Jim Booth - Hip Isolation Drill

[FiveFrameSwing]

I had a two person hitting session today and one of the kids was "C-ing". By this I mean that when they would rotate to completion that their back hip would be significantly lower than their front hip ... creating a C-shape with their body.

I recalled your hip isolation drill and I had them perform that. While performing your hip isolation drill I had them focus on keeping their rear hip from dropping.

After working on this drill I returned the kid to machine hitting into an open field. The change in performance was remarkable. Before performing this drill the kid was "slicing" the ball. After performing this drill the kid was hitting linedrives with authority.

Curious if I could get you to comment more on this drill.

[jbooth]

I had a two person hitting session today and one of the kids was "C-ing". By this I mean that when they would rotate to completion that their back hip would be significantly lower than their front hip ... creating a C-shape with their body.

I recalled your hip isolation drill and I had them perform that. While performing your hip isolation drill I had them focus on keeping their rear hip from dropping.

After working on this drill I returned the kid to machine hitting into an open field. The change in performance was remarkable. Before performing this drill the kid was "slicing" the ball. After performing this drill the kid was hitting linedrives with authority.

Curious if I could get you to comment more on this drill.

Well, I think it works for several reasons;

1. the hitter has to learn how the legs move from stance to contact. If they don't move them correctly, they'll miss the ball.

2. it teaches which muscles need to be used to create a forceful rotation of the torso. You can't push sideways, or push the back leg straight, you have to use the muscles in the upper leg/pelvic area, or as some call them, the "middle" muscles. Again, or else you will miss the ball or hit it weakly.

3. it teaches balance. If the legs don't move correctly and you don't keep your head centered, you'll miss the ball.

4. It teaches where the power source is. After they get the balance and the proper leg action, they can start trying to see how far they can hit the ball just with the hip rotation. They're tuning the engine that powers the swing.

Once they figure out where the swing starts, and where the power comes from, and how to stay balanced, they can work on synching the arm and hand motion with the hips.

[FiveFrameSwing]

Jim, please look at the photo below and notice that the left & right hips are fairly level at the point of contact.

Is your hip isolation drill designed to have the hitter rotate such that the hips remain level?

Is there a benefit of getting to contact with the hips level versus having the rear hip significantly lower than the front hip?

[jbooth]

Jim, please look at the photo below and notice that the left & right hips are fairly level at the point of contact.

Is your hip isolation drill designed to have the hitter rotate such that the hips remain level?

Is there a benefit of getting to contact with the hips level versus having the rear hip significantly lower than the front hip?

That isn't the purpose of the drill. The main purpose is to learn how to move the legs from the stance position, to the position all MLB hitters get to at contact, AND to learn how to forcefully and effectively rotate the torso.

I don't know how important it is to keep the hips level. Obviously, they shouldn't be way off level. I do know that Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo told me not to drop the back hip.

The legs have to get to the position below, and they have to be moved in particular manner, in order to rotate the overall body, particularly the torso.

[new2thesport]

Hi jbooth!
The hip isolation drill sounds very interesting!
Where can I read or view your hip isolation drill? I just googled "hip isolation drill" and it showed me back to this thread.(It was the first).
Thank you.

[jbooth]

Hi jbooth!
The hip isolation drill sounds very interesting!
Where can I read or view your hip isolation drill? I just googled "hip isolation drill" and it showed me back to this thread.(It was the first).
Thank you.

You can view me doing it here;

http://wms17.streamhoster.com/firstpick/hipdrill.wmv

It's critical that you place the tee at the right height, and spot between the feet. I actually have it a little too far forward, and that's why I lost my balance a little bit. You want the student to rotate in perfect balance and move the legs properly.

[dannyboy]

In the drill, the front knee is bent at contact.

[jbooth]

In the drill, the front knee is bent at contact.

On one of the swings yes, and I said I had the tee too far forward.

I described the purpose of the drill and demonstrated it, and I said in the video and on here, that the back leg bends and the front one straightens. And, I posted a still of Ramirez showing the position you need to get to. So I didn't do one swing right, does that make the drill unusable, or of no value?

What's your point?

[Go Cardinals]

On one of the swings yes, and I said I had the tee too far forward.

I described the purpose of the drill and demonstrated it, and I said in the video and on here, that the back leg bends and the front one straightens. And, I posted a still of Ramirez showing the position you need to get to. So I didn't do one swing right, does that make the drill unusable, or of no value?

What's your point?

you ever notice he argues everything you say?

[dannyboy]

On one of the swings yes

No, on all three. Put up the stills.
No point. Just stated what I actually see.

[Jake Patterson]

No, on all three. Put up the stills.
No point. Just stated what I actually see.

So how does this add to the discussion?

[BoardMember]

So how does this add to the discussion?

The guys a troll...........

[jbooth]

No, on all three. Put up the stills.
No point. Just stated what I actually see.

First swing it bent badly, second, so-so, and third was OK.

If you listened to what I was saying in the video, the emphasis is on keeping the back leg bent, rotating, and driving the back hip through the ball.

You seem to have difficulty deciphering the main point of many discussions, and get easily distracted with fairly insignificant factors, unrelated to the primary point of discussion.

So you see my leg bend. What does that have to do with the validity of the drill and/or its purpose?

If you think it isn't a good drill say so, and why. Pointing out that my leg bent when I did the drill has little value in the discussion of the drill and how it can help a hitter's swing. You're just acting like a troll.

[jbooth]

The guys a troll...........

Yep. You are right about that. Off topic, irrelevant statements. Fits the definition perfectly.

[jbooth]

you ever notice he argues everything you say?

Yep, cause he's just a troll, trying to draw me into an argument. I'm not going to take the bait.