Posted by: Rich () on Mon Dec 1 19:24:18 2003

I have learned that top hand torque does two things; adds more speed and enables you to hit any pitch in or out. However do you have to think use top hand torque then bottom because I found it easier to just keep the elbow up and the bottom hand torque will drive top hand torque without emphasizing the pull of the top hand. Also to hit the outside pitch can I just keep my back elbow in and just do everything the same and swing towards the ball?
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> > > > It's the same as the inside swing, where you keep the hands inside (closer to body), but you cast ot a little bit and halt the hip/shoulder rotation to enable the hands to reach the outside corner.
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> > > are you saying a hitter should CONSCIOUSLY halt the hip/shoulder rotation?...
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> > -----Hitting an outside pitch with rotational mechanics is the most difficult location to handle. Especially if you are a girl -- shorter hands, harder to get the plate coverage and the umpires in softball feel obligated to give an extra 6-8 inches off of the plate.
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> > I have not found a way that consisently allows me to hit the outside pitch with power using rotational mechanics. Probably because I do not have enough upper body strength. The bathead usually dips/drops a little bit when I increase the swing radius and slot the rear elbow further from my torso. With less power, pop-ups the opposite way usually does not result in production.
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> > I believe that you have to be looking OUT and you got to cheat a little bit -- guess right. Most girls are scared to cheat because then they will get hit if the pitcher comes hard and in.
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> > OUTSIDE is a hard pitch for me -- if anybody has any better ideas for a girl, fastpitch softball player with short arms and weak upper body I would love to hear them. ------------ >Where is your contact point on these outside pitches?
>
>Hi,
I'm not sure this will help, but here's what my daughter does. she's 5'5" tall and weighs 115lbs is a freshman in HS. she swings a 33" 26oz bat and stands 6" away from the plate. she looks fastball middle/in on all the pitches and adjusts to the outside. some where in the first stage of the launch the outside pitch is recognized and as the elbow decends into the slot it bypasses the slot and the hands start out towards the ball. this slows the torso rotation, but not the THT. by the time the bathead reaches the ball, the ball has entered the plane of the plate and the bat has NOT become an extention of the lead arm... in other words there is still the untapped energy of the BHT that cannot be used(if it is used at this point then you are trying to pull an outside pitch). the key is using the THT and at the same time lowering the hands from the armpit area out to the ball and avoiding the slot all together. this extention of the hands is the only difference in your swing. everything else, head, shoulders, torso, hips, stride ALL REMAIN THE SAME!!!! if it all stays the same you shouldn't lose much power. practice this on the bag with the bag setup on the outside of the plate... you might just find that your trying to hit the ball to center field instead of right. bag work WILL correct your problem.
best of luck, rich P.S. it is critically important that the shoulders continue to rotate thru the swing/contact. and of course you ALWAYS need to check your axis and make sure your head is absoulutely stationary throughout. if your head is not still you've got a messed up swing and you need to get that fixed NOW.