Posted by: Rich () on Sat Aug 21 18:46:36 2004

In this drill, when they stride, should their toe be pointed toward the pitcher or pretty much toward the plate? I've read where some believe that striding with the toe toward the pitcher makes the hips want to turn. What's your take?
>
>
>
> I've just started coaching a group of eight and nine year old girls who will be playing in 10u softball next spring.I also have a daughter who pitches in college and have noticed that it is the rotational batters that give her the most trouble. My question is, is there some way I can get these little girls started on their way to eventual rotational hitting? What should the first drill be? I have your DVD but I'm afraid that even the first drills on it may be a little too complicated at this time. They seem to only be able to think about one thing at a time.
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > Hey Coach Ray,
> > > > >
> > > > > That's a great question... what i do is make sure that they have the most basic componet of the rotational swing down to muscle memorization before i try and teach anything else. and that is the rotation of the hip towards the pitcher.
> > > > >
> > > > > Here's the drill that i've found the most effective. there maybe others that i'm not aware of but this works great.
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) put a bat behind their backs and hook the elbows under the bat.
> > > > > 2) get in their stance: knees bent, torso tilted forward slightly, head up straight looking at the pitcher.
> > > > > 3) stride to toe touch(i believe in the stride and teach it right off the bat)front knee is bent as forward motion is stopped.
> > > > > 4) repeat #3 many times till they get comfortable with the movement.
> > > > > 5) Now go to toe touch and have them drop the heal and PULL the front hip back and around into rotation. as they do this the front leg will straighten(very important) and the upper torso will tilt back torward the catcher slightly. with the backward tilt you'll get a straight line from the knee to the hip to the shoulder. after the toe touch check the head as it becomes a stationary part of the rotational axis(in other words no movement VERY IMPORTANT!!)
> > > > >
> > > > > This must be DRILLED INTO MEMORY then you can proceed to connecting the upper body to this very POWERFUL mechanic. when the girls have it ask for the next drill. best of everything. regards, Rich
> > > >
> > > > One other thing... when the hips have completed their rotation check to make sure that the belly button is facing the pitcher. we want to get every once of energy out ot the hips!!! also do the drill at quarter speed to get the FEEL. then go half speed. then go full speed. if the go full speed to start they'll be falling all over the place :-)
> > >
> > >
> > > In number 5 do you mean Pull the front hip or the back?
> >
> > Hey Ray,
> >
> > Most definately we want to pull with the front hip!! don't even mention the rear hip to your students. the rear hip is along for the ride and any cue to the rear hip or the rear leg will only cause potential problems like lunging cause by the pushing of the rear leg.
> >
> > If you can get your girls rotating hard and quick you have taken a huge step in increasing their batspeed and POWER.
> >
> > Best of luck and stay in touch for the next drill after they have mastered the rotation. regards, Rich

Hey Ray,

Remember they can only think of one thing at a time... how they coming with the rotation drill? i don't know about the toe position. i would say 45 degrees toward the pitcher. that way you get a little of both views... there are advantages to both probably. whatever they do naturally will be OK as long as they're rotating the hips completely.

I'd concentrate on the major moves in the swing with 10yr olds before i'd get into too much detail. connect the hips to the torso now...

regards, Rich