Hitting and Hitters Discussion Assistance on batting drills

[default]

I need some assistance. What drills may be used to break the habit of dropping the hands and bat down to the shoulder just prior to swinging at a pitch? I have tried Tee work and throwing of the hands to the ball drills. However, during live pitching or using a pitching machine the hands go back to dropping again.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks
Clark

 

[default]

Clark-
If you have the ability to use a "INSTRUCTO-SWING" endorsed by Ken Griffey Jr., this tee is consturcted to focus on hitting the ball without casting hands away from the body and also prevents hands from dropping before the swing, if done right! It ONLY allows you to bring your hands to the ball to develope a perfect hitting stroke. The "good habit bars" provide immediate feedback, reinforcing the proper hitting mechanics. I have a video if you want to take a look at it.

Jamie Wolff

 

[default]

Jamie,

Thank you for the reply. I will do some research on the INSTRUCTO-SWING. I will send you a private email.

Thanks
Clark

 

[default]

Does she hit the ball ? The reason I ask is that I have a player who does the same thing....BUT...she is a great hitter so I have decided against changing her style to much. I know it is not the "correct" way of hitting, but my theory is "If it aint broke, don't fix it".

 

[default]

I have my HS and travel ball hitters hit off of a high tee. I place the tee up on a box so that the ball is at there armpits. They will never be able to hit the ball unless they keep there hands above the ball. I'm sure you could do this as well on a machine by throwing just high pitches.
Another suggestion I have is to film your hitters and show them what they are doing wrong and make recommendations to correct the problem. Alot of times hitters don't believe or understand what your telling them, and a picture is worth a thousand words. Hope this helps and good luck!!
Coach Yeater

 

[default]

Wave,

I think that's ok for the younger ages but an experienced coach and pitcher will exploit it with high fastballs. I've been working with one of my girls for a couple years on this very issue. She is one of my best hitters with great eye/hand coordination, but she drops her hands. She is slowly coming around but it takes a long time to break this habit.

 

[default]

Use a double tee or 2 tee's for this drill, place ball on front tee and make rear tee is a little higher. Have player practice hitting ball without hitting rear tee. This gives instant feedback because if you drop your hands you hit the rear tee. This drill we call A-B drill, A being the set position before the swing and B- being the ball. A good swing never has a C, only A to B.

 

[default]

To Everyone,

I want to thank each of you for your suggestions. I like several of the ideas. I have filmed and shown the individual in the past. I am going to do that again. Also, I will try the different drill suggestions. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks
Clark

 

[default]

Some good info in the replies about probably the most prevalent problem in hitting -- dropping the hands. But the initial post gives a major clue to this player's problem. She is setting up with her hands above her shoulder. The video camera is a great training device. Take one and find a very good hitter who starts with her hands above her shoulder and claims she doesn't drop her hands (before they start forward in the swing). Look at it in slow motion or freeze frames -- down they go. It is not reasonable to expect anyone to fire to the ball from above the shoulders. Simply set up with the top of the hands lined up with the top of the shoulder, and fire away! (Still takes work to avoid the dropping habit -- it's complex, but not impossible if you start lower.)

 

[default]

I have always taught that the hands should be placed at the top of the strike zone and that you should rotate them to the ball. Contact should be made at the 2:00 o'clock position. (RH Batter) Back Elbow drops into the slot and Front hip and shoulder rotate to the ball. Back elbow should never get in front of the hands or it will create bat drag and your hitter will be late through the strike zone. Tell the hitter to be quick.
When they finish the front foot should be pointing at the pitcher and the back foot should be in the same position. Do not let the hip or shoulder disconnect with each other.

Do not tell them hands to the ball. That implies a linear swing. Unless of course your teaching a linear swing. I have taught both but my preference is the MLB swing which has a foundation in rotational mechanics.

If the hands are at the top of the stike zone then any pitch that comes in at or above the hands is a ball and no swing should be made. Plus its easier to rotate the hands to the ball from that position. The hands wont drop.

There is a lot more to this but those are some of the things I teach and look for in a swing.

Good luck

Elliott.

 

[default]

Dan, Elliott,

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your insight. Dan you are correct her hands are about ear height. Therefore, I will have her lower her hands. Elliott, I like your idea about putting your hands to the top of the strike zone as a reference. With all the ideas that have been given, and work. I should be able fix the problem.

Thanks
Clark

 

[default]

Frankly, some of the suggestions you've been offered scare me.

Be careful with the "Instructo-swing" device. Every model produced up until this year has had the "rails" that the batter swings through oriented on a downward path.

A downward swing is not recommended, is in direct conflict to what is being taught by elite softball coaches at the NCAA and Olympic level and does not emulate a high-level swing.

And, if you view video of Ken Griffey's swing, he most definitely does not swing downward through the hitting zone.

This training aid has been debated for years. I see from their website that the latest 2006 model available for sale has been redesigned. The device now features adjustable bars, allowing them to be tilted at an upward angle.

Strange that a product that has been on the market a dozen years, and claimed to enforce the "correct" swing mechanics, now is adjustable to cause the batter to swing with the exact opposite swing path that the product had always enforced.

The two-tee drill, with the back tee being higher will promote the same downward swing, which I do not recommend.

It's hard to diagnose a hitter based on a short discussion board post. I will offer you some general suggestions and you can decide which ones apply or which to try in practice.

- The hands themselves are not independent entities. They do not move on their own, rather they are moved BY the arms and shoulders. So when you talk about hand movement, something further up the chain is what's really doing the moving.

One cause of rear shoulder dipping, and a resultant hand dip, is overstriding. Does your hitter employ a long stride before hitting the ball?

- If you focus and drill on what the shoulders and hands are supposed to be doing in a sound mechanical swing, the likelihood of them dropping is decreased.

The hands should be moving BACK and around behind the head a bit up to the point that the front foot completes it's stride or, if you're using a minimal stride, when the heel drops.

One cue that seems to work is telling the hitter to "hide her hands" from the pitcher. From a front view the hands will indeed be hidden, as they rotate behind the head.

This "hand hiding" is a acomplished by shoulder rotation, or scapular loading. The rear shoulder will pinch inward toward the spine, while the front will pinch across the chest.

If the hands and shoulders are trained to do this, they simply cannot drop. It takes repetition and more repetition until these moves are ingrained into the hitter.

This type of loading will also increase bat speed, bat quickness and the power transfered to the ball.

- As you are doing your drill work, constantly give verbal reminders to enforce the proper hand & shoulder movement. As the hitter is waiting to hit, remind them "hands steady". As the hitter begins her stride, tell her "hide the hands".

There is no quick fix. Burning these moves into muscle memory will take practice, practice and more practice. If you are able to work with your hitter on these points, I would be quite curious for you to post again later and let us know what results you have seen.

 

[default]

bretman,

Don't toss out the "Instructo-swing" device or the 2-tee drill so quickly. ?If used properly they are both good tools/drills for correcting flaws.

I've used the "Instructo-swing" device for years. ?However, I never liked the downward angle of the bars so I have always propped up (using portable bases & home plates) the front so that the bars are parrallel to the ground. ?This enforces getting into the "slot", proper hip rotation, bat "lag" and finally a smooth "ever so slightly downward" swiing. ?If you drop the back shoulder or hands you'll bang the bottom bar. ?If you don't get in the "slot" and you have a "choppy" swiing you'll bang the top bar.

The 2-tee drill. ?The height (top of the ball) on the tee closest to the hitter should be even with the bottom of the ball on the tee farthest from the hitter. ?You cannot dip the rear shoulder or drop the hands and hit the farthest ball without hitting the closest ball. ?With the height of the 2 tees setup properly you do not promote a downward or chopping swing.

 

[default]

bretman, AMEN!