Turning the Barrel

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Aug 20, 2017
1,474
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I’m a newb at teaching this concept. Watching Antoneli videos has taught me a lot but wondering what some of yalls ques, feels, teaches are? I see the back shoulder must work down under the ball while the front shoulder works up. Attack from under the ball is one feel I’ve been using that has seemed to help. Get on plane early hasn’t worked as well. Just want some input on this concept. My apologies if this has been discussed too much already
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Be careful with “attack from under the ball”. This can lead to a collapse of the rear side and/or dropping of the hands in an attempt to swing up at the ball. The correct path of the barrel will be down behind and up through the ball, in an arc around the hands.

https://twitter.com/hyattcraig/status/1113320009957367808?s=21
https://twitter.com/i/status/1113984248568893442
https://twitter.com/i/status/1112546887167426560

As for teaching "turn the barrel", I like this approach for introducing players to the concept...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEAwd8LCBXE&list=PLLo_t691U8DVQCriImV9Kt44VdEI6iFir&index=28&t=99s
 
Last edited:

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Turning the barrell is just the latest soup du jour phrase to describe what others have said for a very long time. Don't get caught up in the phrase and think of the action while looking at video.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Turning the barrell is just the latest soup du jour phrase to describe what others have said for a very long time. Don't get caught up in the phrase and think of the action while looking at video.

Yep. The words don't really matter. Whatever words it takes to translate the concept in a way the hitter can process and execute are the right ones.
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
One cue or thought that seemed to have helped my DD was to imagine the barrel taking a spiral stair case down to the ball instead of a flight of stairs.
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
One cue or thought that seemed to have helped my DD was to imagine the barrel taking a spiral stair case down to the ball instead of a flight of stairs.

I like that...

For my DD, and I know you still need to teach the hands as well, but "work the scap towards the rear back pocket"... credit to TM for that one

Of course personally I would start with a good solid foundation to support TTB first and getting into a forward yet back.. Atonelli's Hover drill is a good one.
 
Last edited:
Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
I like the NIKE SWISH illustration. Picture the NIKE swish logo. Barrel turns in the back making the turn from launch and then long thru.
 
Apr 11, 2015
877
63
I like the NIKE SWISH illustration. Picture the NIKE swish logo. Barrel turns in the back making the turn from launch and then long thru.
I do as well.
IDwtbDf.png

Gentleman on another site used to say the swing was "rotational-linear" which I think is also depicted in that image nicely, and can also help as a cue in some cases to go along with it.
 

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