Here are some pretty straight forward drills to use this off-season:
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These are great for driving the ball into the ground.
"Think about hitting the top half of the ball "
"Set up one tee straight-up with the height so the ball will sit right above your knees. Again, nothing fancy here just working on hand path. Now, with that second tee you’re going to place it little less than a foot behind the first tee (when you stand in front of it your back hip should be close to even with it). Raise the height of it so it’s about chest level.
Your objective is to hit the ball on the first tee as a hard ground ball"
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You should be trying to drive the ball back to the pitcher's hand.
Ted William's swing plane:
"Think about hitting the top half of the ball "
"Set up one tee straight-up with the height so the ball will sit right above your knees. Again, nothing fancy here just working on hand path. Now, with that second tee you’re going to place it little less than a foot behind the first tee (when you stand in front of it your back hip should be close to even with it). Raise the height of it so it’s about chest level.
Your objective is to hit the ball on the first tee as a hard ground ball"
-----------------------
You should be trying to drive the ball back to the pitcher's hand.
Ted William's swing plane:
Hey Sultan,
I can definitely see how it seems like a batter is driving balls into the ground using these drills. That's because we want hard groundballs and line drives with backspin...not an upper cut swing where you might get lucky and hit "all" of the ball (unlikely).
Hitting the top half (staying on top) in a game is going to yield a lot more base hits through the infield and line drives to the outfield. The diagram provided of Ted Williams swing is quite accurate but when we're working on drills, we want to avoid practicing any sort of uppercut; that just creates bad habits.
Hitters nowadays (compared to when the Splendid Splinter was swinging) can't have that mindset of "I'm gonna knock this one back at the pitcher." The ball is hardly ever going to be right over the heart of the plate where a batter can deliver one back the pitcher's hand. Teaching kids to hit the ball where it's pitched is key in developing them into strong hitters.
Why swing down-angle using the tee?
Like I said, any kind of uppercut swing is going to just create bad habits (especially in young hitters). We don't want to have a "Drop and Drive" mentality, we want a "To it and Through it" one. Swinging down towards the top half of the ball is going to create the fastest bat speed. Bat speed and proper hand path is really what comes down to.
I can definitely see how it seems like a batter is driving balls into the ground using these drills. That's because we want hard groundballs and line drives with backspin...not an upper cut swing where you might get lucky and hit "all" of the ball (unlikely).
Hitting the top half (staying on top) in a game is going to yield a lot more base hits through the infield and line drives to the outfield. The diagram provided of Ted Williams swing is quite accurate but when we're working on drills, we want to avoid practicing any sort of uppercut; that just creates bad habits.
Hitters nowadays (compared to when the Splendid Splinter was swinging) can't have that mindset of "I'm gonna knock this one back at the pitcher." The ball is hardly ever going to be right over the heart of the plate where a batter can deliver one back the pitcher's hand. Teaching kids to hit the ball where it's pitched is key in developing them into strong hitters.
Why swing down-angle using the tee?
Like I said, any kind of uppercut swing is going to just create bad habits (especially in young hitters). We don't want to have a "Drop and Drive" mentality, we want a "To it and Through it" one. Swinging down towards the top half of the ball is going to create the fastest bat speed. Bat speed and proper hand path is really what comes down to.
The ball is coming down at 8-10 degrees. Logically, you have to swing slightly up to maximize chance of impact. Ground balls are outs. Not sure what the percentage is, but ground balls aren't a goal. Ted Williams hit .344 career trying to hit everything in the air.
Swinging down doesn't create backspin. Swinging down creates pop ups.
Swinging down doesn't create backspin. Swinging down creates pop ups.
Some modern hitters doing it correctly:
Look, I'm not saying a batter should be taking hacks straight down...that's just illogical. The drills above let a batter work on getting hands directly to the ball then through the ball. Your examples of Bonds and Hamilton (both phenomenal power guys) are not swings you would try to replicate in young hitters. And the fact given about Williams trying deliver balls in the air also won't work with young hitters on a consistent basis. Strive for hard groundballs (YES they get through the infield, I've seen it happen more consistently than dropped fly balls) and well struck line drives.
You can't honestly think that teaching a kid to have even a "slight uppercut" is going to be useful. Getting your hands, which start above the hitting zone, down to where your making contact in the fastest path is by swinging down angle. A batter's hands naturally come back up through the hitting zone (and the plane of the ball) so don't mess that up by having a kid continue to swing underneath the ball. Top half.
I can't see your last example of modern hitter being useful in any way. It's a homerun derby swing...
You can't honestly think that teaching a kid to have even a "slight uppercut" is going to be useful. Getting your hands, which start above the hitting zone, down to where your making contact in the fastest path is by swinging down angle. A batter's hands naturally come back up through the hitting zone (and the plane of the ball) so don't mess that up by having a kid continue to swing underneath the ball. Top half.
I can't see your last example of modern hitter being useful in any way. It's a homerun derby swing...
quote:Originally posted by Complete Game Baseball:
Strive for hard groundballs
If that's the goal, your tee drills are perfect. We agree.
If a hitter wants to get the ball to the OF grass, don't use those drills.
quote:Originally posted by Complete Game Baseball:
Look, I'm not saying a batter should be taking hacks straight down...that's just illogical. The drills above let a batter work on getting hands directly to the ball then through the ball. Your examples of Bonds and Hamilton (both phenomenal power guys) are not swings you would try to replicate in young hitters. And the fact given about Williams trying deliver balls in the air also won't work with young hitters on a consistent basis. Strive for hard groundballs (YES they get through the infield, I've seen it happen more consistently than dropped fly balls) and well struck line drives.
You can't honestly think that teaching a kid to have even a "slight uppercut" is going to be useful. Getting your hands, which start above the hitting zone, down to where your making contact in the fastest path is by swinging down angle. A batter's hands naturally come back up through the hitting zone (and the plane of the ball) so don't mess that up by having a kid continue to swing underneath the ball. Top half.
I can't see your last example of modern hitter being useful in any way. It's a home run derby swing...
Young hitters can replicate Bonds and Hamilton's "under the hood" actions. The style may be a little more difficult, but there's no reason why they can't turn the hip with the leg and keep a scap pinch. Ground balls are outs. They don't produce runs. Hit the ball in the air, and something can happen. Hitting the ball in the air can produce runs. It can move up runners.
"Swing down" is not a bad cue, provided it's taught correctly. You turn the barrel with the hands DOWN through the deltoid, and then the body turns it up. If you teach "turning the barrel", you won't have to discuss swing plane. Proper swing plane is automatic with "turning the barrel". I don't believe in targeting any particular part of the ball. If I can hit the top half regularly, why don't I aim for the center, or the bottom half.
It's a home run derby swing, yes. It's also an incredibly valuable clip for showing the top hand swivel. Notice how quickly the top hand turns around.
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:quote:Originally posted by Complete Game Baseball:
Strive for hard groundballs
If that's the goal, your tee drills are perfect. We agree.
If a hitter wants to get the ball to the OF grass, don't use those drills.
So, what would you advocate in the way of drills?
My list is as follows:
-Happy Gilmore drill
-Rhythm/Swingbuilder Drill
-Stretch and Fire drill/attack opposite field drill
All of these help create the proper synchronization between the upper and lower bodies.
quote:Originally posted by Low Finish:
So, what would you advocate in the way of drills?
Put it on a tee and see how far you can hit it. Experiment. Repeat.
experimentation does not lead to repeatable swings
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:quote:Originally posted by Low Finish:
So, what would you advocate in the way of drills?
Put it on a tee and see how far you can hit it. Experiment. Repeat.
Interesting idea, I know quite a few MLB players learned to hit that way.
Could not find much information on the Stretch and Fire drill.
Found the rest on some videos South Alabama has made.
Found the rest on some videos South Alabama has made.
