The Bleachers

[Derek]

pros are absolutely amazing. Every one of them


OK sorry for the video quality. I really don't know what I'm doing here, but to me it looks like I could be getting my torque /power from legs

Some of the guys I used to play with at the C/D level play B now and even scrimmaged Team USA Select. I stopped playing because they were taking it way too seriously. They can keep their World Championship rings, I'm sleeping in on Sundays.

As far as your swing goes, it looks like it's all arms.

You need to get your hands moving through the ball quicker, and time up your hips better. Snap that right hand over the top and attack the ball. Let the power of your right side throw your hips open and transfer your weight through the ball.

 

[David.]

Some of the guys I used to play with at the C/D level play B now and even scrimmaged Team USA Select. I stopped playing because they were taking it way too seriously. They can keep their World Championship rings, I'm sleeping in on Sundays.

As far as your swing goes, it looks like it's all arms.

You need to get your hands moving through the ball quicker, and time up your hips better. Snap that right hand over the top and attack the ball. Let the power of your right side throw your hips open and transfer your weight through the ball.

I'm about 2 weeks into the leg kick to try to address the lack of power from bottom half and still am not comfortable with it or really know what im doing. Just more reps? It's not even a consistent kick, the motion isn't the same between swings.

Typically I get a lot more from my wrists, I was thinking about too many different things here and trying to incorporate it all and some didn't make it. It's that what you meant w the hands bit?

 

[Scrote Squad]

I'm about 2 weeks into the leg kick to try to address the lack of power from bottom half and still am not comfortable with it or really know what im doing. Just more reps? It's not even a consistent kick, the motion isn't the same between swings.

Typically I get a lot more from my wrists, I was thinking about too many different things here and trying to incorporate it all and some didn't make it. It's that what you meant w the hands bit?

You're almost completely upper body. Keep the weight back until the last second and use your hips to explode.

 

[Derek]

I'm about 2 weeks into the leg kick to try to address the lack of power from bottom half and still am not comfortable with it or really know what im doing. Just more reps? It's not even a consistent kick, the motion isn't the same between swings.

Typically I get a lot more from my wrists, I was thinking about too many different things here and trying to incorporate it all and some didn't make it. It's that what you meant w the hands bit?

I was never a fan of the big leg kick, personally, but that's more of a comfort thing. Typically, only my heel would come off the ground. Always felt like the big kick kept me off balance.

I know you said you were focused more on the lower body, but getting your hands up would also help pick up bat speed.

 

[AZ_]

I was never a fan of the big leg kick, personally, but that's more of a comfort thing. Typically, only my heel would come off the ground. Always felt like the big kick kept me off balance.

I know you said you were focused more on the lower body, but getting your hands up would also help pick up bat speed.

When your swing is predicated on your upper body instead of your core/trunk, then the dramatization of the leg kick matters very little. High or low, it’s adding little to the actual power within the swing.

 

[Cassity14]

Some of the guys I used to play with at the C/D level play B now and even scrimmaged Team USA Select. I stopped playing because they were taking it way too seriously. They can keep their World Championship rings, I'm sleeping in on Sundays.

As far as your swing goes, it looks like it's all arms.

You need to get your hands moving through the ball quicker, and time up your hips better. Snap that right hand over the top and attack the ball. Let the power of your right side throw your hips open and transfer your weight through the ball.

As D-wreck pointed out, the first thing that needs fixed in your swing is your hands. They are currently trailing behind your arms, which is leaving your upper body behind your lower body.

Your power transfer is happening at the lower body level, but it's already completed before you're making contact with the ball. A lot of that kinetic energy transfer is being wasted as a result.

This is where your hands come in. Your hands should be attacking the ball as you're taking your step. This syncs up your energy transfer at the top and bottom. As your step happens (and your hands have guided the bat to the ball), you should throw your hips open for maximum power, or in a scientific sense, maximum energy transfer. Your arms will follow automatically because your hands have lead them and your hips are powering your whole body.

To work on your hands, I've been told and have also told kids in the past to literally try to hit the ball with your hands when you swing. The barrel of the bat follows where your hands go. It sounds extremely weird in theory, but it's often effective at creating the coordinated movement we're trying to describe.

Another way to work on your hands is to stand in the box and make contact with the ball without taking any step whatsoever. If the rest of your body is still, it becomes pretty much impossible to make contact with a swing that's all arms.

Disclaimer: I've played very little slow pitch softball in my life, but played baseball through high school and have coached all youth levels.

 

[Derek]

When your swing is predicated on your upper body instead of your core/trunk, then the dramatization of the leg kick matters very little. High or low, it’s adding little to the actual power within the swing.

Yeah, that's why I said the kick is more of a comfort/personal preference type thing. You can have a lot of success either way.

 

[David.]

I really just don't know how to use my legs or hips, I pitched the same way (all upper body) and never really got it. That's why I'm trying to do the kick, to remember my lower body and get it moving.

You're almost completely upper body. Keep the weight back until the last second and use your hips to explode.

This is kinda making sense but I'm not sure I quite get it. Can someone give a sequence of what's moving when to facilitate hips and leg movement? Like I never use lower body, I'm sure this "Let the power of your right side throw your hips open and transfer your weight through the ball." makes sense to you guys but I don't quite get it


As far as hands go, I think I just call this snapping wrists and I typically do it. I'll get another video.

Thanks for the help

 

[AZ_]

To use Trout as an example, the torque from your trunk and core should be aligned with your arms and wrist on contact.

His alignment almost makes a perfect line from his plant leg, up through his upper body.

 

[AZ_]

While Trout is obviously the standard, those of whom aren't as naturally coordinated and balanced don't always have that same fluidity.

Hunter Pence is a great example of those who aren't talented at this, but still figure out ways for using their awkward body to be powerful:

 

[sportscoach]

Coaching clinic in here how to hit! I always had issues cause of my back having an extra flex and I wasn’t coordinated enough when I was younger to keep it still when I was swinging. My hands and my lower body are fine, it’s the extra movement that always messed me up lol

 

[BMAN]

Damn, this turned into an interesting thread quick. So do you need to change up your swing when it comes to softball since the ball is coming in much slower?

 

[David.]

Damn, this turned into an interesting thread quick. So do you need to change up your swing when it comes to softball since the ball is coming in much slower?

From what I hear in baseball the ball does all the work, in softball you have to do all the work. Haven't played baseball since I was 14 though, have no idea

 

[BMAN]

From what I hear in baseball the ball does all the work, in softball you have to do all the work. Haven't played baseball since I was 14 though, have no idea

Yeah, I stopped playing around then as well. Tried my hand at softball a couple years ago and was awfully dreadful so that was that.

 

[David.]

Ah got it. Create lag by getting hands out and then snap through.

Bring back bat as front foot rises and hits ground. 90% weight on back foot and push through to lead foot.

Right?