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Four Principles to Great Fastpitch Hitting Mechanics
"An amazing thing, the human
brain. Capable of understanding incredibly complex and intricate
concepts. Yet at times unable to recognize the obvious and
simple." Like no other time in history has the opportunity for female athletes ever been so great. With the advent of Title nine mandated in the sports arena, female athletic programs have blossomed across the country. From youth select program, starting at the ripe age of 10- some even younger, to the highly recognized USA national teams, and professional teams that have emerged in basketball and softball.
In the area of fastpitch, a major change has been taking place; an evolution of a game. More and more players, and coaches, are adopting a hitting technique that has been around for along time; a baseball approach to hitting, and with very good reason. The mechanics that the best players in the game are using are showing up in the girls game and making a significant impact.
Use your mouse to control player Principle #1 - Weight Transfer First of all, weight transfer is NOT a hitting technique, but rather an element of hitting, and a major one at that. There has to be back to front movement in a players swing in order to hit with any kind of consistency and power. Sitting, squishing the bug is simply poor mechanics.
Watch the back foot - players are either on the tip of their back foot, or the foot is completely off the ground at contact. This is what good weight transfer looks like and there has to be back to front motion in the swing. There is no sitting, there is no squishing.
Principle #2 Hips & Core Turning to the ball with the hips leading the way is such a huge part of hitting and is an area that a majority of young players never fully develop. The power that is generated by the hips in a baseball swing is based on the principle of torque. The same way a golfer, boxer, tennis player and pitcher use their core muscles to turn, so do the best hitters in the game. Players need to "learn to turn" to the ball.
Principle #3 Leveling The greatest difference between a linear and rotational hitter is their approach to the ball after heel drop. Leveling is the technique that allows the bat to drop down into the path of the ball, and is irrefutable as to whether it is really happening, because it is. Dipping the back shoulder, dropping the barrel of the bat level to the ball and swinging up through the oncoming pitch. Note: In order to level the bat has to drop down. Do not confuse this with swinging down, because it is not. The process of the elbow working up and around the body is an essential part of leveling and the only way a player can ever get the barrel where it needs to be.
Principle #4 Ideal Impact Ted Williams wrote that the ultimate contact point is made when the barrel of the bat and ball meet at a 90 degree angle. Another term that is used to describe ideal impact is hitting with your hands "inside" the ball. A couple things have to happen to make ideal impact; one, you have to let the ball travel deep enough into the hitting zone and two, your front elbow has to move up and around your body.
Take a stand and make the hitting experience for your players make a difference.
The best players in the game use rotational mechanics. The very same mechanics that Ted Williams wrote about in his book and used as a player. The best hitters in softball are using these exact mechanics. Make the change and give your players something special; great mechanics and the opportunity to maximize their potential.
Weight Transfer * Hips * Leveling * Ideal Impact
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Rotational Hitting & How I Teach It eBook
A step by step break down of how to teach the perfect swing. Learn how to teach the best mechanics in the game. A Thinking Hitter eBook
The mental preparation and training a player experiences in the game of baseball can make all the differences in the world! The Scholarship Handbook eBook
Absolutely everything you need to know to get your student athletes the exposure that will get them recruited. Step by step instructions that guide you through the entire scholarship process. Templates and time saving strategies that are guaranteed to save you precious time, money and research.
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