i am having trouble staying on balance at the conclusion of my swing. i am falling forward every time. any ways or drills that could help me get out of this? thanks
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daniel, Try taking some dry swings and after each swing hold your position at the finish for a second or two. If you are falling forward, try and get the feeling of your balance in your feet and try the dry swing again. Most of the time, I see kids who are a little too stiff with their legs. Get a little flex and get as balanced as you can with your feet......then try the dry swing again until you can take a good rip and hold your finish for a second or two.
I would have someone watch me swing that does some instruction. You should not have to battle against falling forward in a proper swing. If your front leg is alive and well it should be bracing up at landing to slow forward motion and facilitate rotation.
daniel, my son an 05 has been doing the same thing at times this winter over the tee.I have noticed that he is over rotating his back foot on contact resulting in him falling over the plate.
He has been working on finishing with his weight squarely on all of his toes or ball of his foot. It also tends to happen when he lets himself dips his rear shoulder to much.
He has been working on finishing with his weight squarely on all of his toes or ball of his foot. It also tends to happen when he lets himself dips his rear shoulder to much.
Daniel, my guess is you are turning your head inward to watch the ball......I see this happen in most of my students.....Keep your head turned to the pitcher....Move your eyes, not your head.....
The body will, without fail, follow the head.....
The body will, without fail, follow the head.....
Bluedog,
I have watched video and never find the head to the rear shoulder "IKE to Mike". I also think the kids should be able to have the eyes head chase the ball down the line rather than staying still until the rear shoulder touches the chin. An interesting and arguably useful cue for some players but again not really true by video analysis. If the shoulder open fully ;the head can't hardly stay there.
I have watched video and never find the head to the rear shoulder "IKE to Mike". I also think the kids should be able to have the eyes head chase the ball down the line rather than staying still until the rear shoulder touches the chin. An interesting and arguably useful cue for some players but again not really true by video analysis. If the shoulder open fully ;the head can't hardly stay there.
daniel
Hard to give advice on what to correct without seeing the swing, but here's a simple drill that I believe has been effective for my son.
When he takes soft toss, he stands on a board and takes full cuts. The board size will depend on the hitters feet. Usually a 1"x6"x5'board is good so as not to turn an ankle when falling off. Simple....but effective.
Missouridad
Hard to give advice on what to correct without seeing the swing, but here's a simple drill that I believe has been effective for my son.
When he takes soft toss, he stands on a board and takes full cuts. The board size will depend on the hitters feet. Usually a 1"x6"x5'board is good so as not to turn an ankle when falling off. Simple....but effective.
Missouridad
Daniel, falling forward after contact is not such a bad problem, if your hitting the ball hard and making good contact i wouldn't try andd fix what isn't broken. Ive heard lots of PRO Hitting instuctors, coaching in the Minors and Majors who say that falling toward the plate is not such a bad trait, it tells them that uouve stayed on teh balls of the feet and not been on your heels. Just a little something to think about.
Get a good pitch to hit!!!!
Get a good pitch to hit!!!!
Swingbuster, not sure what you said......Please clarify.....
What I find players will do is to drop/tilt their head toward the plate....I think this comes from years of trying to watch the ball all the way in and keeping the head in the swing, both bad cues........I spend more time than I care to in correcting this.......It's quite a problem I see in hitters......
Falling towards the plate during or after the swing is not an option in my teaching.....I should have said tilt/drop instead of turn, I suppose.....Head moving backwards and level eyes are constants that I teach.....
What I find players will do is to drop/tilt their head toward the plate....I think this comes from years of trying to watch the ball all the way in and keeping the head in the swing, both bad cues........I spend more time than I care to in correcting this.......It's quite a problem I see in hitters......
Falling towards the plate during or after the swing is not an option in my teaching.....I should have said tilt/drop instead of turn, I suppose.....Head moving backwards and level eyes are constants that I teach.....
BlueDog,
How do you correct that? My 12 year old son will drop/tilt his head over the plate after contact at times. In your opinion is it a strength issue with younger players?
Thanks!
Jason
How do you correct that? My 12 year old son will drop/tilt his head over the plate after contact at times. In your opinion is it a strength issue with younger players?
Thanks!
Jason
FlippJ
Your question was directed at Bluedog,here is what I have done with a couple of younger guys.
Stress level eyes and shoulders, also I have put down a piece of tape in line with where their stride will take them.Focusing on landing in the same line,muscle memory. I always tell these guys to swing hard but it has to be a controled swing.
Your question was directed at Bluedog,here is what I have done with a couple of younger guys.
Stress level eyes and shoulders, also I have put down a piece of tape in line with where their stride will take them.Focusing on landing in the same line,muscle memory. I always tell these guys to swing hard but it has to be a controled swing.
Flipp,
Don't know if there is a specific correction. Bat tip launch to bat tip follow through can be in excess of 360 degrees. The bodys' on board gyro has to stabilize the axis with ever changing force vectors applyed to it. Stability through all these pull forces envolves many muscles groups. Looking back, yes the younger group even with good swings seemed to have more problems here. Assuming the " linebacker " setup with a little more bend at the knees and more spine angle lowers the COG and helps some. It is probaly worse in a more upright approach and tall kids more than short.
Don't know if there is a specific correction. Bat tip launch to bat tip follow through can be in excess of 360 degrees. The bodys' on board gyro has to stabilize the axis with ever changing force vectors applyed to it. Stability through all these pull forces envolves many muscles groups. Looking back, yes the younger group even with good swings seemed to have more problems here. Assuming the " linebacker " setup with a little more bend at the knees and more spine angle lowers the COG and helps some. It is probaly worse in a more upright approach and tall kids more than short.
Swing, I agree......Hitters must learn to lean back and sit on the back leg.......
A drill I use alot is to place a tee out in front of the hitter.......I have them look out over the tee and ball and hit the ball using only peripheral vision......They are always surprised by the power they hit with doing this.......Inside, outside and middle pitch tee placements all are used.....Their eyes stay level because they are not pulling their heads down and in to see the ball......The results have been very good.....
A drill I use alot is to place a tee out in front of the hitter.......I have them look out over the tee and ball and hit the ball using only peripheral vision......They are always surprised by the power they hit with doing this.......Inside, outside and middle pitch tee placements all are used.....Their eyes stay level because they are not pulling their heads down and in to see the ball......The results have been very good.....
Daniel,
In my experience, most guys that fall over the plate are aggressive hitters (which is good) that simply stride too far (which is bad).
We use a drill I stole from Turtle Thomas, the hitting coach at LSU, when I saw him at a clinic in Toledo this past November:
You place a tire (regular car tire) in the box and stand in it with the front foot just inside the back edge of the tire. This will only allow the front foot to stride a very short distance, since the front edge of the tire will stop you from going further. This will limit the stride (which will help you stay balanced). Give it a shot- it is working for my varsity players! Coach Knight
In my experience, most guys that fall over the plate are aggressive hitters (which is good) that simply stride too far (which is bad).
We use a drill I stole from Turtle Thomas, the hitting coach at LSU, when I saw him at a clinic in Toledo this past November:
You place a tire (regular car tire) in the box and stand in it with the front foot just inside the back edge of the tire. This will only allow the front foot to stride a very short distance, since the front edge of the tire will stop you from going further. This will limit the stride (which will help you stay balanced). Give it a shot- it is working for my varsity players! Coach Knight
Blue dog
I am going to try that drill I like it
I am going to try that drill I like it
If you look at the 2nd griffey clip on the youth website his head distinctly moves down toward the contact point. Not saying he is looking right at contact, but his head definitely swivels to help his eyes track the ball. From looking at clips I would say this is the norm. Is this the type of head movement you are looking to avoid? Nick
I think this type head/neck motion Nikkio describes has more to do with the necessary body action to keep the center of rotation of the bathead shrinking through contact which avoids deceleration.The handpath needs to "hook" in this physical sense to maintain "connection".You could lso call it "BHT" or pulling back with the bottomhand.It prrobably also requires some strength.
If I understand what I'm reading. Lets not teach kids the wrong thing in position of head. Chin from shoulder to shoulder is a good practice technique even if it doesn't always happen. It causes good habits of tracking the ball for a longer period of time. This is an example of those who never played at a high level not understanding the most basic parts of hitting. You can build a robot with the best technical swing. Until you give him eyes he won't hit very well. Until the body and hands and eyes work together he wont be able to adjust to different pitches or different locations. I'm still trying to figure out if someone who thinks they are an expert is preaching a completely circular bat path from start to finish. Also I have read that the finish or follow thru of the swing means nothing. This goes against everything in all sports.
"This goes against everything in all sports."
Yes, the old baseball hitting mentality is changing.......It's about time!
Even Major League hitters have room for improvement......
Yes, the old baseball hitting mentality is changing.......It's about time!
Even Major League hitters have room for improvement......
My high school has air filled rubber discs (like frisbees that are 8 inches thick and filled with air). These make you keep your weight centered.
A head swivel is not the movement we are talking about.......The downward slumping movement into the plate is the culprit......That's the move that pulls the body off-balance into the plate after the swing.....
Tom,
The head because of its weight, position, etc does help in the manner that you have described. However, I believe the most fundamental reason for the head movement: they are tracking the ball. Less head movement on up pitches, more on down pitches. Are they tracking it all the way to contact? No.
BlueDog,
Just checking, as I wasn’t quite sure of the problem being described.
The head because of its weight, position, etc does help in the manner that you have described. However, I believe the most fundamental reason for the head movement: they are tracking the ball. Less head movement on up pitches, more on down pitches. Are they tracking it all the way to contact? No.
BlueDog,
Just checking, as I wasn’t quite sure of the problem being described.
Bluedog, Theres no problem with change, everything changes. The problem is with what is being changed and who is changing it and WHY they are changing it. It seems like some want to change everything instead of only a few things. Nothing can be SOLD without blasting the old way. How did you and a few others become so intelligent? Would you have learned ANYTHING at all if you would have had a professional baseball career? I don't think seeing the ball correctly will ever change. Bluedog says something and Swingbuster or another youth hitting coach makes it valid? or vise versa. Good teamwork but what does it mean? Do you think you have anything left to learn? If they were all wrong 20 years ago about hitting mentality why can't you be proven wrong 20 years from now? Things change you say. Did all those hall of famers have a different hitting mentality than the young people you teach? Is it possible that one of them could know more than a youth coach?
Ike to Mike never happens. If you force it you limit the shoulder rotation through release and change the swing. They cannot do it hitting a baseball correctly ; only a ball off a middle placed tee. Not that big -o-deal; I have said it before.
I will now just suggest they watch the ball. Whats bad is when a kid really does it. The worse case I saw was when a high school coach made them hit with the shirt collar front clinched in their teeth. Now that was brilliant!
They are not keeping their head in because they have no torque in that crappie swing so they pull with the head .
I will now just suggest they watch the ball. Whats bad is when a kid really does it. The worse case I saw was when a high school coach made them hit with the shirt collar front clinched in their teeth. Now that was brilliant!
They are not keeping their head in because they have no torque in that crappie swing so they pull with the head .
Those terrible high school coaches. And pro ballpayers teaching hitting.
So many bad coaches - thank god we have you to save us all. LOL
So many bad coaches - thank god we have you to save us all. LOL
There's It's again, crossing the line to deliver a jab.
Watch how quickly he steps back to stay in good graces with the moderators?
Then blame it on someone else.
Watch how quickly he steps back to stay in good graces with the moderators?
Then blame it on someone else.
Do you guys ever stop?
Even for a day.
Just pathetic.
Even for a day.
Just pathetic.
Lamber - wake up - I am a moderator. LOL
And yes - I want to stay in good graces - with myself.
And yes - I want to stay in good graces - with myself.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... 
DocBAll writes "Do you think you have anything left to learn?"
Sure . I learn something every few days that I think helps me or will help me teach. Sometimes the new knowledge displaces an old myth ...nothing wrong with that.
All sites are like a Texas Longhorn..a point here..a point there ..and a lot of bull in between....mooooooooooooooooooo I'm guilty too.
Sure . I learn something every few days that I think helps me or will help me teach. Sometimes the new knowledge displaces an old myth ...nothing wrong with that.
All sites are like a Texas Longhorn..a point here..a point there ..and a lot of bull in between....mooooooooooooooooooo I'm guilty too.
Swing, I've seen coaches do the shirt-clenched-in-teeth thing, also......It's hard to believe, but they do it.....
"Ike To Mike" doesn't work, yet is still widely used as a teaching tool......Heck, we are seeing a poster on this thread endorsing it.....
It's great to have people like yourself, Sandman, Tom Guerry, and Lamber around here......If I missed someone, sorry.......I have definitely benefitted from the postings of all of you.....And, hopefully, will continue to do so.....Thank you all!
"Ike To Mike" doesn't work, yet is still widely used as a teaching tool......Heck, we are seeing a poster on this thread endorsing it.....
It's great to have people like yourself, Sandman, Tom Guerry, and Lamber around here......If I missed someone, sorry.......I have definitely benefitted from the postings of all of you.....And, hopefully, will continue to do so.....Thank you all!
quote:
Originally posted by Sandman:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...
I agree - a big bore LOL
quote:
Originally posted by itsinthegame:quote:
Originally posted by Sandman:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...
I agree - a big bore LOL
Actually, I was referring to [yet another!] boring tangent
that, IMO, in no way serves to help the original poster (daniel) on his quest for balance.Stick to the topics and not the posters and we'd all be better off... IMHO.
That would be your opinion. Which - of course - you are entitled to.
As for my opinion, which you may just have to continue to suffer through - the lamber/rshard/teacherman triumvirate - combined with the new Bluedog/Swingbuster guru duo - cannot teach without criticizing others. Now - why would that be?
DocBall hit that one right on the button.
Thanks for the advice though.
As for my opinion, which you may just have to continue to suffer through - the lamber/rshard/teacherman triumvirate - combined with the new Bluedog/Swingbuster guru duo - cannot teach without criticizing others. Now - why would that be?
DocBall hit that one right on the button.
Thanks for the advice though.
Would some authority figure read this thread and make note of the person who threw the first personal attack.
Several were arguing their hitting theories. No, there wasn't much agreement. Yes, there was argument. But no one threw a personal attack until It's did.
Then, as predicted he ducks. Uses the bob n weave. The serpentine. Throw a personal jab and then act like someone else is to blame.
Then LOL.
Several were arguing their hitting theories. No, there wasn't much agreement. Yes, there was argument. But no one threw a personal attack until It's did.
Then, as predicted he ducks. Uses the bob n weave. The serpentine. Throw a personal jab and then act like someone else is to blame.
Then LOL.
Getting balanced is just making an adjustment. If some swings get you off balance, then take some until you can stay balanced from the start through the end of the swing. If a player can't do that, then he won't be playing for very long.Balance starts in your feet and works its way up.
Lamber/etc....
Please let me be more specific. (I am aware that I may get a few HSBBWEB demerits for this - LOL)
The question was about balance - and ways to assist in improving balance.
IMO - Bbscout,Missouridad,Dwill,Mobunts,Coach Knight and Doc Ball all gave very good suggestions.
Common sense and time tested techniques and ideas to assist the young player.
IMO - That is more than I can say for the other theories presented by Swingbuster and BlueDog.
We got Swingbuster doing "vector analysis" again and Bluedog "changing" the baseball world.
Too much hat and not enough cattle - IMO.
Now - alert the authorities and tell them about my opinions.
Please let me be more specific. (I am aware that I may get a few HSBBWEB demerits for this - LOL)
The question was about balance - and ways to assist in improving balance.
IMO - Bbscout,Missouridad,Dwill,Mobunts,Coach Knight and Doc Ball all gave very good suggestions.
Common sense and time tested techniques and ideas to assist the young player.
IMO - That is more than I can say for the other theories presented by Swingbuster and BlueDog.
We got Swingbuster doing "vector analysis" again and Bluedog "changing" the baseball world.
Too much hat and not enough cattle - IMO.
Now - alert the authorities and tell them about my opinions.
Game ..the question was about balance see below
I am having trouble staying on balance at the conclusion of my swing. i am falling forward every time. any ways or drills that could help me get out of this? thanks
My responses we either about balance or about drills that are used for balance. They were fairly simple observations. To swing around your body you have to stabilize your base somehow from launch to finish. It is easier to stay balanced if the lower body and core supply the power. I stated my opinion that chin to chin was ineffective and I base that on what I see on video and that it never happens and most MLB players stay balanced. So why not try something else. Also attempts to keep the head still if launch mecanics are flawed is equally futile.
I am having trouble staying on balance at the conclusion of my swing. i am falling forward every time. any ways or drills that could help me get out of this? thanks
My responses we either about balance or about drills that are used for balance. They were fairly simple observations. To swing around your body you have to stabilize your base somehow from launch to finish. It is easier to stay balanced if the lower body and core supply the power. I stated my opinion that chin to chin was ineffective and I base that on what I see on video and that it never happens and most MLB players stay balanced. So why not try something else. Also attempts to keep the head still if launch mecanics are flawed is equally futile.
quote:
Originally posted by itsinthegame:
As for my opinion, which you may just have to continue to suffer through - the lamber/rshard/teacherman triumvirate - combined with the new Bluedog/Swingbuster guru duo - cannot teach without criticizing others.
But why must we "suffer through" it in so many different threads? Is it really fair to the original posters who are seeking advice? Feel free to start an I despise the new breed of over-technical, [so-called] coaches thread and fire away. But why is it so hard to stick to the ideas/thoughts/messages being presented by the people you so despise? Attack until your heart's content. Fight fire w/ fire by challenging their positions w/ your own rebuttals - technical or anecdotal.
But, again, IMHO, this constant he's wrong because of his methods (technical/inexperienced) personal attacking is immature, condescending and self-serving. Really, step back and try to see this from the outside-in, minus all your history w/ those you mentioned. I thought the purpose of boards like this was to serve everyone who visited - not to be a personal playground for the veterans to bully each other around.
And maybe you and the other misbehaving "children" will have to continue to suffer w/ MY lectures - even though I feel somewhat hypocritical cluttering up the original poster's threads w/ such.
Sorry Sandman - but disagreement is part of the process - and some folks just dont see it the same way. That side of the perspective is just as important as the other.
Calling me names or questioning my motives simply will not be effective in stopping me from voicing my disagreement with some of the methods and theories proposed.
I understand that may be difficult for you to understand - but the reality is that a Universal acceptance of these techniques are not required for entrance onto this site.
As you have said before - if you dont like it - dont read it.
Regards.
Calling me names or questioning my motives simply will not be effective in stopping me from voicing my disagreement with some of the methods and theories proposed.
I understand that may be difficult for you to understand - but the reality is that a Universal acceptance of these techniques are not required for entrance onto this site.
As you have said before - if you dont like it - dont read it.
Regards.
