What do you think

brushout,

Thanks for posting. I hope some others will chime in here, as there are many different hitting perspectives voiced on HSBBWEB. Please keep in mind that these comments are all suggestions, and come from a variety of different people. I'd take what you and your son find that works and run with it. Throw away what doesn't. Watch a lot of MLB hitter video. And take criticisms as all constructive!

What I am immediately questioning is if this is your son's "ideal" swing, or if this is your son's "everyday" swing. I would say that the ideal swing may be what your son is trying to do, which he may do via dry swings. However, these mechanics could change a fair amount from dry swings to tee, to soft toss, etc. Just make sure that the swing is correct in each stage.

To know what level we are working on, how old is your son?

To me, it looks like he could use his hips more effectively. In other words, it doesn't look like he has a great hip drive, hip snap, whatever you want to call it. Try to initiate the hip opening by using the back hip to rotate the hips into footplant. Everyone from LL to College guys are learning how to use their hips better. It takes reps to get the right feel. He will know what it feels like. The hip c o c k is important to get the hips started, but someone else who can explain that well can take that part of it. Hips don't have the "counter-rotation" or load that Ted Williams talks about.

Also, the wrists may be "rolling" a bit too early. Wrists should hit like cutting down a tree with an axe. Ideally, wrists are unbroken at point of impact.

Overall, it's a fundamental swing. Baseball is a game of inches. Sometimes minor adjustments can equal huge rewards. Best of luck to you and hopefully others can give you some more constructive feedback.

@ mstcks, Thanks for your input. My son is now 17 and the hip c o c k has always been a recurring issue, as pointed out here on HSBBWEB, several times. The swing demonstrated is not his everyday swing but close to it.

In the video we were working on the load and hip c o c k trying to get more power into his swing.

I have Ted Williams book and thought we were on the right track.

I am trying to get several different descriptions of how to use his hips more effectively. I was hoping someone could explain the hip c o c king in a different manner that would translate into that "Aha" moment for me or my son. Since the Ted Williams description does not really explain it in a manner that I or my son seem to understand.

Thanks for your time

Sure thing, I've received a bunch of help from this site, and I'm trying to pass on some knowledge.

Glad you have Ted Williams' book. While some would disagree, usually if the best person at something says something, I'd wanna listen.

I'm a college player and still trying to get the hip c o c k consistently, although I'm fairly close to achieving muscle memory.

I think the best way I feel it is this, you and your son can both do this to feel it.

Have him stand in his stance. Make sure both feet are perpendicular with the plate. That is, his feet are essentially neutral. This is important, because Ted Williams talks about the hips working like a pendulum. Have your son pick his foot up by rotating his front knee inward, therefore c o c k ing his hips. Then, as his body moves slightly forward to find the new central balance point, have him try to snap his back hip into the front one. When he does this, his front foot should naturally land open at 45 degrees, while his hands at this point will follow the hips through the swing.

I hope I've explained that the best way possible, should you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. Feel free to PM me. I'm not an expert, but as a player, I can definitely feel the difference in my swing when I consistently incorporate a good hip c o c k.

you are on the right track with the ted book ,,BUT you have to really pay attention and learn to do the hip move correctly..look at bryce harpers lower load to see the correct way or even babe ruth and or pujols ..your son at the moment is a "bug squisher" you also need him to get a little giddyup going with his hands as well.you can go on you tube and search sevin the move that may also help.

your spinning. Front heel down and the start of the swing are separate. End of one, beginning of the other.

You are on the right track with Williams' book. The hips are freewheeling. He has no stretch.

Learn to coil, stretch, and then CRUSH THE BALL.

Working on it. He hit a triple today. But he has been in the gym more so he might have just muscled his way though it.

quote:

Originally posted by Low Finish:
You are on the right track with Williams' book. The hips are freewheeling. He has no stretch.

Low Finish, could you clarify what you mean by freewheeling? Are you stating that the hips open up while the shoulders are still closed? In other words, he doesn't clear his front shoulder with his hips (more accurately, front shoulder clears in response to his hip turn) to allow for the bat head to come through unrestricted?

quote:

Originally posted by mstcks:

quote:

Originally posted by Low Finish:
You are on the right track with Williams' book. The hips are freewheeling. He has no stretch.

Low Finish, could you clarify what you mean by freewheeling? Are you stating that the hips open up while the shoulders are still closed? In other words, he doesn't clear his front shoulder with his hips (more accurately, front shoulder clears in response to his hip turn) to allow for the bat head to come through unrestricted?

"Freewheeling" means that the hip is moving forward without any loading against it. For example, when the hip is turned open (by the leg), the hands and scap should be loaded against it.

If the hip turns open with the hip, that's freewheeling.

Low,

Still not quite grasping what you're saying. Any other way to explain it?

mstcks,

I think he is talking about creating some tourqe (or seperation) between the hips and the shoulders. In other words, the hips move first and build resistence with the shoulders. When the resistance is released it allows the hands to drive the bat thru the ball.

thanks. I agree that the hips and hands do have separation, but the separation occurs before the front foot touches down and you're into launch.

quote:

Originally posted by mstcks:
Low,

Still not quite grasping what you're saying. Any other way to explain it?

Okay, let me take another shot at it. Get up from your chair and rotate your hips open. No loading of the hands or anything, just turn the hips open. That's freewheeling.

The rear hip has to "pull" the hands through. If you freewheel you can't have a "pulling" hip. You'll always "push" with your hands, and the hip will allow some momentum. If you need more explanation, I'll PM you a clip.

Drive the ball with your back shoulder...

lol...

Looking at the video, the first thing I notice is that the bat is only in the contact zone a short while.

Short to the zone and long through the zone is the key. In order to do this the contact point has to be directly in front of the batter and stay on the ball through contact.

Practice hurling the bat as hard as possible across the batters box on the opposite side without letting go of the bat.

Do this and forget about the front hip for anything but aiming the shoulders to the ball , which will occur naturally.

Quick drill for what Ted was trying to convey is to set your stance without a bat and take your short stride to the ball. You should feel the weight shift. Your back side will be trying to exert force into your lean.

Keep your swing relaxed, fast and in control.

Very unusual...

His hips are fully rotated before his back elbow touches his hip. I've never seen this before. Most people have the opposite problem.

So, he has a great lower body motion, but never uses it. He ends up using mostly his arms at contact.

I guess that I would try some slow motion swings in a mirror (toe touch to contact), to get a feel for the timing of his actions. His back shoulder/elbow needs to drive down sooner. The back elbow should touch when the hip has rotated halfway (45 degrees), then it should travel with the hip for the last 45 degrees of rotation.