at the same time. If you would like to send me a video clip I would be happy to mark it up and provide some commentary free of charge. Hope that your dd has much success.
Get a good pitch to hit.....
Coach Tony
Get a good pitch to hit.....
Coach Tony
- FoothillHitting
- Premium Member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:53 pm
28 posts
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