Hitting and Hitters Discussion drills to help player stay back on swing

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i would like some drills that can be done to help keep from diving at the ball. weight way out on front foot even before ball gets to plate hips opening way open before swing

thanks

 

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That's what they're SUPPOSED to do on a great change up!!

Just kidding... and considering there may be many other issues going on with their swing mechanics, what you are describing is generally a timing issue. Provided they are using good general swing mechanics, the batter will get to toe-touch where they are loaded and balanced - ready to swing. The key is getting to this position exactly at the right moment - neither early or late. It sounds like you're dealing with a "too early" issue.

Pitchers thrive on messing up a hitter's timing by throwing different speed pitches. A batter who hasn't mastered this timing (or has poor visual mechanics, another topic) will struggle as they get older and experience better pitching.

There are a few very wise hitting instructors who frequently chime in here, so I'm sure some advice from some different viewpoints will be coming. But in the long run just remember - there is no substitute for one-on-one instruction from a qualified hitting instructor.

 

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i would like some drills that can be done to help keep from diving at the ball. weight way out on front foot even before ball gets to plate hips opening way open before swing

thanks

This is what we work on with our girls. The idea is to track the ball from the pitcher right? So with that idea still in mind, To prevent a batter from being too eager or raising her head and shoulder at swing contact point try this........ REVERSE TRACKING with soft toss. Set up 3 feet back from where the umpire would be and toss towards the pitcher at waist high. Have the batter load and watch you toss and then hit as the ball comes into the strike zone of the plate towards the pitcher. This will fix a few areas that need adjusted very quickly. Try it and let me know if it helps. It is not easy for a player to do at first but if you teach what is hard and then the easy things become even easier for a batter and they will be that much better at the plate. If the drill causes the batter to "wait" and use timing to make good contact you will be on your way to teaching hand, eye and timing contact with the diving for the ball eleminated.

 

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This I what I work on with our girls. The idea is to track the ball from the pitcher right? So with that idea still in mind, To prevent a batter from being too eager or raising her head and shoulder at swing contact point try this........ REVERSE TRACKING with soft toss. Set up 3 feet back from where the umpire would be and toss towards the pitcher at waist high. Have the batter load and watch you toss and then hit as the ball comes into the strike zone of the plate towards the pitcher. This will fix a few areas that need adjusted very quickly. Try it and let me know if it helps. It is not easy for a player to do at first but if you teach what is hard and then the easy things become even easier for a batter and they will be that much better at the plate. If the drill causes the batter to "wait" and use timing to make good contact you will be on your way to teaching hand, eye and timing contact with the diving for the ball eleminated.

We need to explain when to load and when to step and where is the pitcher in her motion?

I explain once a pitcher starts her motion we must learn to dance with her.

We load at about her 12 o'clock position or K position.

Lets break it down a little more and we say slow to load and soft to step and land on a flexed front knee as the pitcher releases the ball or at her window of release depending on her athletic ability.

The load into the back leg and hip is crucial also.

We do a simple knee cock by turning the back knee inward (towards the catcher) so the weight is inside the back leg and not over it and this could cause the lunge or over striding.

Have them stand with their arms stretched out to the sides and shoulder high. Now ask them to load without turning their shoulder and we want to see the lead hip go towards the first baseman as a RH hitter and the back hip goes towards the third base dugout. You will feel a little bit of a bind at the rear hip.

Now I put my hands below the knee cap and force the leg/foot into the ground and ask them to concentrate and focus on the weight being on the big toe and the toe next to it!

Usually they pick up on it rather quickly and if you see the arms and shoulders moving a lot ( more than 3.65 inches is 12 degrees) point out they will not see the ball with both eyes equally.

Now back to slow to load, soft to step and separating the hands rearward a little during toe touch.

While in China it was difficult to get the girls to be aggressive and attack the ball. Working through an interpreter was interesting as my voice inflection was lost through the translation process.

So I tried this....E is one and R is two in Chinese. So I explained as I would say EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, they would be loading and getting the tension into the rear hip and inside the back leg. The I would say R and they would step on a flexed front knee to allow their weight to shift or flow forward under control. I would look at their hip action and try to time it using the EEEEE and then when it looked like they were there I would say R. Then they would say it out loud and time the pitcher movements.

The back elbow lowering triggers the connection or linking the back hip and shoulders together in my opinion, so if the are pushing the bat they will be forward and then we have to see if they are even getting to heel plant to block the front side as some refer to the hip action of the lead hip and the back hips moves forward and the lead hip moves rearward.

Flex in the front knee is critical as is the action of the back elbow coming down verses pushing the hands forward and not linking the hips and shoulders together.

Lets us know how this works please.

Howard

 

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Howard...that is exactly what I was going to write .. saved me the trouble.. LOL!

I have started a book of your posts to review periodically .. great stuff once again!

 

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Me too Doug...

Hey Big guy, thanks for the tune-up this past weekend. You folks that work with Howard know how he is... he went over the top again for me this weekend and there is no way a guy like that can not go without thanks on a regular basis. His ability to capture, explain, and work girls into a higher level of personal confidence is resounding! You da' man and it really shows up at the plate. Proof is in the pudding and Jello ain't the puddin' I'm talking about!!!

You should have seen Kavin's team this weekend! Call him to get the scoop. Your name may have been used a couple times ... all we need is your phone ringing more. Poor Idella...

 

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Me too Doug...

Hey Big guy, thanks for the tune-up this past weekend. You folks that work with Howard know how he is... he went over the top again for me this weekend and there is no way a guy like that can not go without thanks on a regular basis. His ability to capture, explain, and work girls into a higher level of personal confidence is resounding! You da' man and it really shows up at the plate. Proof is in the pudding and Jello ain't the puddin' I'm talking about!!!

You should have seen Kavin's team this weekend! Call him to get the scoop. Your name may have been used a couple times ... all we need is your phone ringing more. Poor Idella...

Les thank you!

We have talked about this before, that it is easier to work with coaches that buy into what we teach and how we teach it.

You do not have to buy into it and you can do it your way, as it is still a free country for now!

The girls are the data it is working and the coaches that want to put their spin to it can do so, however I choose to do it my way especially when I am at my house.

Your coaches and parents I have worked with so far seem to buy into how we do it which makes it fun to see the organization as a whole get better.

I can not wait for the girls to get another year better!

Thanks Howard

 

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Les thank you!

We have talked about this before, that it is easier to work with coaches that buy into what we teach and how we teach it.

You do not have to buy into it and you can do it your way, as it is still a free country for now!

The girls are the data it is working and the coaches that want to put their spin to it can do so, however I choose to do it my way especially when I am at my house.

Your coaches and parents I have worked with so far seem to buy into how we do it which makes it fun to see the organization as a whole get better.

I can not wait for the girls to get another year better!

Thanks Howard

Is Lester finally catching on?


Straightleg

 

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Is Lester finally catching on?


Straightleg

Gerry

Now he is even trying to help Doug! :lmao: