Be aware that the video material from Enquist and Candrea has evolved as their respective hitting philosophies have evolved.
Their latest material advocates a softball swing that emulates the Major League baseball swing. Though some terminology is different, this is essentially what is referred to a a "rotational" swing.
This hitting technique goes against the grain of what has been taught in the fastpitch world for many years. For decades, the fastpitch player was instructed in a more "linear" technique- stride into the pitch, swing down on the ball, fully extend the arms- with a goal of just making contact and hoping that those weak grounders find a hole or that the batter can beat a throw at first.
This approach was ingrained for so long in the fastpitch world that the change has been slow and there has been much resistance. The technology available today- most notably high speed video- allows anyone to analyze the best, and most successful, hitters in the world, be they baseball or softball players.
The video doesn't lie. The most successful hitters in the world use rotational hitting techniques. Though individual styles and stances may vary, from load to launch hitters employing rotational techniques all have an almost identical swing. The common touchpoints of the rotational swing are evident.
MOE4516, you ask a good question about "squashing the bug" and the use of the hips. If I'm lucky, I might be able to give you a good answer!
The phrase "squash the bug" can indeed reinforce a hitter turning her hips. But, it is not the optimal way to get those hips going!
"Squashing the bug" implies that the hitters weight is pressing down on that back foot. If your weight is distributed on the back foot like that, you are leaving a lot of rotational power on the table. This is commonly referred to as "reverse pivot".
Yes, turning the hips is essential to generating the maximum rotational torque. However, the "squash the bug" cue is a fundamental misinterpretation of the "cause and effect" involved in this turning.
Spinning on the back foot should not be the "cause" that generates the hips to turn. The back foot going up on its toe is, in fact, an effect generated by a powerful hip turn.
The rear foot goes up on its toe as an effect of the rotational forces trying to go forward. As these powerfull forces try to throw the body forward, the front leg should stiffen to resist the forward motion. The back foot is not bearing weight and squishing down. It is actually coming up and possibly off the ground, while bearing only a small portion of the hitters weight.
If you watched a program with the UCLA coach (Enquist) last spring, it was most likely some of her older material. Her latest videos make this older material obsolete. She is now on record as saying that the fastpitch softball swing should emulate that of professional baseball.
And professional baseball players DO NOT squish the bug. Yes, their back foot will turn and go up on the toes, but the foot is NOT bearing weight or squishing down and the turning foot is NOT the generator for hip rotation.
