When I swing I have alot of head movement (forward, back, up, and down). How can I fix this? Drills?
Thanks
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I have this problem as well. My head is almost never looking down at the ball at contact. It is tilted to the side. I would appreciate advise here as well.
As far as head movement going too far forward, I used to have this problem but have fixed it. For me, a lot of it was a re-alignment of my posture during load, connection, and through contact. If you have a slight downward angle with you shoulders at toe touch/heel plant, that is a good start. Check out Don Slaught's stuff on hitting posture. Really hard to explain over words, but really simple to see in action.
Hopefully this helps a little
As far as head movement going too far forward, I used to have this problem but have fixed it. For me, a lot of it was a re-alignment of my posture during load, connection, and through contact. If you have a slight downward angle with you shoulders at toe touch/heel plant, that is a good start. Check out Don Slaught's stuff on hitting posture. Really hard to explain over words, but really simple to see in action.
Hopefully this helps a little
At our clinics with former ML hitters, a simple phase
was used "hit the ball with your front shoulder"
This keeps you head focused, because your shoulder is pointing to the pitcher.
Bob
was used "hit the ball with your front shoulder"
This keeps you head focused, because your shoulder is pointing to the pitcher.
Bob
I would guess you might have a narrow stance and/or a pretty big stride. That usually creates extra head movement. There are some very good hitters who can get by with this.
However, a wider stance and shorter stride does have some vision or "still head" benefits. Some excellent hitters have no stride. I've always preferred short stride. Meaning the starting point and landing point, not necessarily what happens in between. Some good hitters load up the front leg and even use it somewhat as a timing device.
However, a wider stance and shorter stride does have some vision or "still head" benefits. Some excellent hitters have no stride. I've always preferred short stride. Meaning the starting point and landing point, not necessarily what happens in between. Some good hitters load up the front leg and even use it somewhat as a timing device.
We were discussing the same thing on this thread recently:
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...1034941/m/3737067006
The one knee drill that was mentioned in that thread helps my son because he seems to feel more when his head tilts from that position. But...we are still struggling with it.
It was mentioned on another message board that the head tilting was a symptom of another issue, instead of it being the problem itself.
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...1034941/m/3737067006
The one knee drill that was mentioned in that thread helps my son because he seems to feel more when his head tilts from that position. But...we are still struggling with it.
It was mentioned on another message board that the head tilting was a symptom of another issue, instead of it being the problem itself.
quote:Originally posted by spartans2b:
I have this problem as well. My head is almost never looking down at the ball at contact. It is tilted to the side. I would appreciate advise here as well.
As far as head movement going too far forward, I used to have this problem but have fixed it. For me, a lot of it was a re-alignment of my posture during load, connection, and through contact. If you have a slight downward angle with you shoulders at toe touch/heel plant, that is a good start. Check out Don Slaught's stuff on hitting posture. Really hard to explain over words, but really simple to see in action.
Hopefully this helps a little
Don't worry about it. You can't see the ball hit the bat. In fact, a study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers in the late 90s/early 2000s said that most players lose sight of the ball between 12 and 16 feet away from contact, and that nothing can be changed in that area.
I have read that also. However, if your head is moving before that point, it will make it harder to track the ball.
Head movement and head tilting are two different issues. As PG said, reducing unnecessary movement in the approach can be a good thing.
Good posture is not inate. It is learned and practiced. One needs to be concious of keeping the head and eyes level with the horizon. Start by working to keep the shoulders level in the approach. If you tilt your head to where the eyes are basically vertical (perpendicular to the horizon) it is going to more difficult to track the ball which is moving horizontally (virtually speaking).
Good posture is not inate. It is learned and practiced. One needs to be concious of keeping the head and eyes level with the horizon. Start by working to keep the shoulders level in the approach. If you tilt your head to where the eyes are basically vertical (perpendicular to the horizon) it is going to more difficult to track the ball which is moving horizontally (virtually speaking).
quote:Originally posted by danocaster:
I have read that also. However, if your head is moving before that point, it will make it harder to track the ball.
Every player's head moves slightly. A study done a while back showed that players who tracked the ball through the movement of their eyes and slight movements of their head were most successful.
This thread got split into 2 types of head movements.
Slight movement,yes, OK. But if the head is moving too much it's got to be harder to see the ball. For example, if someone takes too big of a stride and the head moves forward & down.
Head tilting- Yes, I realize that is a different issue. If I had a quick fix for it, I would let everyone know, as this is something that my son has done for a long time.
Slight movement,yes, OK. But if the head is moving too much it's got to be harder to see the ball. For example, if someone takes too big of a stride and the head moves forward & down.
Head tilting- Yes, I realize that is a different issue. If I had a quick fix for it, I would let everyone know, as this is something that my son has done for a long time.
quote:Originally posted by catcher_21:
... Drills?
Thanks
There is a fairly simple drill you can do to help train head movement out of your swing. You need to do it outside when the sun is high and your shadow is just a few feet long.
Set a tee up in your shadow so that when you are looking at the ball you can also see the shadow of your head. Put a glove on the ground where your head shadow is when you are in your load position. As you hit balls off the tee, work on keeping the shadow of your head on the glove. With repetition you can figure out what adjustments to make and know when you are getting steadier. It also helps keep your head down.
quote:Originally posted by '15 Dad:quote:Originally posted by catcher_21:
... Drills?
Thanks
There is a fairly simple drill you can do to help train head movement out of your swing. You need to do it outside when the sun is high and your shadow is just a few feet long.
Set a tee up in your shadow so that when you are looking at the ball you can also see the shadow of your head. Put a glove on the ground where your head shadow is when you are in your load position. As you hit balls off the tee, work on keeping the shadow of your head on the glove. With repetition you can figure out what adjustments to make and know when you are getting steadier. It also helps keep your head down.
This is a creative idea. I like the immediate feedback but you have to catch the weather conditions just right.
I'd video tape hitting sessions and go thru the same "marking" progress on the TV screen in slow-mo. That provides the visual evidence to the hitter that you are trying to convey.
Swinging in front of a mirror is the best way to see immediate feedback. Swing facing the mirror and simply watch your head. Swing with force and bat-speed and see how much your head moves. Now try to swing with as much force and bat-speed with less and less head movement. Create a habit and a feel for this every day.
This is much like the shadow drill that was talked about but it can be done at any time of day.
Keeping the head quiet is huge when you are trying to "slow the game down" and see the ball better.
This is much like the shadow drill that was talked about but it can be done at any time of day.
Keeping the head quiet is huge when you are trying to "slow the game down" and see the ball better.
