My son's front shoulder is flying open.Can anyone recommend drills for correcting this
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Something you might consider are his feet as he takes his stance. Many times hitters open up their front foot after they stride. This causes the hips to open up prematurely, and then the chest, front shoulder, and head all pull off the ball in sequence. Try having him point his toes inward toward the plate in his stance, and then be sure the front foot is still pointed inward after the stride.
You might pair this with outside pitch teework. Another drill that may help is the alley toss drill. It works like soft-toss, but the tosser is directly behind the plate, maybe 8-10 feet. It is impossible to hit a ball pitched from behind if you open up....Good Luck
You might pair this with outside pitch teework. Another drill that may help is the alley toss drill. It works like soft-toss, but the tosser is directly behind the plate, maybe 8-10 feet. It is impossible to hit a ball pitched from behind if you open up....Good Luck
I used to tell a hitter (and pitcher) to "stay closed." I am now telling them to delay opening. This key has had some positive results.
I want the front shoulder to "fly open." The opening needs to be delayed. If it is opening early, then check these things.
1. The bat is too heavy.
2. The hands drop and sweep.
3. The front foot opens to greater than 45 degrees at landing.
4. The hitter is stepping out.
Encourage the opening, just work the timing.
I want the front shoulder to "fly open." The opening needs to be delayed. If it is opening early, then check these things.
1. The bat is too heavy.
2. The hands drop and sweep.
3. The front foot opens to greater than 45 degrees at landing.
4. The hitter is stepping out.
Encourage the opening, just work the timing.
Many years ago, I operated a hitting clinic in Santa Rosa with 5 former Major League players.
Mike Diaz, who played with the Pirates and White Sox and in Japan was my organizing partner.
He learned a simple method to correct the head turning> "Hit the ball with your front shoulder".
Parents are allowed to verbally say this from the stands during the boy's time at bat.
It is a "positive" word not negative and it is instant correction.
Bob Williams
Mike Diaz, who played with the Pirates and White Sox and in Japan was my organizing partner.
He learned a simple method to correct the head turning> "Hit the ball with your front shoulder".
Parents are allowed to verbally say this from the stands during the boy's time at bat.
It is a "positive" word not negative and it is instant correction.
Bob Williams
Just an update on jr. Last week before his game had him go to a closed stance and the results were positive.Yesterday before the game had a hitting instuctor look at his swing an right away saw that his hands were moving forward thus rotating his shoulders.Hit well yesterday,but now I'm confused on whether to have him stay closed with his feet and work on keeping his hands still or let him go back to open and work on keeping his hands still.
Lodi,
If your son striding to the pitcher, and not "stepping in the bucket", then the reason why is because he doesn't "load the backside." The only way to generate batspeed is for him to fly with the front shoulder to create bat speed. Ex. golfers swing back before they swing forward. If they didn't have a backswing (just went forward from a dead stop) they would fly with the front shoulder.
Closing his stance is just masking the problem, it is still there. I have video's explaining my points on my website below. Just click on swing mechanics. Hope this helps.
If your son striding to the pitcher, and not "stepping in the bucket", then the reason why is because he doesn't "load the backside." The only way to generate batspeed is for him to fly with the front shoulder to create bat speed. Ex. golfers swing back before they swing forward. If they didn't have a backswing (just went forward from a dead stop) they would fly with the front shoulder.
Closing his stance is just masking the problem, it is still there. I have video's explaining my points on my website below. Just click on swing mechanics. Hope this helps.
Results,thanks for the link.My sons loades and toe tap for that matter is very similar to Bryce Harper's but without the high knee to toe tap but very much like that(not much of a heel plant).But all the swings in the first kept their hand back and not moving forward.So if my son's open stance and ballerina toe tap as I call it will help his timing then so be it if he keeps his hands still.Basically hips were following hands
SIMPLE DRILL THAT WILL SET SWING TO OPEN AT THE RIGHT TIME:
throw your son front toss and have hold the bat with the front arm, choking up all the way on the handle. this will force not to fly open to early or pull off the ball. encourage opposite field line drives.
throw your son front toss and have hold the bat with the front arm, choking up all the way on the handle. this will force not to fly open to early or pull off the ball. encourage opposite field line drives.
You don't want your son's hands still. They need to be in motion. If he is starting from a dead stop, that will cause his shoulder to fly open early.
It goes back to what Results Baseball said -- improper load.
"An object in motion is easier to get in motion than an object from a dead stop."
The hands need to move during the load phase. Silky and slow, but in motion. You also want his lower body in motion. Not starting from a dead stop.
Instructors mean different things when they say "load." It is no longer very descriptive. No load is a bunt. Whatever causes distance to the hitting area and increased motion before launch is what I consider a load. Sources of load include...
1. Bat stays back when player strides. This separation causes distance and a tension.
2. Front shoulder turn (I don't like this one, but many great players do it.)
3. Press on the inside of the back foot. The weight goes back, to go forward.
4. Press top hand in front of bottom hand.
Etc.
Scouts tell me there are a lot of "dead hand hitters" out there. Some paid good money for their dead hands. Best wishes.
It goes back to what Results Baseball said -- improper load.
"An object in motion is easier to get in motion than an object from a dead stop."
The hands need to move during the load phase. Silky and slow, but in motion. You also want his lower body in motion. Not starting from a dead stop.
Instructors mean different things when they say "load." It is no longer very descriptive. No load is a bunt. Whatever causes distance to the hitting area and increased motion before launch is what I consider a load. Sources of load include...
1. Bat stays back when player strides. This separation causes distance and a tension.
2. Front shoulder turn (I don't like this one, but many great players do it.)
3. Press on the inside of the back foot. The weight goes back, to go forward.
4. Press top hand in front of bottom hand.
Etc.
Scouts tell me there are a lot of "dead hand hitters" out there. Some paid good money for their dead hands. Best wishes.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed here,you all have been a big help
Baseballpapa, I did not really phrase "still hands" properly.What I meant was keeping his hands from drifting from a vertical plane.I know some people teach pushing your hands toward the catcher but to me that is just the last part of the load
Baseballpapa, I did not really phrase "still hands" properly.What I meant was keeping his hands from drifting from a vertical plane.I know some people teach pushing your hands toward the catcher but to me that is just the last part of the load
Have the player stand close to the L-Screen holding the bat in his bottom hand/lead arm (I have only did this drill with right handed hitters). Have him stand with his bottom half 3/4 open and his top half closed. Have someone front toss balls at medium pace to the outside of the zone. The hitter will need to let the ball travel/get deep and pepper the balls to the right side. This will help him stay on the ball and get extention with his arm. Give it a try. Hope it works.
