Proper Coil and load

[LousivilleSlugger]

I've read that a proper coil and load can solve a lot of problems with pulling off the ball...etc.

What kind of drill or drills can I do in the offseason to work on a proper coil and load?

Epstein's torque drill work?

[songtitle]

I've read that a proper coil and load can solve a lot of problems with pulling off the ball...etc.

Exactly. Just 'coil inward' as you go forward. That's it.

See front hip and shoulder in frames 1-7

[LousivilleSlugger]

Thanks Song, my teammates are saying I pull my head off the ball and Im looking to right field. They say I swing too hard, but I feel like I'm swinging naturally. I do know that I don't coil, at least consciously. I kind of just drive into the ball....that's the simplest way I can say it. I feel like my hips come open too early and I am unable to hit a pitch on the outside corner...etc.

So if I were to spend all winter hitting off a tee with a proper coil and engrain some muscle memory would that be enough? Or would doing Epstein's Torque drill be a good aid as well?

[pstein]

Exactly. Just 'coil inward' as you go forward. That's it.

See front hip and shoulder in frames 1-7

I understand why you see what you see. But the rear hip is coiling, which is pulling the front side in. Not the front side turning inward.

[LousivilleSlugger]

I understand why you see what you see. But the rear hip is coiling, which is pulling the front side in. Not the front side turning inward.

So, what's a good drill to do, or something that will help. Torque Drill?

[songtitle]

LS, just stride to toe-touch in a mirror. You should pick it up in a few days.

[mr. potato head]

LS, just stride to toe-touch in a mirror. You should pick it up in a few days.

What exactly is gained from doing this? If he isn't coiling, and I don't mean just counter-rotating, he can look as pretty as he wants in your toe-touch in the mirror drill but that will not fix his problem.

[pstein]

So, what's a good drill to do, or something that will help. Torque Drill?

The Torque Drill is not really an answer, IMO. It works for kids who have trouble using the whole body, but it forces the hip to drive. What you need to do is have a coil "around" the rear hip.

The best way to practice this is to sit (pull towards dugout behind you until you reach where you want to in the stance) and then twist the hip "around". If you're doing this, you'll feel a tightness in the socket. This is normal, and fine. That's what coil is.

Coil is not counter-rotating the front shoulder and front hip.

[songtitle]

Coil is not counter-rotating the front shoulder and front hip.

You're losing me here. This is what hitters do. Are you saying they don't do this?

What you need to do is have a coil "around" the rear hip.

Again, you're losing me. You think the tiny hip flexors, or the butt, are important once the front foot lands?

[LAball]

Coiling does not store energy. Storing energy is like the pulling down the head of a catapult. Coiling is like a boat rower putting the oar in the start position, ready to give a bigger push, but needs an outside force to operate. The catapult has all its energy stored and ready to launch without outside force.

[pthawaii]

Interesting discussion. I'm making up that pstein is saying that the focus of the coil is on the rear hip internally rotating (note it's the proximal or trunk/acetabulum/hip socket moving as the distal/head of femur/leg bone is fixed in place). Fact is, if the pelvic girdle turns such that the front hip moves towards the plate while standing on the back foot, that motion is accomplished by this hip motion at the rear hip. I'm not sure you can create this movement without the rear hip doing what pstein says, so I'm not sure it really matters if you see it like song or pstein, I suspect it's the same thing (although that is debatable). I guess I'd have to hear a case where you got the pelvic girdle to rotate such that the front hip joint moved closer to the plate while standing only on your rear leg and the rear hip didn't internally rotate (as described above) to say it matters how you say it, where the focus is.

As for storing energy, technically it's a little of both. Putting things in position to "go" like an oar, but also muscles will fire stronger if stretched prior to contracting. Technically, not "storing energy" but it does enhance the muscle contraction to put it on stretch first.

[jbooth]

Interesting discussion. I'm making up that pstein is saying that the focus of the coil is on the rear hip internally rotating (note it's the proximal or trunk/acetabulum/hip socket moving as the distal/head of femur/leg bone is fixed in place). Fact is, if the pelvic girdle turns such that the front hip moves towards the plate while standing on the back foot, that motion is accomplished by this hip motion at the rear hip. I'm not sure you can create this movement without the rear hip doing what pstein says, so I'm not sure it really matters if you see it like song or pstein, I suspect it's the same thing (although that is debatable). I guess I'd have to hear a case where you got the pelvic girdle to rotate such that the front hip joint moved closer to the plate while standing only on your rear leg and the rear hip didn't internally rotate (as described above) to say it matters how you say it, where the focus is.

As for storing energy, technically it's a little of both. Putting things in position to "go" like an oar, but also muscles will fire stronger if stretched prior to contracting. Technically, not "storing energy" but it does enhance the muscle contraction to put it on stretch first.

You're right, IMO. It's 6 one, half-dozen the other. If you turn your front hip in while in a proper stance, the back hip will move out. If you move the back hip as pstein says, the front hip will move in. The hip sockets move on each side of the spine. If the spine stays centered, whichever way you move one side, the other goes the opposite. Some people just feel like they get in a stronger position if they think about the backside.

[jbooth]

You're losing me here. This is what hitters do. Are you saying they don't do this?





Again, you're losing me. You think the tiny hip flexors, or the butt, are important once the front foot lands?

Uh, yeah, they supply almost all the power. What muscles do you think supply the power? Ted Williams said the drop of the front foot was the key point at which he fired the hips with all he had. What do you think drives them?

People have studied the human anatomy and movement since around 1500 when Leonardo DaVinci started documenting the human anatomy. I think they've figured it out pretty much, by now. Obviously, you haven't studied it much.

[pstein]

Interesting discussion. I'm making up that pstein is saying that the focus of the coil is on the rear hip internally rotating (note it's the proximal or trunk/acetabulum/hip socket moving as the distal/head of femur/leg bone is fixed in place). Fact is, if the pelvic girdle turns such that the front hip moves towards the plate while standing on the back foot, that motion is accomplished by this hip motion at the rear hip. I'm not sure you can create this movement without the rear hip doing what pstein says, so I'm not sure it really matters if you see it like song or pstein, I suspect it's the same thing (although that is debatable). I guess I'd have to hear a case where you got the pelvic girdle to rotate such that the front hip joint moved closer to the plate while standing only on your rear leg and the rear hip didn't internally rotate (as described above) to say it matters how you say it, where the focus is.

As for storing energy, technically it's a little of both. Putting things in position to "go" like an oar, but also muscles will fire stronger if stretched prior to contracting. Technically, not "storing energy" but it does enhance the muscle contraction to put it on stretch first.

Song is emphasizing the front hip, while I'm emphasizing the rear hip. I understand Song's belief, but I've turned in the lead leg and lead shoulder without actually coiling. It's much tougher to twist the hip around without coiling.

[mr. potato head]

I would argue that coiling is the creation/build up of energy in the reap hip joint.

Did you ever play football with a paper football? Thought so, so did I. Ok, so take your middle finger, curl it toward your palm and flick the football without applying pressure (resistance) against it with your thumb.

Now lets try again, only this time, use your thumb to create resistance against your middle finger. I will bet the football went a tad farther in round 2.

You can choose to just counter rotate your body which may give the surface look of coil to some, allowing you to push the bat or you can create a tug o war in the rear hip joint that can PULL the hands/bat to the ball.