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most important part to hitting is confidence. There are many stances and swings in college and in the pros but the most successfull athletes out there were built from the head down. If you do not believe you can you wont
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I also think that the most important part of hitting is confidence in yourself. I have seen so many girls that I play with that have perfect swings but dont have the confidence that they are going to hit the ball. If you dont go up look that pitcher in the eye and think to yourself im going to hit this ball she is not going to strike me out and have confidence in yourself then you are not going to hit. The swing is important but if you dont have the confidence to look that pitcher in the eye and challenge her you are not going to hit.
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Good vision, and hands straight to the ball. 
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ifubuildit said:
Elliott I have been in suspence for too long.... What do you think is the most important thing to a swing.
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Elliot where are you ?????????? ;D ;D
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There are some great responses on this thread. That is why I placed it out here just before I took 2 weeks of vacation. This is the first time I have been able to get back here to it. Both the mental and physical aspects of the swing are important to any hitter. Learing what and when to look for pitches then reacting to them to hit them hard is what hitting is all about.
Along the lines of hit the crap out of it comes the saying of my favorite LL coach back in Prospect Ohio in the early 60s. I dont care how you hit it just hit it hard boy. Well, I have often told that to my players but the reality is I do care how they hit it. I want them focused on one thing in that box. Hit it hard. All the swing thoughts should be left on the practice field.
Having said that it is still not the most important part of the swing.
For me it is the swing plane. Plane and simple, but complex when it comes to being consistent to making solid contact with the ball. Hitting isnt about Linear or Rotational. Every swing that is high level has elements of both.
What hitting is about is developement of a consistent swing plane the puts a slightly upward trajectory on the ball with power. Creating the rising line drive hit that carrries over the infield and into the gap before the outfielders can react and get to it. If hit hard enough it might just clear that fence. Ever go to a softball game and see a player hit a rising line drive straight out like a MLB player does when he gets it solid? That is the perfect hit and trajectory for a ball and the hitter.
Hitters that use the arms and legs will never develop a consistent swing plane or develop consistent power to the ball. Too many variables become engaged when the arms and legs are used to drive the swing process. Most of those variables cause problems with the swing plane. In short they may hit the ball but they will not be consistent with solid contact.
If you look at the best in the world both women and men. Those who hit for power and average it starts with and finishes with a consistent swing plane to the ball. They use their posture to create this upward swing plane. They tilt, stick their butts out and then swing the bat on a plane to meet the plane of the ball. Then they use the core of the body to drive the bat through the zone.
Watch any of them in slow motion. You will see exactly what I am talking about with the posture. Sure some may stand up straight at the start of the swing but when they stride out and land watch them tilt and sit into the correct hitting posture to match thier swing plane to the plane of the ball. This is how they become consistent with their hitting and how they hit it hard.
Next time you watch a high level player watch their hips and core. Pay attention to the finish position. Their back toe will be pointing straight down at the ground with no weight on the back leg. They have transfered all their weight to the front and used the hips and core to drive through and uncoil to the ball. This movement generates power to the ball.
But the posture creates the most important part of the swing. The swing plane that is consistent.
That my friends is the rest of the story.
Take care,
Elliott.
This is the first time I have been able to get back here to it. Both the mental and physical aspects of the swing are important to any hitter. Learing what and when to look for pitches then reacting to them to hit them hard is what hitting is all about. Along the lines of hit the crap out of it comes the saying of my favorite LL coach back in Prospect Ohio in the early 60s. I dont care how you hit it just hit it hard boy. Well, I have often told that to my players but the reality is I do care how they hit it. I want them focused on one thing in that box. Hit it hard. All the swing thoughts should be left on the practice field.
Having said that it is still not the most important part of the swing.
For me it is the swing plane. Plane and simple, but complex when it comes to being consistent to making solid contact with the ball. Hitting isnt about Linear or Rotational. Every swing that is high level has elements of both.
What hitting is about is developement of a consistent swing plane the puts a slightly upward trajectory on the ball with power. Creating the rising line drive hit that carrries over the infield and into the gap before the outfielders can react and get to it. If hit hard enough it might just clear that fence. Ever go to a softball game and see a player hit a rising line drive straight out like a MLB player does when he gets it solid? That is the perfect hit and trajectory for a ball and the hitter.
Hitters that use the arms and legs will never develop a consistent swing plane or develop consistent power to the ball. Too many variables become engaged when the arms and legs are used to drive the swing process. Most of those variables cause problems with the swing plane. In short they may hit the ball but they will not be consistent with solid contact.
If you look at the best in the world both women and men. Those who hit for power and average it starts with and finishes with a consistent swing plane to the ball. They use their posture to create this upward swing plane. They tilt, stick their butts out and then swing the bat on a plane to meet the plane of the ball. Then they use the core of the body to drive the bat through the zone.
Watch any of them in slow motion. You will see exactly what I am talking about with the posture. Sure some may stand up straight at the start of the swing but when they stride out and land watch them tilt and sit into the correct hitting posture to match thier swing plane to the plane of the ball. This is how they become consistent with their hitting and how they hit it hard.
Next time you watch a high level player watch their hips and core. Pay attention to the finish position. Their back toe will be pointing straight down at the ground with no weight on the back leg. They have transfered all their weight to the front and used the hips and core to drive through and uncoil to the ball. This movement generates power to the ball.
But the posture creates the most important part of the swing. The swing plane that is consistent.
That my friends is the rest of the story.
Take care,
Elliott.
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Way to go...put very "ZEN" like!
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good stuff, thanks for the update
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Sorry it took so long to respond.
Elliott
Elliott
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Timing is everything! You have to see the ball! Know when to swing! You can swing as hard as ever if you do not make contact you strick out!
There are so many parts to a swing! Position, timming, using inner core, following through, holding the bat correctly, feet positon which changes with ball speed, where the bat should be before hitting which is different for every girl and depends on ball speed.
There are so many parts to a swing! Position, timming, using inner core, following through, holding the bat correctly, feet positon which changes with ball speed, where the bat should be before hitting which is different for every girl and depends on ball speed.
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Curve,
If I can get a student to reproduce a consistent swing plane through the strike zone then many of those things you mentioned will take care of themselves. By putting them in a correct posture and teaching them to swing by using the larger muscles of the body instead of the hands and legs, then timing is taken out of the equation other than rotating the body in the sequence needed to generate power.
It is simplification of the swing process to eliminate the slop in the swing. That is what players need to be taught.
Elliott.
If I can get a student to reproduce a consistent swing plane through the strike zone then many of those things you mentioned will take care of themselves. By putting them in a correct posture and teaching them to swing by using the larger muscles of the body instead of the hands and legs, then timing is taken out of the equation other than rotating the body in the sequence needed to generate power.
It is simplification of the swing process to eliminate the slop in the swing. That is what players need to be taught.
Elliott.