Teaching two tough ones

[Swing Coach]

If I had to point out the two most common differences between MLB swings and the many high school/college swings I see (even amongst good hitters) they are:

1. Not shifting weight forward into blocked front leg like nearly every pro hitter does.....hitters I see instead are doing more of a turn while keeping the weight back, thus losing a percentage of force.

2. Not tilting the shoulders....more of a level shoulder swing.


I believe these are very difficult to teach (especially #1). Please take an approach at how you have specifically taught one or both of these areas. And please, keep it simple as possible and stay on the topic so we all can learn. Thanks!

[BoardMember]

Many HS(and lower) level hitters stay on the toe, which severely inhibits hip turn.

In order to gain lead leg extension just before contact:

At heal plant, transfer pressure back toward the heal and to the outside of the plant foot. The hips will complete, instead of stalling before completion.

Like this:

http://callyjr.hittingillustrated.com/bondsbarry1.gifhttp://lclifton.hittingillustrated.com/renteria1.gifhttp://photos.imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro/MRamirez_Side.gif


If I had to point out the two most common differences between MLB swings and the many high school/college swings I see (even amongst good hitters) they are:

1. Not shifting weight forward into blocked front leg like nearly every pro hitter does.....hitters I see instead are doing more of a turn while keeping the weight back, thus losing a percentage of force.

2. Not tilting the shoulders....more of a level shoulder swing.


I believe these are very difficult to teach (especially #1). Please take an approach at how you have specifically taught one or both of these areas. And please, keep it simple as possible and stay on the topic so we all can learn. Thanks!

[mike28nc]

not transferring the COM is very common problem. One way I have seen this taught is start with the feet 5" or so apart. Put a tee out in front of the batter. Have them stride and swing. I have also seen the swing gate drill. This seems to work but I haven't used it. I have a video clip of it.
http://mike28nc.hittingillustrated.com/swings/Gatedrill.MPG

the shoulder tilt I feel Mike E covers this really good. But IMO it is hard to teach cause most kids have to un-learn old habits. I am still working on this with my 12u.

Mike

[Swing Coach]

BM,

Great example of heel plant being necessary to block that front leg.

Now, about the shoulders.....My observation is that when a hitter's first move is to begin to slot the back elbow with enough force downward, the shoulders automatically follow. And when the hips begin to explode, the back leg automatically hinges, which also helps the shoulders lower ....and "tilt."

So if I have this right, you don't "teach" shoulder tilt, you teach the hitter to slot the elbow with a downward force (which they are not used to) and explode the hips. The shoulders will then tilt naturally. What do you think?

[swingbuster]

. Not shifting weight forward into blocked front leg like nearly every pro hitter does.....hitters I see instead are doing more of a turn while keeping the weight back, thus losing a percentage of force.

Very good point.

You shift for a purpose....move the contact point forward..will help you feel the NEED to for COM movement

IOWS you shift to move the rotaton forward. The forward shift is best timed with the completion of the shoulder load and just before the lead leg opening...that helps widen the last bit of stretch in the horizontal connection

Why...the new balance center better supports the rotary move and LEVERAGES the lead arm better and you are not falling back as the barrel is moving forward...reverse pivot. Any casting action kicks the axis back of the body

YOU must shift to get the hinge angle forward.

We use the INFINI-TEE and swing diagonally setting the ball LOW. The higher tee settings of standard tees give the sense of lifting the ball and the batter has a hard time staying into the shft to shoulder position

There is a Power Point on the home page at

www.swingbuster.com

Look above the clip under instructional videos INFINI-TEE and there are about 20 slides showing about what we do for WEIGHT SHIFT.

It is a serious issue in baseball and we are actively applying this solution with some success