16 YO player does the squash the bug but picks up back foot just as contact is made.
His hip rotation is OK, but I'd like to have the foot stay planted. Ay suggestions?
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quote:Originally posted by tzbookman:
16 YO player does the squash the bug but picks up back foot just as contact is made.
His hip rotation is OK, but I'd like to have the foot stay planted. Ay suggestions?
Well, you can have the "bug squish" look, and still be doing things correctly. Don't worry about the back foot picking up, it's the sign of a good weight transfer. Pujols does it occasionally.
Just worry about the leg doing its job, and the foot will do what it has to.
I think a good question to ask yourself is "why do you want the foot to stay on the ground?". What is the benefit of it staying on the ground?
I'm with Low Finish and agree that the foot coming off the ground isn't a bad thing. Pujols does it and so do quite a few power hitters so it's not uncommon. It is a result of the weight transfer and once the foot comes off the ground the swing is about 90% over.
I'm with Low Finish and agree that the foot coming off the ground isn't a bad thing. Pujols does it and so do quite a few power hitters so it's not uncommon. It is a result of the weight transfer and once the foot comes off the ground the swing is about 90% over.
I thought that since it was happening just before contact that he might be losing power. He's primarily a contact hitter and while I didn't expect that was stopping HR shots I did think it was robbing some power.
Post a video
Your back foot problems are the result of a series of previous issues.
At the top...
1. Most swings are 7 frames, good ones are 5. Yours is 11 frames.
You are trying to swing as you stride. You should not.
The first 7 frames, your hips are sliding toward 3B (forward and open).
Then, your hips stop moving prematurely (because you are open already).
Then, your hands begin to come forward alone. Usually, they should turn with the hips. (this is causing you to lunge forward and bring your back foot up.)
This causes your hands to chop straight down to the ball, causing you to hit the ball to the ground.
Where to start?
1. Stance - your shoulders are upside down. Your front shoulder is higher than the back. Reverse that.
2. In a mirror, practice striding to toe-touch by 'coiling inward' (front shoulder and front hip make a slight inward turn)
Then, try that in a cage, take more video and see where you are.
PS, only after toe-touch, should your hips start turning, and you begin the 'swing'.
Edit: I see I was editing and clarifying as you were reading.
At the top...
1. Most swings are 7 frames, good ones are 5. Yours is 11 frames.
You are trying to swing as you stride. You should not.
The first 7 frames, your hips are sliding toward 3B (forward and open).
Then, your hips stop moving prematurely (because you are open already).
Then, your hands begin to come forward alone. Usually, they should turn with the hips. (this is causing you to lunge forward and bring your back foot up.)
This causes your hands to chop straight down to the ball, causing you to hit the ball to the ground.
Where to start?
1. Stance - your shoulders are upside down. Your front shoulder is higher than the back. Reverse that.
2. In a mirror, practice striding to toe-touch by 'coiling inward' (front shoulder and front hip make a slight inward turn)
Then, try that in a cage, take more video and see where you are.
PS, only after toe-touch, should your hips start turning, and you begin the 'swing'.
Edit: I see I was editing and clarifying as you were reading.
Thanks for the critique. I don't if this matters but that video was a quick one on an iPhone. Not sure of its ability to record properly
In any case can you explain a bit more about coiling inward?
Thanks
In any case can you explain a bit more about coiling inward?
Thanks
quote:tice striding to toe-touch by 'coiling inward' (front shoulder and front hip make a slight inward turn)
Then, try that in a cage, take more video and see where you are.
Looks to me like it is more of an extension issue. He is swinging around his body and cutting off his swing. He should try hitting the ball in front of the plate so he has to extend his arms. Good luck.
quote:Originally posted by Golfman25:
He should try hitting the ball in front of the plate so he has to extend his arms.
99% of MLB hitters do not do this. Their back elbow is tucked and bent at contact. The ball is contacted typically at the ball of the front foot.
Tell ur kid he is putting "momentum" into the bat and he is using his foot as a counter weight. That happens when the bat gets too "rotational"- a circular flip of the bat. Someone told him "rotational swing" and it got in his head and this is his expression of it. If anything you want to do just the opposite of what he is doing. Its like the Ice skater that does the spin. Your son is like her spinning with her hands out. An MLB spins with his hands in.
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
99% of MLB hitters do not do this. Their back elbow is tucked and bent at contact. The ball is contacted typically at the ball of the front foot.
True and good advise. But we all know we aint gona achieve and MLB swing. So sometimes it may be ok to use a drill or cue that is not for the MLB , but will make the kid a better swing.
Do you have a good drill suggestion?
quote:Originally posted by tzbookman:
16 YO player does the squash the bug but picks up back foot just as contact is made.
His hip rotation is OK, but I'd like to have the foot stay planted. Ay suggestions?
I wish I knew how to look at your Video frame by frame as Sultan did. I just viewed and then paused and so forth. With hitting and pitching, it seems if you line five Coaches up and ask them what they see, they almost never agree! However, it appears to me that Sultan has hit a number of issues dead on and I agree.
To me: I see a swing that's way out of balance to the point he's falling over following most swings. That signals over rotation and bad timing with front foot, to me. Pausing the video, with the ball on the way, his front FOOT is still UP off the ground (it should be down already IMO). At the next reference point, toe touch, he's into his swing but his front HEEL is still not on the ground (front foot isn't down until the heel touches the ground, IMO).
I think (again, this is just my opinion), he needs his front foot on the ground with heel down, much sooner than it's currently getting there! Being late with that will cause everything to try to catch up to make contact.
Also, note how far the BACK foot is behind the front as swing finish. Looks to be six inches or so. He can't help but topple over. Yes, I'd say he is definitely "leaking power."
I'd work on balance at the base, lower half, with weight balance 60/40, until the front heel is down. Then work on freeing up that swing path so he isn't cutting it short. Also watch where is head is going with all this action .... not staying down and over the hitting zone. BALANCE
Keep viewing a video reference to work from. What is his hitting Coach saying?
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:quote:Originally posted by Golfman25:
He should try hitting the ball in front of the plate so he has to extend his arms.
99% of MLB hitters do not do this. Their back elbow is tucked and bent at contact. The ball is contacted typically at the ball of the front foot.
My description may not be the greatest, but this is exacltly what I am talking about. Albert has contacted the ball in front of the plate. While is back elbow is tucked, his hands are extending thru the ball. Here are some after pics:
Compare that to the boy in the video. It is like the knob of the bat is connected to his belly button. There is no extenion. He short cuts his swing as it wraps around his belly.
quote:Originally posted by Golfman25:quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:quote:Originally posted by Golfman25:
He should try hitting the ball in front of the plate so he has to extend his arms.
99% of MLB hitters do not do this. Their back elbow is tucked and bent at contact. The ball is contacted typically at the ball of the front foot.
My description may not be the greatest, but this is exacltly what I am talking about. Albert has contacted the ball in front of the plate. While is back elbow is tucked, his hands are extending thru the ball. Here are some after pics:
Compare that to the boy in the video. It is like the knob of the bat is connected to his belly button. There is no extenion. He short cuts his swing as it wraps around his belly.
True, and he is. Great pics. Both have brought their hands in to contact pitches on the inner half. Outside and away and the swing, contact point look a bit different.
Thanks for the continued feedback. Do you think his timing is off and then everything else is off?
I've sen a net drill where you have the tee close to he side of the cage. Was going to try and combine that with removing the front leg lift and just have him twist the front foot.
And please keep the critique and suggestions coming as they are appreciated.
I've sen a net drill where you have the tee close to he side of the cage. Was going to try and combine that with removing the front leg lift and just have him twist the front foot.
And please keep the critique and suggestions coming as they are appreciated.
He is being forced to pull the ball due to the position the "tosser" is tossing from. Try putting a screen in front of the "tosser", or use a tee, and have him focus on hitting the inside half of the ball. He will take more back up the middle or to the right half but he can't with whoever is tossing sitting there unprotected
I would reiterate a few comments by Sultan and Prime...
He is striding and swinging at the same time. This combination results in his hips sliding forward instead of rotating against a firm front and on a stacked and balanced base. Another function of a swing with slide is that he is too wristy and chops downward at times.
Instead, stride (get front foot down), then swing.
If he plants his front foot and then rotates the back hip against a firm front, this will allow for a more effective top hand/bottom hand driving position at contact and a more level-to-slightly-up swing plane.
Some drills to do in sequence to start some adjustments...
Slow Motion First Half
Have him perform a swing in super-slow motion from set position up to point of contact against a ball on a tee. Make sure that, first, the front foot comes down as he loads. Then, as he begins the swing, use a padded stick to hold his head from sliding forward (mix it up occasionally and do the same with his front hip). This should force the feel of hip rotation instead of slide. This should also provide the feel of staying behind the ball. At point of contact, you can check for proper top hand/bottom hand position as well as the elbow of the top hand being properly bent and tucked instead of extending out with the wrist beginning to roll.
Two-Part Swing
Next, in a cage, set up a screen for front toss. On command, have him stride and load and hold the position. Then toss and have him drive the ball back up the middle. Reinforce "stay behind the ball". Develop a 1-2 rythm where the stride and load are #1, then the swing is #2. Hitting back up the middle should reinforce the proper hand position and help eliminate wrist roll. Have him hold the finish on several swings to check for balance.
Oppo
Give him lots of reps hitting to the opposite field. Start with tee work and progress to front toss and then BP pitching. Set specific targets that are a slightly upward line drive plane. This should help reduce the wristyness and short-arming.
With a few adjustments to his current swing, I could see a fairly easy transition into a good, strong mechanically sound swing.
P.S. - It is very difficult to "talk" swing adjustments via message boards as opposed to demonstrating while explaining. I suggest getting a qualified instructor to help him.
He is striding and swinging at the same time. This combination results in his hips sliding forward instead of rotating against a firm front and on a stacked and balanced base. Another function of a swing with slide is that he is too wristy and chops downward at times.
Instead, stride (get front foot down), then swing.
If he plants his front foot and then rotates the back hip against a firm front, this will allow for a more effective top hand/bottom hand driving position at contact and a more level-to-slightly-up swing plane.
Some drills to do in sequence to start some adjustments...
Slow Motion First Half
Have him perform a swing in super-slow motion from set position up to point of contact against a ball on a tee. Make sure that, first, the front foot comes down as he loads. Then, as he begins the swing, use a padded stick to hold his head from sliding forward (mix it up occasionally and do the same with his front hip). This should force the feel of hip rotation instead of slide. This should also provide the feel of staying behind the ball. At point of contact, you can check for proper top hand/bottom hand position as well as the elbow of the top hand being properly bent and tucked instead of extending out with the wrist beginning to roll.
Two-Part Swing
Next, in a cage, set up a screen for front toss. On command, have him stride and load and hold the position. Then toss and have him drive the ball back up the middle. Reinforce "stay behind the ball". Develop a 1-2 rythm where the stride and load are #1, then the swing is #2. Hitting back up the middle should reinforce the proper hand position and help eliminate wrist roll. Have him hold the finish on several swings to check for balance.
Oppo
Give him lots of reps hitting to the opposite field. Start with tee work and progress to front toss and then BP pitching. Set specific targets that are a slightly upward line drive plane. This should help reduce the wristyness and short-arming.
With a few adjustments to his current swing, I could see a fairly easy transition into a good, strong mechanically sound swing.
P.S. - It is very difficult to "talk" swing adjustments via message boards as opposed to demonstrating while explaining. I suggest getting a qualified instructor to help him.
quote:Originally posted by tzbookman:
Do you have a good drill suggestion?
Any drill suggested has been tried and has not lead to any MLB swings. Its up to some parent at home will to try something new, out of the box. A real paid swing coach cannot do that because he has to use thing that insures a kid will at least hit with his instruction or he does not get paid. Thus he cant get too deep in to changeing a kids swing.
Balance issue! If he focuses on getting his front down early I think this will help his balance. He is falling all over the place. Not unusual for a hitter his age.
Once he gets his balance he will consistantly hit the ball hard.
I am not a soft toss fan. I suggest Tee work!
Once he gets his balance he will consistantly hit the ball hard.
I am not a soft toss fan. I suggest Tee work!
I am fine with trying something out of the box, hence my post looking for suggestions. I am not a baseball expert, and was just hoping to gleam info from others on the forums that have found things that "worked for them".
If I do find something else that works for him, I'll gladly post our experiences and hopefully someone else in the future can benefit.
Thanks again1
If I do find something else that works for him, I'll gladly post our experiences and hopefully someone else in the future can benefit.
Thanks again1
quote:
the first thing i would do with this kid would be to take him OFF his feet..have him kneel with his right foot while extending his front leg at the pitcher for balance..put a tee up in the front of the plate and have him hit it with his right hand only..this kid lunges and is basically all over the place..my drill will give him stabilty and a feel on how the top hand works.
Wog, I don't know why I was quoted but that is fine. I didn't get a chance to read the second page and only read the OP. I had just a minute or two at lunch before I had to get back to work. I briefly looked at the video and so, can't really comment on it as per recommendation.
Excellent advice. That should fix him right up. If not perhaps the fence drill?quote:Originally posted by wogdoggy:quote:
the first thing i would do with this kid would be to take him OFF his feet..have him kneel with his right foot while extending his front leg at the pitcher for balance..put a tee up in the front of the plate and have him hit it with his right hand only..this kid lunges and is basically all over the place..my drill will give him stabilty and a feel on how the top hand works.
quote:Originally posted by NDD:Excellent advice. That should fix him right up. If not perhaps the fence drill?quote:Originally posted by wogdoggy:quote:
the first thing i would do with this kid would be to take him OFF his feet..have him kneel with his right foot while extending his front leg at the pitcher for balance..put a tee up in the front of the plate and have him hit it with his right hand only..this kid lunges and is basically all over the place..my drill will give him stabilty and a feel on how the top hand works.
like the old saying in caddy shack,,we have a pool and a pond....the fence drill would be good for you
Ok. You're the expert.
quote:Originally posted by NDD:
Ok. You're the expert.
call texas and spin baby spin
