The swing we're working on...

[Sonny]

Thanks to Ursa Major I'm finally able to post a video of my son's swing. His name is Jacob and he is a 10 year old. As I've said in the past, he has hit well up until now. I am doing my best to teach him the rotational mechanics that I've learned and studied about here. Since I've been encouraged to do so, and with the help from Ursa Major, I'd like to post a clip of his swing. Many of his hits are opposite field and he used to hit alot off of the handle, or the end of the bat. Also, he used to hit many grounders, as opposed to line drives. He is definitely hitting more line drives now, but he seems to hit everything to the opposite field.

I appreciate any advice that will help him achieve his goals of being a better hitter. http://s95294420.onlinehome.us/userfiles/Joshua13.mpg

Another link: http://s6.invisionfree.com/Hitting/i...?showtopic=293
Sonny

[Ohfor]

Don't know what the Englishbey "book" is on hitting oppo.

However, I'm quite sure of this. At least in my experience.

A guy who first learns to hit oppo well is easier taught to pull than a guy who first learns to pull learning oppo.

[chesspirate]

Okay, tough to say to much considering quality of video and angle (I feel your pain on the quality thing) But, i was able to see one thing that i didn't care for.

in the mpg clip if you go frame by frame, compare the frame after contact to the next frame. I think that explains some issues there.

For y'all that don't want to go and look, his shoulders actually reverse course! Short on time right now, so i can't really tell whats goin on, but i'd work on finishing rotation of the upper body. Off the top of my head though, this would be indicative of someone trying to 'crack the whip' instead of turning.

Also, even from this angle, there seems to be some bat drag for most of the swing, another 'crack the whip' or 'throw the barrel' deal.

I've always thought that an understanding of what one is trying to do, always helps one get there.

[Sonny]

For y'all that don't want to go and look, his shoulders actually reverse course! Short on time right now, so i can't really tell whats goin on, but i'd work on finishing rotation of the upper body. Off the top of my head though, this would be indicative of someone trying to 'crack the whip' instead of turning.

Also, even from this angle, there seems to be some bat drag for most of the swing, another 'crack the whip' or 'throw the barrel' deal.

I agree that the quality isn't very good. I took the video from the other side of the net and at an angle. I do have another video clip that I'll be trying to post soon. A brief history: he did learn to 'throw the bat' or 'crack the whip' and we are working dilligently to get away from that. Thanks

[jsiggy]

Better video will help - take clips an angle directly in front (or behind) and directly across from him if possible.

I think Chesspirate is on the mark with his analysis. Looks like there may be some bug squishing going on as well? I like his tilt at setup and his intent.

I would try some open top-hand drills with him and see what happens. If top hand still wants to come to the ball, do the same thing but have the tophand hold onto to the shirt as long as possible.

[Sonny]

Maybe this is a better quality video...

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/bc/2ea81d6f/bc/My+Documents/Jacob%27s+swing.mov?bfy93EEBAtjpEX6L

[4for4]

Maybe

It might be, but I can't tell because your link is not correct.

[Ursa Major]

Here's the .gif of the original swing, for those too impatient to click and wait for the media file to open:


And, another look from a different view:
http://s95294420.onlinehome.us/userfiles/Joshua13_2.mov

[chesspirate]

wow, even easier to see the shoulder rotation stop on that second clip, (and check out how far his hands travel from that one frame to the next) and yes, the quality is much better, even with the low frame count.

Something that i think may help that Steve first told me about was how to set up when using a tee. (steve, if you don't want this up, let me know, i'll take it down and never mention this again) But, When setting up with a tee, get the distance and all that right, then set up and look out at the 'pitcher' then imagine a wind up, load accordingly and start the swing, as you swing you'll look down and pick up the ball, feels kinda scary the first time, but it's worth it.

The reason to do this is to avoid the extreme shoulder angle this boy has at launch, he would almost have his back perpendicular to the incoming pitch, not something he probably does against live pitching, so no need to practice that. This little change alone will give us a better idea of where this guy really stands.

[Sonny]

Chesspirate you said:

For y'all that don't want to go and look, his shoulders actually reverse course!

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but could you please help me understand what this means? I really want to help Jacob correct the defects of his swing, but my knowledge is limited. Maybe I get lost in the terminology. Based on my own limited ability to analyze this video, I can see a definite bat drag. It also appears that his swing has definitely disconnected from his shoulder turn. At another site, I have been told that his hips do not cok correctly and there appears to be too much weight on the back foot (no proper weight transfer). If indeed these are defects that need to be corrected, can someone help me with drills that a dad can use and explain without a degree in physics .

Thanks.
Sonny
"Our ability to achieve is limited only by our knowledge of how to."

[tom.guerry]

Sonny-

When you "disconnect" rotation ceases.

In this case, there MUST be diconnection becasue there is not enough twist to rotate/untwist or the right leverage to transform twist into batspeed (angular acceleration of bathead).

The body kees things going with an shoulder arm swing (lead arm extension sequence of this nonrotational swing will be SAW -Shoulder/Arm/Wrist) and the shoulders are leaned/swayed back to help the arms swing the bat.

Mankin talks about the torque and rotational components of the swing.

The purpose of torque is to optimize/synergize the connection of the barhead to the rotation of the body.

In the nonhighlevel swing.however, when there is disconnection,torque becomes too much of the driving force trying to "whip" the bat through contact by pusching with the top hand after the lead arm has extended.

Swaying the shoulders back helps do this.

This is the WRONG way to harness the whipping principle in the swing..

For example in the proper rotational whip swing,the lead arm extension sequence (way the arm unhinging happens) will be W-A,the S only after contact. A will be after contact for short swing radius/low load.

A can be before contact for higher swing radius/higher load.

[Ohfor]

Actually, the secret code for the proper rotational whip swing is P-C/R?

[fungo22]

Actually, the secret code for the proper rotational whip swing is P-C/R

Not anymore it isn't.

[fungo22]

Actually, the secret code for the proper rotational whip swing is P-C/R

Secret, I mean

[swingbuster]

Sonny..as hard as you have worked and as athletic as you son is ; your going to have troubles here as you go forward. The swing looks close to good enough to fool you but you know it is off or you would not be writing. He is hitting the outside seam on the ball off the tee and he cannot quit. These guys don't get that

This is about the 100th( understatement) swing like this posted and the advice is always the same...yawn...excuse me...

Look at the tee bending toward his lead foot and another ball on the ground to 3B....yawn....excuse me.

If he is hitting oppo some in games now it is because he is just late as that is not even a neutral swing.

When you tug the knob from the 45 slot the result is always the same for kids. 12 years of watching that closely assure me of that and at times no one else but Tom.

Tom gave you some good advice on HSBBWEB albeit rather Tom-esque in writing style. No bat displacement no gap to gap power. Cannot get inside the ball and hit the ball center. Common stall/ plateau point for good potential hitters. He will not advance fast or ever from here without some help.

PCR...posture .connect..rotate.... make sure they show you how to get the barrel out there

OR


if you do it wrong...PCR ....means Pull to Chalk and Run



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