How to correct overstriding?

[skidiver]

I play in an adult league (after many years away from the game). In the process of working off the cobwebs, I found that I was overstriding at the plate (I was probably striding about a foot on each swing, and I'm about 5'11," with short legs). On any pitch above the thighs, I was under it (usualy popping it up foul or missing it entirely). On low pitches, I could get some good power into it, but my hitting zone was quite limited (it also made me late on lots of pitches b/c I was striding so far).

So in the offseason I'd like to correct this in the cages. Are there any good drills out there for this sort of thing? I had planned on setting up some kind of line (a sweatshirt on the ground?) and taking care not to stride past it, but I'd appreciate any input on other techniques that might work better.

Toward the end of the season I was careful not to overstride, and I made much more consistent contact across the entire strike zone. But I also seemed to lose some power/pop on the ball. On low pitches in particular, I tended to hit a lot of groundballs.

So, what are good techniques to stop overstriding that don't detract too much from power?

(I have no doubt that there are innumberable problems with my swing, but I figured I'd start with this one and go on from there ;) Unfortunately, I don't have any video.)

[Chris O'Leary]

I play in an adult league (after many years away from the game). In the process of working off the cobwebs, I found that I was overstriding at the plate (I was probably striding about a foot on each swing, and I'm about 5'11," with short legs). On any pitch above the thighs, I was under it (usualy popping it up foul or missing it entirely). On low pitches, I could get some good power into it, but my hitting zone was quite limited (it also made me late on lots of pitches b/c I was striding so far).

You could try getting rid of the stride entirely; just pick up the heel of your front foot and leave your toe on the ground.

That's what Albert Pujols does.

The only question is whether that would reduce your ability to adjust to pitches that are long or short.

[tom.guerry]

load hands right.

[skidiver]

Thanks, Chris. I tried that a bit, but I seemed to have trouble getting enough weight/momentum into the swing. Perhaps I should play around with it a bit more. I've noticed that Ortiz picks up his foot briefly but puts it back down in just about the same spot.

Tom, care to elaborate?

[jbooth]

I play in an adult league (after many years away from the game). In the process of working off the cobwebs, I found that I was overstriding at the plate (I was probably striding about a foot on each swing, and I'm about 5'11," with short legs). On any pitch above the thighs, I was under it (usualy popping it up foul or missing it entirely). On low pitches, I could get some good power into it, but my hitting zone was quite limited (it also made me late on lots of pitches b/c I was striding so far).

So in the offseason I'd like to correct this in the cages. Are there any good drills out there for this sort of thing? I had planned on setting up some kind of line (a sweatshirt on the ground?) and taking care not to stride past it, but I'd appreciate any input on other techniques that might work better.

Toward the end of the season I was careful not to overstride, and I made much more consistent contact across the entire strike zone. But I also seemed to lose some power/pop on the ball. On low pitches in particular, I tended to hit a lot of groundballs.

So, what are good techniques to stop overstriding that don't detract too much from power?

(I have no doubt that there are innumberable problems with my swing, but I figured I'd start with this one and go on from there ;) Unfortunately, I don't have any video.)

Your brain, pretty much knows from instinct and prior experience, how far apart your feet should be as you swing. It's nearly impossible to stride less. Just by telling yourself, not to stride too long. And you can't put your feet at your current stance width, and then try to "no-stride". Your brain knows you're feet are too close together.

Take a practice swing, with a stride, and note how far apart your feet are after the swing. Now, move your front foot back about 4 inches, and use THAT width, as your stance position.

Now, when you swing, I'd be willing to bet, that you will stride 4 inches.

[tom.guerry]

Skydiver-

When you ask me to elaborate, groans go up all over the net.

[Chris O'Leary]

When you ask me to elaborate, groans go up all over the net.

Try this...

25 words or less.

[4for4]

Skydiver-

When you ask me to elaborate, groans go up all over the net.


Hey, that's funny, Tom.

[4for4]

Do you know for sure that this is a problem? Have taken video of your swing and compared it to what other mlb'rs (http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/swings/)are doing? Before you do any changing, make sure that it's really a problem needing fixin'. Englishbey has a bunch of drills on how to move out and blend that movement efficiently into rotation. Have you looked there yet? This is where I would look if it's really a problem.

[skidiver]

Thanks, 4. I've had several people mention the overstriding to me when they see me swing. And I've watched several major league swings, and I'm definitely striding more than they are (a friend I went to the cages with estimated I was striding at least a foot, and I'm not especially tall or long legged). So I suspect I am overstriding, though I'm sure it's not the only problem with my swing. It seems like as good a place as any to start, though.

Where would I find the Englishbey drills? Those sound like they would be very helpful.

[4for4]

Thanks, 4. I've had several people mention the overstriding to me when they see me swing. And I've watched several major league swings, and I'm definitely striding more than they are (a friend I went to the cages with estimated I was striding at least a foot, and I'm not especially tall or long legged). So I suspect I am overstriding, though I'm sure it's not the only problem with my swing. It seems like as good a place as any to start, though.

Understood. A lot of us would prefer to see video of your swing before making a whole lot of suggestions about what to do with it, including the stride.

Where would I find the Englishbey drills? Those sound like they would be very helpful.

I'm pretty sure the BBF TOS prohibit direct linking to the site, but you can Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22englishbey+hitting%22&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-39,GGLG:en&filter=0) the name of his website, Englishbey Hitting and that should get you there.

[swingbuster]

Over striding is an upper body loading problems. When you fix that you will not have that problem

Tom writes.....

load hands right.

Well said. If you could fix it below the waist then more people would have figured it out.

[hellborn]

Thanks, 4. I've had several people mention the overstriding to me when they see me swing. And I've watched several major league swings, and I'm definitely striding more than they are (a friend I went to the cages with estimated I was striding at least a foot, and I'm not especially tall or long legged). So I suspect I am overstriding, though I'm sure it's not the only problem with my swing. It seems like as good a place as any to start, though.

Where would I find the Englishbey drills? Those sound like they would be very helpful.

DiMaggio went to his very wide stance from his prime years to address this very issue.

[swingbuster]

A player that loads his upper body correctly has a good hip coil to support the upper body.

When you have proper hip coil that is carried in the stride then you cannot over stride.

A stride absent hip coil will be long and powerless.


The problem is back upstream. Loading the hands right triggers the hip coil to get behind the mechanism. The hip coil is carried in the stride

When you get the hips and hands loaded then the stride length is a no issue.

Trying to determine optimal stride length and cherry pick that and fix it will not help a batter IMHO

You might succeed somehow in shortening the stride but he will not know how to hit the ball any farther

[flea45]

Try a wider stance. if your losing power it probably means your more comfertable and effective when hitting with a wider base....so hit with that base and dont overstride by simply starting wider.


worked alright for me:o