Fastpitch hitters

A while back, someone - I believe it was @fanboi22 - posted an idea that I believe works better than simply "elbow in front of the knob/hands" to help define bat drag. The idea was to run an imaginary line between the front part of the shoulder and the knob of the bat. If the elbow crosses that line at any point, then you are in bat drag territory.

Instead of looking at 2-dimensional pics, try that geometry yourself with a bat in your hands. It is pretty hard to get your elbow out in front of that imaginary line and, when a hitter does it, you see the elbow waaaaay out front. On the other hand, it's very easy to "slot the elbow" with the hands remaining relatively stationary (near the shoulder/armpit) without crossing, or even getting anywhere near, that line.

The various swings posted in this thread - including pro hitters - that people are calling bat drag, are not bat drag if you view it this way (even though they may kind of look like it from certain camera angles).

jamesd1628 said:

I think your view of bat drag directly contradicts your view of elbow slotting. You continually say that the hitter must slot the elbow before pushing the arms/hands away from the armpit. Thus the elbow must drop and move forward relative to the hands, which are locked at the armpit.

Then, you look at clips of hitters slotting the elbow - as you say they should - and call it drag, based on a camera angle that purportedly shows the elbow in front of the hands.

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My 'view' is based on video evidence of what the best hitters do in games.

Hands in front of back elbow, hands near the armpit to hip slot. Like this.



If your hands are behind the back elbow, it's bat drag. It's poor use of leverage.

efastball said:

My 'view' is based on video evidence of what the best hitters do in games.

Hands in front of back elbow, hands near the armpit to hip slot. Like this.

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If your hands are behind the back elbow, it's bat drag. It's poor use of leverage.

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But if you viewed that swing from a different angle - e.g., slightly in front rather than slightly behind - you would probably think it looks like the elbow is in front of the hands and call it bat drag.

How about this guy?

julray said:

Does she hit well now?

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very, but always trying to learn

efastball said:

My 'view' is based on video evidence of what the best hitters do in games.

Hands in front of back elbow, hands near the armpit to hip slot. Like this.

View attachment 23768

If your hands are behind the back elbow, it's bat drag. It's poor use of leverage.

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I think we can all pick video of the best in the game with swings, not leading with the elbow and say, "see, the hands are in front of the elbow". We can also find those same hitters, with swings that toe the line to what you would call bat drag. I just don't see how you can be black and white, when the variables are so wide. I think those hitters know its best not to have it and probably have eliminated on a pretty consistent basis, but its not going to happen perfectly every time. Pitch location, speed, timing etc.

Always look at game swings. Tee swings, warmup swings, practice swings can be very different.

Raise your hand if you think the "fix" for bat drag, whatever your definition, are things 99% of developing hitters need to work on anyway....

Golfclubgreg said:

Can I ask a question on my DD then, how is her elbow positioning and barrel positioning. I

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Yes, it's bat drag. And she slams her back elbow into her side, then turns/rotates.

The back elbow should drop to a place in 1-3 inches in front of the hip, down to the height of the belt (notice you are 2-3 inches above), AS the hip/shoulder rotates. Look at Manny in Post #222.

Poor guy will never make it.