Would like to know what you think.

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I often ask my students and coaches what they think the most important part of a swing is to a hitter.

Would like to hear what some of you think too. No right or wrong reply but I think we will get a wide range of responses. I know what I think it is but would like to hear your thoughts on this subject. Feel free to add your reason why if you choose to do so in your response. Not required.

Elliott.

 

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But there are so many parts! How can we pick just one! ?

If I had to pick just one, I would say generating good rotational forces using your body's core (hips and mid-section).

Turning hard and fast is a key element of generating bat speed and quickness.

I can think or one or two important things to do in the sequence before and after that point...but you asked for only one!

 

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Bret,

That is one I hear often. Good response. Not the one I think but still a good response.

Elliott.

 

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As Bretman said there are so many parts to a good , effective swing. I'm really torn between finishing with the hips (core) and a proper grip of the bat. I still see so many girls with improper grips, even at the 18u level. Some of these kids have great mechanics, but loose it with the grip. On the other hand, there are probably just as many that use only their upper body and never get their core involved. That is my $.02.

 

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Not turning their wrist over until later in the follow through.

 

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It's all in the Hands. I see so many rotational swings. Girls hitting around the ball, instead of inside the ball. To be quick, the hands need to start inside.

 

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The hands and bat speed.....the most important to me is that the girl believes in her swing and has confidence she can hit

 

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see the ball hit the ball

 

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In general terms...BAT SPEED!

 

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Hitting coach says "Tracking the ball".

 

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Just don't squash the bug.

 

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Knowing Elliot from his many posts here and on other boards, I'm guessing that one point might be something totally different than we're expecting, maybe even something not related to swing mechanics at all.

How about the single most important part of the swing being a "game plan". Looking for a certain pitch in a certain situiation or count. Maybe the most important thing is the player's mental approach.

I would have a hard time picking one element of a swing's mechanics being singled out as the most important. The swing is a series of sequentially timed movements, each relying on the other to be executed properly.

I picked good core rotation because it seems to be a benchmark of the high level swing, and it seems to be one area where many girls are lacking.

But if you don't load properly, in your pre-launch sequence, you aren't going to rotate very well. If you don't rotate well, you're not going to get the bat head into the hitting zone quickly or generate maximum bat speed.

Hmmmm? Maybe that's the road Elliot is trying to lead us down. How about I change my answer one more time!

How about this time I pick the most important point as being "connection". The batter needs to maintain connection throughout the kinetic chain to translate the good rotation of the core into good bat speed and quickness.

You can rotate like a pro, but if the linkage of the body's core to the bat head (via the shoulders, arms and hands) isn't there you are just spinning your wheels.

And if that's not it, I reserve the right to keep guessing until somebody asks me, "Is that your final answer?". ?

 

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Bretman you are right about Elliot. You aren't sure what he is looking for. Maybe he is looking for the mental aspect before you even step into the box. You need to be confidnet and relaxed at the plate. As you stated you need to be thinking like the pitcher to try to guess what they may throw you.

As to the steps in the swing they all do seem important from the negative move, or loading, right to the follow through.

I see a lot of ladies that don't track the ball well ot the bat. I always say if you can't see it you can't hit. Brillant aren't I?! LOL! ;D

I see some on their first positive move step out towards third base. The step obviously opens them up and they are not balanced as they move forward.

You also see a bunch that drop their hands as they go to this positive move. You need to get this seperation to set up the next phase of the swing.

If I had to pick one I would say that they need to stay balanced through the steps of the swing to keep the bat on the plane with the ball as long as possible. I also reserve the right to keep guessing.

So Elliot how long are you going to keep us in suspense?

 

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lets see if i`m thinking Epstein it would be sit to hit/match the plane of the bat to the plane of the pitch.
Mankin would be Top-Hand-Torque/top hand pulls back toward the catcher.Me thinks correct loading and unloading of the hips might be close.zed

 

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Oh yeah theres candrea/enquest w/linear to rotitional movements/negative to positive but I don`t think thats it.

 

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Heres a good read http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/williams_tribute/flashbacks/1986/

 

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Tony Perez says: "See the ball, hit the ball"
Pickledad says ( :): "To have good hand eye coordination, the "eyes" are pretty darn important (tracking).

So, I would say "tracking" if considering the mechanics, ... you are NOT going to hit that which you do not see, ... unless you are Luke Skywalker ("use the force&quot.

Moreover though, in a more abstract approach, I really believe the most important part of an individual's swing, is their own mental prep in dealing with their own unique swing critical success factors, and "swing keys."

With all of the excellent training/instructors available out there today, most any kid can develop a pretty solid "lab" swing if they are willing to work, and the parents are willing to spend. Most professional hitters, and pro golfers, know that their "beautiful" and "professional" individualized technique can/will break down from time to time, and over time they learn why it happens to them personally. Therefore, they usually isolate their preparation thoughts to their own personally focused 2-3 swing keys - those things that will help guarantee that the entire "sweet swing" which they are capable of producing actually occurs - and it usually will, if those couple of weaknesses are overcome thru focus, especially at the "front end" of the swing. An internal focus on one's own performance capability & technique is priority one before moving on to the next most important mental prep part - having a plan for the pitcher/situation.

In conclusion, thinking physically/mechanics, it is tracking which can also be affected positively or negatively by the initial movements at the beginning of the swing (stepping/foot planting). But remember that hitting is 90% mental and the "Plan" is where it is at (internally & externally), given that the practice and muscle memory has been set in place for application & reproducability. Part of that plan is the focus on the hitters unique swing swing keys, and keeping it simple by focusing on just 1 or 2 things which will get you started correctly, and have other important memorized mechanical aspects like proper foot plant & tracking fall into place naturally.

 

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I'll share this little story about hitting techniques. This was told by one of my assnt coaches.

He was talking to a dad who had a DD who wasn't hitting very well. Her dad took her to the cage, got videos, downloaded drills, bought trainers the whole nine yards. She still wasn't hitting. Finally he gave up and told the coach, "I can't fix her, she is all yours as is." Not much longer she is hitting the ball all over the place. Her dad asks her coach what he did, what drills did he use, what techniques did he teach. Coach's response: "I told her, Just go up there and hit the crap out of the ball!" Now it's a running joke with our team when a girl is struggling. We tell them to just hit the crap out of the ball. They smile and walk to the plate a little looser.

 

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That's a great story Wave, and so true.

"A" key to success in so many things (not just sports) is just relaxing and keeping it simple, doing what you "know" how to do. At the plate is NOT the time for complex thought, that work is done at other times. I always loved that great Tony Perez quote on hitting success "See the ball hit the ball." Plus, sometimes, you just gotta "re-boot" when all else fails, or when it just gets too complicated & strung out. Awesome advice ....

 

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Wave 10u....great story....I've actually used it myself with my kids(boys & girls) and it does loosen the kids up.....

as far as the most important thing, in my opinion....eyes and hands to the ball