Posted by: T Olson (timolson@home.net) on Sun Dec 26 12:41:21 1999

Tom, some interesting points not far from my own line of thinking.

""""I am still not exactly sure about any teaching cues for hand movement at the initiation of the swing(launch) or just prior to this(pre-launch). However,I used to teach my daughters(fastpitch) the old knob to the ball+arm extension after rotation with pretty mediocre results. """"

I'm beginning to drift entirely to a concept where I believe the hands as a swing thought (pulling or pushing) is not good. The hands will be put in the inside swing path if the elbow is brought into a tuck position along the side.

""""Now that we emphasize rotation and keeping the hands in and elbow in the slot and hitting the inside of the ball and keeping the shoulders rotating through contact around a vertical axis with a slight backward lean,results are much better.With these big muscles the girls can swing fast without loss of form.The hands usually stay back with the back shoulder,but if they start coming forward early,the cue of leading with the bottom hand seems to help.""""

I agree, the only problem (as you mentioned) seems to be when the rear elbow creeps ahead a little too quickly and the front arm seems to be just "along for the ride".

""""Another nice thing that Jack has pointed out is that if you get things started right the rest of the swing takes care of itself.Other important hand cues seem to make sure the preswing/loading motion is a coil that gets the hands up high,not a movement of the hands further behind the shoulder or leaving them low. """""

I came up with a soccer ball drill to replace my son's casting problem with a one-piece inward turn. It works like this:

If you have a tendency to hitch or get your hands too far away (casting) at the start of the swing, or the barrel drops, or the swing comes around the shoulder, try this. Done correctly with an inward turn, you'll develop proper weight shift to the back side without having to lean back.
Use a real soft soccer balls (a little smaller size). Have the coach/helper put the ball between your bat barrel and shoulder (closer to the chest side). The barrel is at about the proper 45 angle and the top hand is shoulder height and about 5 inches in front.
Now, take swings from whatever source (tee, hand toss, possible live pitching with a safety ball). The ball doesn't interfere with the swing, but where the soccer ball drops can tell you a lot...

Straight down or slightly to the rear of the plate? Oops. Then you lifted or pulled your hands away from your body before your lower body and shoulders started the swing.
Across the plate or slightly forward? Good. Then you started with your body and kept your hands in position until the swing starts - the soccer ball was pushed forward and out by the shoulder.
Alternate every couple of swings without the soccer ball so it doesn't become a crutch and you can learn what the proper stroke feels like (muscle feedback). You'll learn that a hard swing can be accomplished using more body rotation - keeping the hands on an inside path.

I would like to share with you my son's swing at http://members.home.net/timolson/test2.avi (about 200k)

If you have any of your kids I would love to see them.

Since I've reinvented my son's swing as rotational (with inward-turn and hip cock, elbow coming in to side, hands inside, small step, hip/shoulder turn as power sources (not arms or hands) I find his power has increased dramatically.

The hardest thing to teach was the inward turn.

Kids always want to start by stepping away from the hands (even thrusting the hands back (and/or even out)

Tim