Interesting analogy for communicating the idea of front side/rear side "scrunch". I can see how that would translate well to some hitters.
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Interesting analogy for communicating the idea of front side/rear side "scrunch". I can see how that would translate well to some hitters.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
It is an external cue for promoting the torso-engine. Took a 9yo 'horizontal-focused torso hitter' today and with this analogy had her fairly productive with a reasonably decent torso-engine. Shine the light to the catcher, then shine the light to the incoming ball as the upper lead-arm finds the ball, use the hands to align the barrel to the lead-arm. Simple enough for a 9yo to look fairly productive ... off of tee, off of front-toss, and off of a live arm.
This is far from arm bar.
The longer lead-arm keeps a hitter more 'connected' and colinear.
I am not a fan of those that lock their lead-arm at a 90-degree orientation as they arrive at 'swing launch'. I have two hitters that do this now ... and it is my opinion that they could perform much better if they had some ELAE.
A few examples of ELAE follow.
The arm bar at launch can be an issue on the inside pitch. I like the elae as well. But have seen good hitters who work with a fairly bent front elbow.
https://twitter.com/thehittingvault/status/1102738978174717952?s=21
https://twitter.com/hyattcraig/status/1069805359974371328?s=21
https://youtu.be/GpCXExsHYdc
Personally I am not a fan of pullbacks. I want the legs to get you ‘there’ not a pullback.Pull back to me means loading the hands to early and an arm bar will be the result. How about a ‘pull down’ .
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
WW, the three hitters you posted here have a fair amount of lead-arm extension at swing launch.
Awesome! Being able to effectively communicate concepts to young players can be a real challenge. Finding something that helps them connect the dots is what makes good teaching.
I am probably misunderstanding you... the examples you posted were during the forward move. Where as Canos angle never really became wider or bigger during his forward move. Help me understand what you mean.
In my mind, Cano repositions his Mass with the slack out and his hands stay back relative to his body. Trout does this as well. The front arm angle tends to remain constant until foot down in which adjustments are made.
Here’s Trout.
https://youtu.be/fLJowhiyhTM
Mookie
https://youtu.be/9EXCl_XTf-4
I guess my point being , that pulling back isn’t what is happening as an action. But more pulling down.
Here’s Trout.
https://youtu.be/fLJowhiyhTM
Mookie
https://youtu.be/9EXCl_XTf-4
I guess my point being , that pulling back isn’t what is happening as an action. But more pulling down.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
These two hitters also have a fair amount of extension in their lead-arm at swing launch.
I think you agree with that. Your point is in how the slack is being taken out and the lead arm extended. You see it as more the torso moving down/away than the upper rear arm and rear scap pulling back. Does that sound about right?
Yes.
Question: Does a players move out/ style or set up (stance, hand set etc) dictate how that action will be dictated? Or at least how it ‘looks’ on video? Or is it just because of how far a player moves out dictate it? Cano, Trout and Betts all have substantial forward moves.
I teach the forward and not the backward actions if you know what I mean... i stay away from keeping anything ‘back’ for a substantial amount of time . I have found players suffer from staying ‘back’ much more than getting ‘forward’. Don’t get me wrong. They both are bad when extreme.
Hopefully I make sense here.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
Good points.
I don't like the notion of pulling back to then pull forward. That comes across as a two-piece action to me. Not that such an approach can't work, but it isn't the fluidity I prefer. Look at Ortiz below ... in a sense his back-up-in action flows/loops into his forward swing ... it is more one continuous flowing action.
