After watching video of a player, it got me thinking how a lot of high school hitters have a hard time transitioning from LOAD to SWING. Our load should happen in two targeted areas: our back hip and our top hand (scap). The entire body should be involved but effort goes into those two areas. As hitters get to that loaded position - MAX COIL - there they hold it with a controlled move, riding the back leg. While waiting, the load never comes to a stop - if we are on time, we will come to a real slow pulling action (with our top hand against riding our back leg) until we release - turning the barrel rearward to start the swing.
We should be loading for the pitch we are waiting for, or the pitcher’s faster pitch. We must learn to be on time to release our swing from that MAX COIL. How can we get there without having to come to a stop? Our MAX COIL should occur prior to the pitcher releasing the ball - then all we have to do is release our load to swing (aka, turn the barrel rearward). It should feel like we are just waiting for the ball to get to our “spot.”
Let’s get loaded around the rear hip (how-to reference to previous post “Loading the Backside.”) and “glue” the scap to our spine - hold, hold, hold / coiled, coiled, coiled - BOOM! (release).
This post could really be called, “Why telling a hitter to get his foot down early is a bad cue.”
There are some great drills to find this loaded position. My two favorites are off-center and post-stride. I have found with younger hitters, getting them to feel the max coil works best without a stride. Two other drills I like for learning how to get to the max coil and hold our weight back while we “ride our back leg,” are Happy’s and Babe Ruth. These two emphasize controlling our forward move while continuing to coil.
Hitters that are able to get the right feel and continue their coil even while the pitcher is releasing will find a lot of adjustability and easy power in their swing. What a difference I have found compared to how I used to coach hitting.