teaching basic hitting?

[dallasfungo]

and that she doesnt have "chicken wings" because I want her arms in a "v" shape.

Can you explain this more? Maybe I dont understand but from most of the pics on your site, the batter seems to be in a chicken wing form with elbows pointed out. Maybe I am just confused, that isnt too hard to do.



Do you think it would be absurd of me to post on the local boards and see if I could get one or two of the area TB coaches to come help one day?

I wouldn't get too hung up on this. In this shot it looks to me that Pujols is between toe touch and heel plant, his weight is moving forward and he's initiating rotation...at or almost to Epstein's "launch point". His forearms are in the inverted "v", although maybe spread wider than some hitters. He wasn't standing still when this picture was taken. If you were able to click through the next 4-6 frames you'd see the elbows narrowing slightly as rotation started. It's an awesome swing, even, or maybe especially, in slow motion.

[Judd]

Ok, my $.02. I think the lines of discussion are on the mark for an adult who has spent many hours (or years) watching clips and has good abstract reasoning abilities. I'd suggest an alternative approach for kids, particularly those new to the game.

Have them watch the clips with you in slow motion, offer minimal narration. "Here's the load for timing, here's toe touch, here's the beginning of rotation, here's contact, here's release." Only put about 3-4 minutes into it at a time. Let them see the motion so they can visualize the batter's movement. If you have RVP, put up 4 clips (two MLB, two college girls) and let her scroll through the syncronized swings, going backward and forward, front view, side view and rear view. Do this several days in a row and when you get to the tee tell her to do simply what she saw the batters do in the clips.

My college handball coach had us do this (although we watched live play) to pick up the variety of shots and angles, particularly to learn how to hit left handed. When we got into the court he'd say "see the shot before you make it." Jack Nicklaus's old golf videos have the same visualization segment (but with inspirational elevator music). It can be very effective.

That would be great for my own DD but since these are rec girls I barely see them. Practices are basically gone since all field time is now for games. Tonights game got cancelled, the other team forfeited as they didnt have enough players. So I made it a practice.

I think I have enough to work with. This thread has really gone way over what I needed. I know I dont know enough about hitting, thats why my DD takes lessons. But like I said, some of them have never played so I just need the basics.

Can someone explain in simple terms what Mike Candrea means by rolling the wrists and releasing the bat? In the last 2-3 minutes of this video he mentions these things and I am lost

http://www.sportskool.com/videos/hitting

I appreciate all the input

[Gone in 2.6]

During these message board hitting discussions, it is not uncommon to see the "what you're
saying is too complicated for young hitters" refrain. This is a misconception. The descriptions you hear/see are not meant for the ears of young hitters. They are meant to help those working with young hitters to better understand the elite swing and to "know it when they see it".

Basic drills that PROMOTE the correct movement patters is the way to get to youngsters. You don't need to talk about load, torque or any of that happy crap.

Oh and stay away from the fence drill.

[3Bsnag]

Judd,
He's talking about at contact, then follow through.
For a righty, at contact left wrist is pointing down (or palm down), right one up.
Right after contact, the wrists roll over and are opposite. Some choose to drop the right hand late in their follow through.

[Judd]

what is the fence drill?

[3Bsnag]

Stand about a bats length away from a fence and you should be able to swing through without hitting the fence. It's supposed to teach a compact swing thus increasing bat speed, or so they say.

[Martin]

Stand facing a fence with your arm stretched out toward it, just barely touching. Now grab a bat, assume your hitting stance and swing. If your bat hits the fence, you're not swinging correctly. This is a cheap (zero cost, assuming you don't destroy your bat) drill that provides immediate feedback to hitters.