Opinion on swing mechanics?

[Sammy]

Would like input on this 14 yr. old freshman's swing. We're currently working on trying to increase quickness and bat speed, especially from the launch position.

Any comments or suggestions for improvement?

http://home.wowway.com/~rcale/

[jbooth]

Would like input on this 14 yr. old freshman's swing. We're currently working on trying to increase quickness and bat speed, especially from the launch position.

Any comments or suggestions for improvement?

http://home.wowway.com/~rcale/

He isn't leading the swing with hip rotation. He is just stepping forward and then turning everything in one piece.

No separation of upper and lower body.

Good rotation results in the back foot getting at least up on the toe, and the front foot rolls (bends at the ankle) due the forces going around. His front foot is flat, and the back foot barely raises. He is very well balanced, but the lower body and hips are not producing any force. He should be turning the hips as he steps forward, after he does the back step.

His batspeed will increase when he learns to use the hips and get them started before the hands come forward.

Like this;



Here's what happens to the feet when you rotate well;

[Sammy]

We've been focusing on loading and maintaining connection for so long that I think we've been ignoring the timing between hips, hands, shoulders, etc. Thanks for the excellent observation.

I'm using RVP, and watching most MLB swings, the hips seem to just completely open at contact. At that point the back toe is pointed straight down and getting dragged forward by the hip rotation - just as you are showing here.

I compared this video to MLB swings with RVP and noticed that his hip was a little late in rotation at contact. His hip actually rotates a little further after contact which would leave some power behind.

Maybe we should back up a little and work on some lower body mechanics, getting the hips started a little earlier? The first clip you posted looks very similar to what Steve Englishbey describes as "sitting to hit".

Any suggestions on a specific drill or technique to get the hips engaged properly, and with good timing?

[JeffK 29]

Would like input on this 14 yr. old freshman's swing. We're currently working on trying to increase quickness and bat speed, especially from the launch position.

Any comments or suggestions for improvement?

http://home.wowway.com/~rcale/

Even more dramatic difference...most MLB'ers seem to be on their toe about 1-2 frames prior to contact.

Upper body has obviously been worked on. I'll bet he can hit. Quicker hips will make him even better.

[Chris O'Leary]

Would like input on this 14 yr. old freshman's swing. We're currently working on trying to increase quickness and bat speed, especially from the launch position.

This is a pretty good swing. No drag. Good connection at the point of contact.

The problem with the lower body action is that his front foot is landing with his front knee locked. That keeps him from being able to push back with his front leg and give his hips that extra rotational boost.

What he needs to do is land with his front knee bent slightly and then stiffen his front knee to help power the rotation of his hips.

[Lady_Knights]

This is a pretty good swing. No drag. Good connection at the point of contact.

The problem with the lower body action is that his front foot is landing with his front knee locked. That keeps him from being able to push back with his front leg and give his hips that extra rotational boost.

What he needs to do is land with his front knee bent slightly and then stiffen his front knee to help power the rotation of his hips.

I agree with Chris. He needs to land on a soft/flexed front knee, on the inside of his foot. His front foot is landing flat, along with a locked front knee, which is not allowing his hips to move linear into heel plant. At heel plant, linear movement will stop and rotational mechanics will take over.

[jbooth]

This is a pretty good swing. No drag. Good connection at the point of contact.

The problem with the lower body action is that his front foot is landing with his front knee locked. That keeps him from being able to push back with his front leg and give his hips that extra rotational boost.

What he needs to do is land with his front knee bent slightly and then stiffen his front knee to help power the rotation of his hips.

I agree with the above, but he needs to get them turning from the back before the front heel even drops.

Note how Bonds' front hip has moved out before he even gets the front foot weighted.



A quick swing comes from early and quick hip action, not from trying to adjust arm load/unload, although upper body movements ARE also important. Too often I see coaches trying to shorten or eliminate upper body moves to obtain quickness, when the problem is the lower body.

It's amazing how much more acceleration you get into the bathead, and how much quicker the bat gets to the ball, when you focus on the bottom instead of the top. That doesn't mean you ignore the top, but lack of power and lack of bat acceleration come mainly from lack of hip action.

[Sammy]

Chris -

I just recently found your web site and all the discussions about pitching mechanics, and all I can say is WOW! I have been looking for a qualified instructor in our area for several YEARS, and found no one I could trust. He had some elbow pain - almost surely caused by having his elbow too high in the "high cocked" position. Believe it or not, he was actually instructed to keep his elbow ABOVE his shoulder! We've made some adjustments, and he has had NO PAIN - and is actually throwing harder.

All the details about timing principles such as hip/shoulder separation, elbow height in relation to the shoulder, and getting the hips rotated as far as possible before opening the shoulders has helped tremendously. Just GREAT STUFF!!! Thanks for all your efforts, and keep up the good work!

It's amazing how similar hip and shoulder rotation - and timing - are in both throwing and hitting. Since reading your information, we've begun working on getting the hips started sooner while keeping his shoulders closed to create more separation - winding the rubber band in his pitching motion.

It looks like this very same problem - hip/shoulder separation and timing is what we need to work on for his hitting.

Am I on the right track?

[jbooth]

I agree with Chris. He needs to land on a soft/flexed front knee, on the inside of his foot. His front foot is landing flat, along with a locked front knee, which is not allowing his hips to move linear into heel plant. At heel plant, linear movement will stop and rotational mechanics will take over.

The locked knee prevents a good FINISH to the hip turn. And, I agree he has that problem, but he also needs to start them turning before foot plant. Getting them moving early is what gets the bat accelerating well. The late straightening of the front knee finishes the final transfer of energy to the bat.

The good MLB hitters are rotating into foot plant. They don't plant and then rotate;

[Sammy]

jbooth - The Bonds clip is excellent for showing what he needs to work on. I'll have to go back and look at some pitcher's view video in RVP of his swing. I'm betting what everyone is saying will be very evident from that view.

We just started analyzing his pitching motion from "catcher's view". The hip rotation timing was very clear from that perspective. Great catch.

[jbooth]

It looks like this very same problem - hip/shoulder separation and timing is what we need to work on for his hitting.

Am I on the right track?

I'm not Chris, but yes, his bat speed and acceleration and quickness of the bathead getting around will improve when he uses the lower body better.

See my post with video clips below.

[Sammy]

I've added some pitcher's views. These are "4-view" snapshots from RightView Pro showing their standard key positions: Stance, Negative move, Toe Touch, Heel Plant, Connection, Bat Lag, Contact, Extension, and 4 shots of Finish.

Since I'm a rookie at html, this page may take a while to load. But please give me your comments and suggestions.

http://home.wowway.com/~rcale/