Hitting and Hitters Discussion Weight Transfer

[default]

Guys
What are some of the best drills for working on getting better weight transfer? I have one DD who tilts and turns well but she is losing power by not transfering her weight like I feel she needs to.
Thanks
Mike

 

[default]

Hitting off the tee
One way would be to load and seperate go out to toe touch. Then as they are in that position ask them to put abit more weight into the front knee.

Work that front knee with more weight or less weight until it looks right.
Back foot toes should be pointing to china.

I built a box, something to elevate the back foot. Around 4-5 inches
WHen they hit like that, it forces the weight shift. All for just the feeling



Straightleg

 

[default]

Mike teaching them how to throw first has huge benefits associated with it.

When Coach Candrea was here doing a clinic recently he made the statement that he teaches every new freshman how to throw first.

Gerry made me a couple of boxes to use to get the point across faster as to bending the knee upon jumping or landing. The male knee works more as a hinge and the glutes fire the knee. With females the glutes do not fire the knees and the knee works more like a ball joint. However they can be taught how to do it correctly.

After we demonstrate balance and what we term a slide, step, break and throw we put them on a box Gerry made which is maybe 16 x 16 inches and 5 inches high with rubber strips to keep it from sliding.

They stand on the box with both feet and step forward and as they step they have the ball gathered at their chest with the ball in the glove. They break their ball hand down and then circle up while tucking the glove back and under the arm pit to help accelerate the throwing arm.

The idea is to get them to step on the lead foot on the ball of the foot on a flexed knee and drive off with the back leg. The slight elevation of the box really helps get them to feel it faster. We had to two kids from Pennsylvania here last week and it certainly helped them.

When doing the matrix drill we point out that after we load, we separate to toe touch and have them hold their position and I take the bat out of their hands and ask them to field a ground ball. If the foot is pointed too far either in the direction of the pitcher or catcher they will not be able to field a ground ball without adjusting their feet other wise the pressure in between the knees is not equal and they feel it very quickly and adjust for it. After a few more attempts they see and feel where and why the foot is about at a 45 degree angle.

Don Slaught was recently here doing a clinic and we used a platform about 6 to 8 inches high and had the hitters put their back foot up on it and hop step with the lead foot to the toe touch position. We had them on the inside edge of the lead foot with there heel off the ground slightly, on a flexed knee and then they performed the Elvis move by planting the front foot heel and lifting the back foot heel up allowing the weight to be on the inside of the big toe and toe next to it. The Elvis move drives the shoulders and Don termed this as an attacking posture as it puts a little more weight on the lead foot knee for weight shift because the back foot is elevated slightly. They hit a ball off a tee while doing this.

Gerry has built another box that puts weight at an angle on the back foot (everision) so you can feel yourself driving off the back leg.

In my opinion the missing piece to the puzzle has always been the weight shift or lack there of especially with the girls. Work on this and that appears to go away and become natural for them.

Cindy Bristow was here over the holidays and tried using the box to throw from and felt it was indeed a simple yet effective drill for weight shift. The other item we stress is the load and do it in front of a mirror so they can see how many of them sway rearward and the head moves back too far and they teeter totter on the back leg. This is because the knee when loading is usually stacked over the foot because they allow the weight to go to the outside of the foot. Keeping the weight focused in the area of the big toe and toe next to it helps. Again keep a flexed back knee when loading helps also. To get them to feel this better have them load while looking into the mirror and point out their head should remain steady. Now go to their lead shoulder and brace yourself and say pick up your lead foot and you should have all their weight. IF not they are leaning backwards or their weight is over their back leg. Point out the area between their legs looks like a pyramid and if you took out one leg they should collapse from lack of support. When you braced them you became their support and that their knee is inside their foot at a slight angle.

Just telling the girls does not work as you must get them to see it, feel it and fix it.

Howard

 

[default]

Shameless plug time:

You can see Howard and Crystl demonstrate the above drills and more at our clinic that is just 9 days away!


Link to on-line registration form>>>>>
https://www.leaguelineup.com/FormPre...9&FormID=54830

Link to printable registration form>>>>>
http://www.leaguelineup.com/centralo...nic v2.0.pdf

Link to on-line payment page using PayPal>>>>>
http://www.leaguelineup.com/miscinfo...&sid=479759129

A detailed detailed description of each session along with pricing info included below.

Session A, Coaches/Parents Clinic - Friday, January 14th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, $30.00
Crystl Bustos, Howard Carrier, and Michaela Minner will provide coaching tips in a Q&A format. This session is a must see for coaches of all experience levels, including those parents who work with their kids or are thinking about coaching.

Session B, Throwing/Fielding - Saturday, January 15th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, $50.00*
This session will provide an in-depth review of defensive fundamentals, including a thorough breakdown of proper throwing mechanics, glove work, and defensive positioning. Approximately half-way through the session, players will be divided into infield and outfield groups. The infielders will work with 3-time Olympian Crystl Bustos, while the outfielders will work with former Missouri Tigers' great and current Akron Racers' outfielder Michaela Minner.

Session C, Hitting 101 - Saturday, January 15th, 12:45 pm - 4:00 pm, $50.00*
This session will provide an in-depth review of hitting fundamentals, including a thorough breakdown of proper hitting mechanics taught by the greatest hitter of all-time, Crystl Bustos, and her personal hitting coach, Howard Carrier. This session is geared towards players who do not have a solid understanding of Crystl's and Howard's instructional methods and drills. In this session, all players will work through Crystl's "Seven Step" hitting progression via concentrated drill work.

Session D, Hitting 201 - Saturday, January 15th, 4:45 pm - 8:00 pm, $50.00*
This session is designed for those players who have attended at least three (3) Bustos or Carrier hitting clinics over the past two (2) years OR have had "intensive" instruction using Bustos-Carrier methods and terminology. Players will be asked to provide date and location of previous clinics attended or the name and contact information of their hitting instructor. This session will begin with a brief overview of Crystl's "Seven Steps" and a series of more advanced drills that will be executed during the remainder of the session. After the overview, the players will then rotate through a series of drills that will isolate and improve all phase of the swing, including making adjustments, hitting the offspeed pitch, and hitting to the opposite field.

Session E, Hitting 101 - Sunday, January 16th, 12:45 pm - 4:00 pm, $50.00*
This session will provide an in-depth review of hitting fundamentals, including a thorough breakdown of proper hitting mechanics taught by the greatest hitter of all-time, Crystl Bustos, and her personal hitting coach, Howard Carrier. This session is geared towards players who do not have a solid understanding of Crystl's and Howard's instructional methods and drills. In this session, all players will work through Crystl's "Seven Step" hitting progression via concentrated drill work.

*$90.00 total if sign up for Session B and Session C, D, or E.

SPECIAL PRICING AVAILABLE FOR TEAMS SENDING 5 OR MORE PLAYERS TO A SINGLE SESSION - contact Kirk Lowery at klowery11@gmail.com OR (614) 638-5107 for more info

 

[default]

Gerry and Howard,

Is the box square or do you angle the face so their foot is on an angled surface when using it as a hitting device? I would guess perfectly square when working as a throwing drill, but would a angled face work well while using it for hitting?
Thanks Guys!!!
Mike

 

[default]

Gerry and Howard,

Is the box square or do you angle the face so their foot is on an angled surface when using it as a hitting device? I would guess perfectly square when working as a throwing drill, but would a angled face work well while using it for hitting?
Thanks Guys!!!
Mike

Yes the throwing one is square.

The other is angled and we are working on what feels good, better or best based on the kids feed back.

Even using a brick works however just trying to make it feel better is fun also.

 

[default]

I have two. One that is 9" and one that is 6" tall. . We were messing around with them last night to see how they work. Since I have been gone for two weeks after watching Don use the box, I had not had a chance to use them till now. I will bring them to the Clinic 1-15 and 1-16 so Howard can use them.

 

[default]

Thanks guys I will be building some tonight. Along with a bucket

 

[default]

Thanks guys I will be building some tonight. Along with a bucket

Mike we are doing a clinic in Columbus this weekend and Crystl saw this product at the NFCA and they are shipping in 6 of them for us to try out.

I have been using a brick I made many years ago and this looks like it will do the same thing. It can also be used for pitching.

The first part of the link is pitching and then to to the top for hitting.

www.softballpowerdrive.com

 

[default]

I think the new hammer bat would work for some we deal with !

 

[default]

NEW HAMMER BAT?? DO tell;&

 

[default]

I built a crude version of the Power Drive out of wood. It seems to work pretty good. I notice that balance is going to play a pretty big roll in using this thing. Please let me know how the clinic goes with them over the weekend.