Discover the best power hitting drills to hit a baseball or softball farther every time and increase bat speed, even for beginners. Learn how in this Vladdy Jr swing analysis breakdown, and how using these batting stance swing principles work for hitting slow pitch softball homeruns too!
Vlad Guerrero Jr Swing Breakdown
In this Vlad Guerrero Swing Breakdown video, we cover how to build more consistent power using the principles found in the Catapult Loading System…
Showing Numbers(axial rotation – protracting front scap) & Bounce,
We talk a lot about the principles of the Catapult Loading System. Once you know what they are, the next question is when do we load up? Great question. In this post Tom Myers explains about the 4 factors of springy fascia. Think of fascia like the net bags that hold tangerines at the grocery store, and the bones, muscles, and organs are the tangerines in the netting.
When it comes to answering the question of “When?”, tip #4 in that post highlights what we call the “bounce”. We want the hitter pre-loading the torso (Catapult Loading System), when the hitter makes their positive move towards the pitcher. Before making the move, I tell my hitters to imagine a flashlight installed in their front shoulder. The light shining out front of them. I say to keep the beam shining out front until they start their positive move. It is at that point that they initiate the pre-loading, so this timing allows them to “bounce” into the turn.
You will learn the ‘Showing Numbers’ part of the Catapult Loading System equation by clicking the following…
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Vlad-Guerrero-Jr-swing-breakdown-e1562616402839.png281500Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-09-12 09:30:462022-09-12 23:57:20Best Power Hitting Drills To Hit Baseball Or Softball Farther & Increase Bat Speed Every Time For Beginners | Vladdy Jr Swing Breakdown, Leg Drive, & Batting Stance Works for Slow Pitch Homeruns Too!
Discover the proper way to grip a bat for lefty or righty baseball and softball youth power. Learn which is best in this swing experiment, a door knocking knuckle grip or a box grip?
Question: Does a ‘door knocking knuckle’ batting grip increase bat and hand speed?
Using the Zepp (Labs) Baseball app, I wanted to use the Scientific Method to see if using the “gorilla grip” or “door knocking knuckle” softball batting grip produces more bat and hand speed. One of my online lessons, Tyler Doerner, a red-shirt freshman at Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana is interning for me this summer, and will be doing the experiment.
Background Research
This experiment is based on a book by Rod Delmonico called Hit and Run Baseball. The book was written in 1992, and Coach Delmonico talked about a grip test that I do with my hitters to show them proper grip (included in video above).
To show how important grip is to swinging a bat, check out this podcast interview with kettlebell strength coach Pavel Tsatsouline. He goes into depth, particularly grip strength training, about the connection between the grip and mid-section.
Also, Jedd Johnson’s Ultimate Forearm Training for Baseball Players has had a huge influence on me and the importance of grip. Jedd has put together a pretty comprehensive training manual for both grip and forearm training for ball players. Jedd played college ball, and is co-founder of DieselCrew.com, where he’s done amazing feats of grip strength himself.
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Based on the above research and my experience training hitters over the years, I think the “gorilla grip” will add more bat and hand speed, than the “door knocking knuckle” grip. The problem with the “door knocking knuckle” softball batting grip, is that it doesn’t take into account different hand sizes.
When my hitters use the “door knocking knuckle” grip method, the elbows awkwardly hug together in the stance. It puts the hitter in an nonathletic starting position.
Softball Batting Grip Experiment Setup
Equipment Used:
Zepp Baseball App
Zepp Baseball app,
SwingAway MVP Bryce Harper model (Tyler used a Solohitter I believe),
Camera phone and Tripod, and
Minus-3 33 inch comp bat.
Setup:
Solohitter was set slightly behind the front feedback marker, and ball height was about the hip.
First 100 baseballs were hit using a “Door Knocking Knuckles” softball batting grip.
Second 100 baseballs were hit using a “Gorilla Grip”.
Data Collected (Zepp Baseball App Screenshots)
Data Analysis & Conclusion
“Gorilla Grip” ended up, on average, 2-mph faster bat speed,
“Gorilla Grip” ended up, on average, 2-mph faster hand speed, and
“Gorilla Grip” ended up, on average, .005 seconds faster Time To Impact.
Notes
Tyler had little to no break in between the 100 swings because there was rain coming where he was, and he had to rush to get the experiment done, so even if he was tired during the “Gorilla Grip” test, the metrics didn’t show it.
An average increase of 2-mph bat speed can add 8-16 feet of batted ball distance. 1-mph of bat speed = 4 to 8-feet of batted ball distance, depending on pitching velocity.
The bottom line about the “Gorilla Grip” is that a 7 year old all the way up to a 21 year old can grip the bat handle in the same part of the hands. It doesn’t matter the hand size. The “Gorilla Grip” still works. The same cannot be said for the “door knocking knuckle” softball batting grip.
In Conclusion
Try this test for yourself, and definitely tinker and test. What I’d like to see from this same experiment in the future, is to have ample physical rest for the “Gorilla Grip” test, and see where it goes from there. That being said, from the results of this softball batting grip experiment, I think we can put the “door knocking knuckles” grip MYTH to bed.
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Proper-Way-To-Grip-A-Bat-For-Baseball-Softball-Youth-Power-Door-Knocking-Knuckle-OR-Box-Hold.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-09-12 09:00:382022-09-12 20:41:09Proper Way To Grip A Bat For Lefty Or Righty Baseball & Softball Youth Power | Door Knocking Knuckles OR Box Hold, Which Is Best?
Batting Tips To STOP Flying Open & Get Front Foot Down On Time
This softball batting tips “Hit-Bit”, or hitting tid-bit, is an answer to questions from my readers when I asked them, “If you could have a private conversation with me, what two questions would you ask?”The answers are meant to be short, actionable, and tips you can use today.
Today’s Hit-Bit answers the reader questions:
“Drills to help kids not “fly open” with front hip. Drills / Methods on getting front foot down on time”
We’ll address:
Pre-loading the torso before landing,
Timing: 2-Plate Drill (progressions & regressions), and
Keep coaching feedback to a minimum.
And yes, these softball batting tips work for baseball too…
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Look, it’s not the front hip we should be worried about. Young hitters have been over-coached for the past three decades to ‘load and explode the hips’, and that the ‘hips lead the way’. Our concern should be, what happens before the hips lead? Or, what should happen? In other words, it’s not a “fly open with front hip” issue, it’s a ‘fly open with front shoulder’ issue.
Tony Gwynn knew the importance of keeping that front shoulder in. CLICK HERE for a video I did on him. The torso MUST be pre-loaded to as close to landing as possible (watch main video above on how to do this). This is how springy fascia in the torso is charged.
Timing: Varied Reaction LIVE Toss Drill (progressions & regressions)
Another coaching cue that just doesn’t work is, “get the front foot down early”. This can create a host of other timing issues. The hitting sequence is a ‘dance’. You never see the pitcher get their stride foot down early, momentarily pause, and then throw a pitch.
This is my favorite drill for getting the front foot down on time, or at least training the ‘dance’ part of the sequence. Here are some timing posts I did relating to this:
CLICK HERE for a softball batting tips post I did on giving feedback to hitters.
It has to do with the Goldilocks Golden Rule. Too much feedback, and you’re micro-managing. Nothing at all, and the player never knows if they’re on the right track. But just the right amount, strategically placed, makes a world of difference!
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-To-Keep-Front-Side-Shoulder-In-Fix-Flying-Open-For-Baseball-Softball-Swing.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-09-11 09:00:132022-09-12 05:39:46Keep Front Side Shoulder In & Fix Flying Open For Baseball Softball Swing | STOP Pulling Or Spinning Off, Hitting Ball Off End, Not Squaring Up, Correct Stride Foot Timing, & Being Late
Baseball Swing Load: If You Can Bend Sideways You Can Gain 4-MPH Bat Speed
Question: Does a Slight “Downhill” Shoulder Angle Before Landing Boost Baseball Swing Load & Bat Speed?
In this baseball swing load “shoulder” angle experiment using the Zepp (Labs) Baseball app, I wanted to use the Scientific Method to analyze what would happen to Bat & Hand Speed when we took 100 swings with a slight “Downhill” shoulder angle (about 8-10-degrees) versus another 100 swings with level shoulders.
The Feedback Lab parent testimonial about his 14 year old daughter Mia:
“Hey Coach,
It has been way too long but I wanted to share some information that happened yesterday. We are heading up to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the largest showcase in the southeast today. Yesterday was our last day to hit before the showcase and Mia was struggling with her power. We hit about 60-70 balls and Mia was hitting about 10% over the fence (she is usually 40%+). I was looking to make sure she was showing her number, which she was, hiding her hands, which she was, landing with a bent knee, which she was and etc., etc. It was getting late and we had to go and I told Mia she had only 6 balls left. I told her to show me her stance and I noticed that her front shoulder was equal to her back shoulder. I then told her to lower her front shoulder and raise her back one. That was the only change we made to her swing, Mia then hit the next 6 balls over the fence and 2 of them were bombs. I cannot believe the difference this one small change made.
Thanks, Primo”
SCIENCE-BASED TRAINING:
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Wall Street Journal Info-Graphic at: http://gohpl.com/1NFi8qi
The best resource for getting educated on spinal engine mechanics is to pick up Dr. Serge Gracovetsky’s book The Spinal Engine. For a teased out version of this,
CLICK HERE for a post I did that compared the pitching delivery, hitting, and an overhead tennis serve using this “bending sideways” technique.
Another good book from multiple authors on the subject of spinal engine mechanics, locomotion biomechanics, and springy fascia, check out the book Dynamic Body by leading author Dr. Erik Dalton.
Also, here’s a great Wall Street Journal post about Miggy Cabrera titled, Miguel Cabrera: The Art of Hitting. Check out what the illustration says in the middle of the red circle above…
Hypothesis
Based on the above baseball swing load experiment research and one of the other countless online hitting testimonials I get about “bending sideways” benefits, I think using a slight “Downhill” Shoulder Angle will boost Bat Speed at Impact by at least 3-mph, and Hand Speed Max by 2-mph.
Tyler Doerner, my intern for the summer and a hitter in HPL’s The Feedback Lab, is a redshirt college Freshman. He did the baseball swing load shoulder angle experiment.
Tyler broke the swing into two steps: 1) get to landing position, pause for 1-2 seconds, 2) then swing, to better control the shoulder angle during the tests.
So, there was an absence of forward momentum in this experiment.
The two tests in the experiment were counter-balanced. Which consisted of eight blocks of 25-swings done in the following order ABBA BAAB. “Level Shoulders” were letter ‘A’, and
“Downhill Shoulders” were letter ‘B’. 200 total swings were completed in the experiment, 100 per test. Counter-balancing helps remove the “getting tired” and “not being warmed” up factors.
Data Collected (Zepp Baseball App):
Look at the significant jumps in average Bat Speed at Impact & the Attack Angle…
Data Analysis & Conclusion
There’s a significant 4-mph JUMP in average Bat Speed at Impact with the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle.
Average Hand Speed Max only increased by 1-mph with the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle.
There was a small change in Time To Impact, in favor of the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle.
Not a big change in the Bat Vertical Angle at Impact.
And there was a significant 3-degree angle change in Attack Angle with “Downhill” Shoulder Angle.
Notes
We found a slightly bigger increase in average Bat Speed at Impact with the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle compared to my Hypothesis (4-mph versus 3-mph).
I thought there was going to be a bigger difference in Hand Speed Max, than how it turned out.
What was surprising was the 3-degree angle change of the attack angle. A 10-degree Attack Angle is a typical line drive. Once you start to get into the 15-20 degree range, you’re looking at more of a home-run launch angle.
The “Downhill” Shoulder Angle is actually something we’re working in Tyler’s swing. He tends to let go of his angle a little too soon.
I find that before and after Ball Exit Speed readings with my local hitters who’re familiar with the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle, can increase from 1-3-mph when this it the only mechanic we’re working on.
The Bottom Line?
In this baseball swing load shoulder angle experiment, we can clearly see with the “Downhill” Shoulder Angle that there’s a significant 4-mph jump in Bat Speed at Impact, AND a surprising 3-degree boost in the Attack Angle. The “Downhill” Shoulder Angle is a piece of what I call the Catapult Loading System. The BIG-3 are:
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Increase-Max-Bat-Whip-Or-Barrel-Speed-Creating-Hip-Shoulder-Separation-Hitting-Torque-For-Faster-Baseball-Softball-Swing.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-09-06 10:00:072022-09-07 17:42:26Increase Max Bat Whip Or Barrel Speed Creating Hip Shoulder Separation Hitting Torque For Faster Baseball & Softball Swing | When To Load In Little League
Discover the Gary Sheffield swing path hitting drills approach to hit for opposite field power. Learn how this works for baseball, fast pitch, and slow pitch softball!
Gary Sheffield Talks Hitting Mentioning 1 Shocking Swing Mistake He Didn’t Make…
In this Gary Sheffield Talks Hitting video, 500 Home Run Club member Gary Sheffield talks about his hitting style, plate approach and adjustments to different ballparks with Mark DeRosa, Bill Ripken and Robert Flores on MLB Central. Some of what you’ll find in the video:
1 shocking swing mistake Sheffield didn’t make,
Pitch recognition that Gary Sheffield is talking about,
Change your stance depending on the field?
What does focus on staying to the right of your left side mean? And,
Making swing adjustments because of injury to compete…
For your convenience below, I’ve time stamped my notes, so you can jump to wherever the conversation interests you…
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At about the 3-minute, 20-second mark, Sheffield talks about how after hitting 40+ homers between his AA and AAA season, he was brought up to MLB club and the powers at be tried to “flatten his bat” (for him a mistake he didn’t make). Because they wanted a lead-off speed guy who hits the ball to right field. When he got to San Diego, they wanted him to pick up the ball at 3rd base, they didn’t expect him to hit. This was disrespectful to Sheffield. He went from a guy not just trying to get on base, but to do damage.
At about the 4-minute mark, Gary Sheffield talks about his famous bat tilt-waggle, and how it’s all in the fingers. To get a nice relaxed crisp move with the fingers. Like dancing.
At about the 5-minute mark, Sheffield talks about picking pitcher up at release to differentiate what he’s throwing. Pitch recognition. He doesn’t care what the pitcher does before that moment. He said he looked for the heater and nothing changed on that approach throughout his career. He wants the pitcher to fool him. He doesn’t want to miss on the fastball. All he wants to know is what is the pitcher’s out pitch – the one he goes to the most when he needs it. Doesn’t swing at fork balls. He groups the fastball and slider together – as one pitch.
At about the 7-minute mark, Gary Sheffield talks about how he adjusts his stance depending on the park he’s playing in. Examples…in San Diego the dimensions are fair, so he uses all fields. At “fair” parks he didn’t feel like hitting the ball oppo made him lose something. In Florida with the Marlins, he got closer to the plate and became strictly a pull hitter because of short fence in left field. Homers came by way of left and left center, rarely to center. Goal of double digit homers to opposite field, so he was almost guaranteed 30 to 40 homers per year. Billy Ripken made the comment that he’s never heard of anyone else who did this, except maybe when hitting at Fenway. Dodger stadium was “fair” to him. Mentioned at night it got dewey there, ball didn’t fly as far. His strength was center field in LA.
At about 9-minute mark, Sheffield talks about his right elbow position to be ready to “punch”. Athletic position. Legs up under him. When hitting he just thinks about his left side. Tells his kids to cut the left side out. Focus on being to the right of your left side. Walking in the batter’s box sideways, so he knows he’s in the same spot every time. He wants to work sideways, so he can stay behind his left side.
At about 11-minute mark, Sheffield his swing is dominant front arm. Front arm goes straight to the ball. Billy Ripken talks about “squashing a bug“. They all comment on Gary Sheffield’s bat waggle and how parallel the barrel got to the ground at one point in the swing. Sheffield talked about an injury he had to his right foot, plantar fasciitis, that required him to skip/hop his back foot. Had to unlearn later. Interesting confession on making an adjustment to compete.
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gary-Sheffield-Swing-Path-Hitting-Drills-Approach-To-Opposite-Field-Power-Works-For-Baseball-Softball-Slow-Pitch.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-09-06 09:00:352022-09-06 20:02:27Gary Sheffield Swing Path Hitting Drills Approach To Opposite Field Power Works For Baseball, Softball, & Slow Pitch
Start above video at about the 5:00-minute mark. I briefly viewed a hitting instructional video on YouTube the other day that one of my readers sent me (Thanks Joe). I won’t share who did the video, so as not to cause any embarrassment. Like what was being illustrated in the video, I would say a majority of hitting instructors both online and off swear that the swing starts from the ground up.
This IS NOT what the current research shows as validated by human movement science. Yes, Gravitational and Gravitational Reaction Forces do have their place (and we’ll get to that)…my point is, ALL human movement DOES NOT start from the ground, and work it’s way up the Kinetic Chain.
Buahaha! I love that. Slipping front foot, no extension at front knee, and "hammering bug" with back knee. Result? A dinger! A lot of unhappy gravitational force peeps out there ? @backspintee
What I have for you above, is a snippet of video about 5-minutes long, explaining where the swing starts as explained by Dr. Serge Gracovetsky, Physicist, Electrical Engineer, and founder of The Spinal Engine.
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Here are some talking points that Dr. Gracovetsky mentions in the video (please WATCH video at the 2:00 minute mark to about the 7:00 minute mark):
There’s a lack of agreement in literature at what the function of the spine is.
Spine is generally believed to be a supporting column linking shoulders to pelvis…as we walk the trunk is thought to be carried passively by the legs. Problem with this: WHY is shape of spine in form of an “S” instead of being straight? – straight column would support compressive loads better than a curved one right?
Consider 20-year-old male subject who has reduced arms and no legs…moves on his Ischium.
If it was true that legs are necessary for human locomotion, then a person with such an anatomy would not be able to walk.
With the bottom of the screen hidden [while the subject “walks” across the floor], it is impossible to tell that this man has no legs.
Locomotion was first achieved by movement of the spine, and the legs came after as an improvement, not a substitute.
When providing a lateral bend to a curved spine (lordosis), an axial torque is induced. The rotation of the pelvis and shoulders is driven by the spine.
So does the swing, or any human movement for that matter, start from the ground up? In other words, are Gravitational Forces a necessity to move the Spinal Engine or merely an enhancement?
In an email conversation I had with Dr. Serge Gracovetsky a few years back, he said this about the relationship between gravity and spine engine mechanics:
“The coupled motion has nothing to do with gravity. It works in space as well. It is a property of the spine or any flexible rod for that matter. But the interaction with gravity makes interesting results which are exploited by every sport.”
Okay, since we’ve determined human movement DOES NOT start from the ground and go up the Kinetic Chain, I want to share a couple snippets from Dr. Gracovetsky about what role Gravitational Forces do play in dynamic movement…
Here’s a note about the importance of the heel strike in locomotion from Dr. Serge Gracovetsky in his book, The Spinal Engine (p. 168):
“…the compressive pulse generated at heel-strike is essential to the locomotion process. The shape of this pulse must be very specific if maximum energy is to be transferred from the earth’s gravitational field to the rotating pelvis.”
According to Dr. Gracovetsky, while running, our heel hits the ground creating a compressive force that is equaled to NINE-times our body weight. Gravity pulls our body down, and at heel strike, the ground pushes back in a compressive force.
This is why it has been demonstrated by Speed Coach Barry Ross that runners who dead-lift heavy weights with a low time under tension, get faster! They’re able to push into the ground with more force, which in turn, the ground pushes back with equal and opposite force.
It’s also worth noting about the Spinal Engine while walking on sand versus solid ground…
Dr. Serge Gracovetsky offers this example in his book (pgs. 168-169),
“Running or walking on soft sand is not easy and is very tiring, In this particular case, the energy leaks into the sand, the impact force is reduced, and the compressive pulse through the spine is attenuated [disabled] as the total energy recovered is reduced.”
The compressive force is softened by the sand, which doesn’t allow the pelvis to turn using efficient spine engine mechanics. To maneuver, the brain has to recruit big muscles to do the work. This is why you get a workout walking on sand…it’s powerless effort, rather than effortless power.
Does current research, that’s validated by science, say human movement starts from the ground, and travel up the Kinetic Chain?
No.
The trunk isn’t just a passive structure that is carried by the legs. Legs are not a necessity to human movement – evidenced by the legless subject in the video – they’re an enhancement. The Spinal Engine can work in space! I say the legs and arms amplify the movement of the Spinal Engine.
Do Gravitational Forces play a role in human movement?
Yes!
Like Dr. Gracovetsky says, “…the interaction with gravity makes interesting results which are exploited by every sport.”
That my friends is a human movement principle that is validated by science. Not philosophy or theory. This is why my new book The Catapult Loading System is so powerful to hundreds of coaches and tens of thousands of hitters across the US… (just check the reviews 😉
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Is-Increasing-Bat-Speed-And-Creating-Whip-Rotational-OR-To-Use-Legs-More-In-Baseball-Softball-Swing-At-Home-Youth-Hitting-Drills-For-Loading-Power.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-08-30 09:30:592022-09-07 05:23:55Is Increasing Bat Speed And Creating Whip Rotational OR To Use Legs More In Baseball Softball Swing? | At Home Youth Hitting Drills For Loading & Power
Are hitting hip rotation lower half loading drills, using the legs, good for beginning baseball or softball swing power and quick hands? My good friend Matt Nokes shines light on this hitting conundrum…
Matt Nokes: Why Rotating Back Hip Through Zone IS NOT Necessary For Power
In this Matt Nokes post, I wanted to bust a MYTH that Homer Bush brought up in his interview last week, and that is the MYTH that rotating the back hip through the zone is necessary for power.
This past week, I re-tweeted this from @HyattCraig (who is awesome btw), of one of two Miguel Cabrera homers in a game, and this particular one he hit to CF:
Look at Miggy’s back foot step behind him. Also, he doesn’t get full rotation of his pelvis ? https://t.co/l11qIOLPnp
The next day after that Tweet, I found this private message from a follower on Twitter:
“Joey, Honest question. I love most everything you post and It goes with all of the philosophies I teach as an instructor, but this particular post I don’t quite understand. Are you saying a backwards step of sorts and having limited pelvic rotation are positives? I don’t feel like this is practical for anyone that isn’t 6’3 225 when the pitcher is providing the power at 93. If you have time could you please clarify this for me?”
My response:
“Thanks for asking about that. A couple things, we do have to be careful about taking from big slugger analysis. I don’t mind what the back foot does as long as its un-weighting AND not skipping forward too much. Miggy has a great line following the batted ball, it has to do with optimizing centrifugal (center-fleeing) forces. As an example, the belly button should point where the batted ball has exited. Coach Matt Nokes talks quite a bit about full rotation not being an absolute to hitting.”
Which brings me to the above video, where Coach Matt Nokes walks us through numerous examples of elite hitters not fully rotating their back foot (and pelvis) until after impact. Also, let me define full rotation of the pelvis (or hips as some refer to it as), at least from what I see/hear/watch from other people out there…
Full pelvic rotation is getting the hitter’s belly button to face shortstop (for a righty, or 2B for lefty) on any pitch…inside, middle, and outside. I’ve found this gospel preached from those who don’t ‘buy into’ or understand the loading of springy fascia in the torso, since to them, the shoulders would be seen as ‘inactive’, before the hitter starts turning.
Therefore the pelvis has to do all the heavy lifting. This method is far from optimal, and NOT very safe for the lower backs of youth hitters across the nation, and even more disturbing will continue to keep Orthopedic surgeons in business.
CLICK HERE for a post I did explaining how the swing isn’t rotational OR linear, but that’s it’s actually linear, rotational, then linear again. The purpose of this post, is to open up discussion about whether rotating the back hip through the zone is necessary for power IS or IS NOT a myth…
Lastly,
I wanted to share one of my favorite Coach Matt Nokes drills for practicing what he preaches. It’s his “Around the Zone” soft toss (coaches please be careful with this):
What say you…?
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https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Are-Hitting-Hip-Rotation-Lower-Half-Loading-Drills-Using-Legs-Good-For-Beginner-Baseball-Softball-Swing-Power-Quick-Hands.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-08-24 09:00:202022-08-24 19:48:51Are Hitting Hip Rotation Lower Half Loading Drills Using Legs Good For Beginner Baseball Softball Swing Power & Quick Hands?
In my humble opinion, NO. Unless, and in the case of curing bat drag, the hitter is pinching the rear scapula in towards the spine with the ball underneath the back arm. But then again, for that, why would you want the ball there in the first place? A quick and consistently powerful swing comes from taking ALL slack out of the system, and the scap load is part of that formula.
Boost “Top Out” Bat Speed By “Hiding The Hands”, Like JD Martinez…
Question: Does Hiding the Hands Increase Bat Speed versus NOT Hiding Them?
Using the Zepp (Labs) Baseball app, I wanted to use the Scientific Method to analyze if hiding the hands from the pitcher prior to stride landing boosts bat speed, over not hiding them. Some may call this the “Scap Row”.
And we’ll see what proper baseball hitting mechanics look like with MLB Player of the Week (July 6th) JD Martinez of the Detroit Tigers.
My intern for the summer, red-shirt college freshman Tyler Doerner did the experiment.
Background Research
Most hitting instructors may call this the Scapula Row, or Scap Row for short. “Hiding the hands” is essentially the same thing, but is a much more sticky coaching cue.
“Hiding the Hands” has to do with loading the springy fascial material in the body. Without this springy fascia your bones and muscles would drop to the ground. It’s what gives muscles their shape, and what the bones and muscles ‘float’ in, according to Thomas Myers in his book Anatomy Trains.
“Hiding the Hands” also allows a hitter to be in proper baseball hitting mechanics to achieve high angular velocity early in the turn. This has to do with the Conservation of Angular Momentum. Achieving high angular velocity, early in the turn, is critical to Time To Impact and covering more plane of the pitch with the barrel.
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Based on the above research, I think proper baseball hitting mechanics, a la “Hiding the Hands”, from the pitcher (pre-turn) will have a big impact on bat speed versus not hiding them. I think results will be similar to what the “Showing the Numbers” Experiment revealed, where we saw an average bat speed increase of 6-mph over 200 swings.
Tyler uses a SoloHitter in the Experiment. The SwingAway Bryce Harper is swinging on is similar.
Equipment Used:
Zepp Baseball app,
Solohitter (like the SwingAway which I like better),
Camera Phone, Coaches Eye app, and Tripod, and
33 inch, 30 ounce wood bat.
Setup:
Forward momentum was eliminated in this experiment, and hitting from a 1-2 second pause at landing
First 100 baseballs were hit “NOT Hiding the Hands”
Second 100 baseballs were hit “Hiding the Hands”
There was no break between tests because Tyler was trying to beat the rains coming
Data Collected (Zepp Baseball App):
In this proper baseball hitting mechanics “Hiding the Hands” Zepp Experiment, see how “Hiding the Hands” slightly won out in Bat & Hand Speed, and Time to Impact rather than “Not Hiding the Hands”…
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As you can see, “Hiding the Hands” beat almost every category…
On average, 1-mph change in Bat Speed,
On average, 1-mph change in Hand Speed, and
On average, .005 change in Time To Impact.
“Hiding the Hands” didn’t have a significant jump in bat and hand speed, or Time To Impact than “NOT Hiding the Hands.” But there was a difference in top-out bat speeds:
Top-4 “Hiding the Hands” bat speeds (in mph): 85, 84, 84, and 82.
Top-4 “Not Hiding the Hands” bat speeds (in mph): 82, 81, and the rest were less than 79.
So, top out bat speed increased by 3-mph, and there were consistent higher bat speeds with “Hiding the Hands”.
Notes
The results of the proper baseball hitting mechanics “Hiding the Hands” Zepp Experiment may have been skewed because Tyler didn’t take a break between tests.
The following experiments will be using what one of my readers and motor learning and performance researcher Brad McKay suggests, which is counterbalancing the experiment. Essentially it’s breaking experiment swings into 25 swing blocks, and ordering them a certain way. For example, “Hiding the Hands” would be block “A”, and “Not Hiding the Hands” would be block “B”. The 200 swings would be broken into 8 blocks and ordered accordingly: ABBA BAAB. As Brad McKay says, “The issue with not counterbalancing is that you don’t actually know the effect of time because it is confounded with condition. In other words, you might always do better on the second block of 100 because of a warm-up decrement or a practice effect.” Thank you Brad for the experiment tip! We’ll do better next time 😀
About JD Martinez…this FanGraphs.com link titled, “JD Martinez on His Many Adjustments” is a great example of players today opening their eyes to how the body really moves, and not what some talking head thinks. Basically, JD Martinez subscribed to swinging “down on the ball” until he got injured in 2014, I believe. Then he started analyzing teammates’ and opponents’ swings that were crushing the ball, and found out they weren’t swinging down at all.
A week or two after the 2015 All Star break, according to FanGraphs.com, JD Martinez had 27 homers. His season high before that? 23, in 2014. To me, JD Martinez is a big slugger at 6’3″, 220-pounds. But when big sluggers do small slugger things (like being more effective with mechanics), even bigger things can happen. JD Martinez does a great job of “Showing his Numbers” and “Hiding the Hands”. This compresses the springy fascia material in the body.
The Bottom Line?
In this proper baseball hitting mechanics “Hiding the Hands” Zepp Swing Experiment, “Hiding the Hands” doesn’t seem to give a hitter a significant jump in Bat and Hand Speed, or Time to Impact. But definitely an increase nonetheless. But what using proper baseball hitting mechanics, like “Hiding the Hands”, does appear to do, is boost top-out bat speeds. AND, make those top-out bat speeds repeatable.
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
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https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bust-Bat-Drag-Fix-Disconnected-Baseball-Or-Softball-Swing-Get-Rid-Of-Dragging-Back-Elbow.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-08-23 09:00:572022-08-24 17:38:10Bust Bat Drag: Fix Disconnected Swing And Get Rid Of Dragging Back Elbow With Scap Load For Baseball & Softball Hitting | Does Ball Under Back Arm Drill Build Quick Swing?
By the way, his left handed swing is dampening his numbers quite a bit unless he makes some adjustments to his mechanics. His left handed swings make up about 75% of his at-bats. We’ll go over this in a little bit…
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Keeping feet inline with pitcher during turn and in follow through (scissoring),
Chopping down on the ball, and
Locking out front knee at impact on every swing.
Look, if you want the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to consistent power, then don’t look for it in the legs. The legs are only 20% of the power game. The other 80% is found in the spinal engine. Don’t believe me? Then check out this post titled: “Is Rotating Back Hip Through The Zone Necessary For Power?” I tell my hitters, your spine engine gets you to the wall, and your legs get you over.
What he IS doing with Catapult Loading System Comparing Lefty v. Righty Swings
Please note: there’s quite a discrepancy between his lefty versus right plate appearances at this point in the 2018 season, so please keep that in mind. A full season or seasons will tell us the true story, assuming he doesn’t change anything mechanically during that time.
Lefty swings in relation to using the Catapult Loading System:
Not ‘showing numbers’ to the pitcher very well,
Little to NO ‘downhill shoulder’ angle, and
Not ‘hiding his hands’ from the pitcher.
Righty swings in relation to using the Catapult Loading System:
‘Showing numbers’ to the pitcher beautifully,
Slight ‘downhill shoulders’ between 6 to 10-degrees,
‘Hiding hands’ from the pitcher like a champ!
The Plate Appearances are definitely not equal, so we’ll see what happens by the end of the season. But my fear is, if Ozzie Albies doesn’t change the relationship of the Catapult Loading System to his lefty swing, he’ll see more right-handed pitchers.
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
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https://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Ozzie-Albies-Baseball-Swing-Breakdown-Why-Squishing-Softball-Bug-Is-Bad-Keep-Head-Position-Still.png423800Joey Myershttps://hittingperformancelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/hitting-performance-labs_c90c0362088ef1d3d528f3078f4f8ac1-300x75.pngJoey Myers2022-08-22 09:30:142022-08-23 05:16:43Ozzie Albies Hitting Breakdown: Why Squishing Bug Is Bad, Keep Head Position Still, & Eye On Baseball Or Softball | Increase Power Drills To STOP Chopping Ball, & Fix Choppy Swing
“Staying Closed” for Fastpitch Softball & Baseball (NOT What You Think)…
In this article, we’ll compare the swings of Oakland Athletic’s (now Yankees) Josh Donaldson and quasi retired Jose Bautista. In the video, we’ll discuss:
Donaldson v. Bautista metrics,
What “staying closed” means to spine engine mechanics, and
Where Josh Donaldson might be leaking force at impact.
Josh Donaldson v. Jose Bautista Metrics
This section is split up as follows:
Physical
Swing analysis
Key offensive stats
Physical
Tale of the tape (according to Baseball-Reference.com):
Josh Donaldson – 6’0″, 220lbs
Jose Bautista – 6’0″ 205lbs
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So why does Jose Bautista come out on top even though he’s outweighed by 15lbs? Consider this…
Josh Donaldson: CLICK HERE to see a scatter graph of his dinger disbursement in 2013 (according to ESPN Stats & Information Group). In the 158 games he played in 2013 (24 homers) his…
Average true distance was 391.3 feet, and
Average speed off the bat was 103.7 mph.
Jose Bautista: CLICK HERE to see a scatter graph of his home-run disbursement in 2013 (according to ESPN Stats & Information Group). In the 118 games played (hand/wrist injury) in 2013 (28 homers) his…
Average true distance was 400.3 feet, and
Average speed off the bat was 104.8 mph.
The bottom line?
Joey Bats played 40 less games in 2013, but still outhit Josh Donaldson. So let’s answer the question of how Bautista hit each homer, on average, 9 feet further, and drove the ball 1.1 mph faster off the bat.
Let’s begin building a case as to where Josh Donaldson may be bleeding force at impact…
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
What “Staying Closed” Means to Spine Engine Mechanics
Most confuse the meaning of the coaching cue “staying closed”. The hitter DOES NOT “stay closed” with the bottom half. For maximum energy transfer, the pelvis should open when the body weights the front foot after striding. Both hitters seem to prematurely open their pelvis before the heel hits the ground. This isn’t efficient! We’ll talk about:
The truth about staying closed,
The importance of heel strike to locomotion, and
Swinging in sand: effortless power or powerless effort?
The Truth About Staying Closed
In the video, we apply two of three coupled motion of the spine actions, according to Dr. Serge Gracovetsky’s book The Spinal Engine:
Side bending (evidenced by a down shoulder angle), and
Axial rotation (hitter shows numbers to pitcher, while pelvis stays parallel to the plate)
In the video, we clearly see both hitters do this. Donaldson more than Bautista. I mentioned both hitters prematurely open their pelvis before heel strike. Let’s look at the gravity (pun intended) of doing or not doing this…
The Importance of Heel Strike to Locomotion
In the book, Gracovetsky offers one of several meanings for maintaining a healthy spine using spinal engine mechanics (p. 168):
“…the compressive pulse generated at heel-strike is essential to the locomotion process. The shape of this pulse must be very specific if maximum energy is to be transferred from the earth’s gravitational field to the rotating pelvis.”
Both hitters “stand tall” before falling forward and “getting shorter” into the turn. This lifting of the torso is like running versus walking. When running, our heel hits the ground creating a compressive force that is equaled to NINE-times our body weight, Dr. Gracovetsky says. Gravity pulls our body down (Un-Weighting Principal), and at heel strike, the ground pushes back in a compressive force. The greater the force, the faster the pelvis opens.
The following is where I foreshadow the problem with Donaldson…
Swinging in Sand: Effortless Power or Powerless Effort?
Dr. Serge Gracovetsky offers this example in the book (pgs. 168-169),
“Running or walking on soft sand is not easy and is very tiring, In this particular case, the energy leaks into the sand, the impact force is reduced, and the compressive pulse through the spine is attenuated [disabled] as the total energy recovered is reduced.”
The compressive force is softened by the sand, which doesn’t allow the pelvis to turn using efficient spine engine mechanics. To maneuver, the brain has to recruit big muscles to do the work. This is why you get a workout walking on sand…it’s powerless effort, rather than effortless power.
Donaldson is basically turning his pelvis using muscle mass (like walking in the sand). Whereas Bautista looks more effortless because he’s using efficient spine engine mechanics, gravity, and gravitational reaction forces…
Where Josh Donaldson May Be Leaking Force at Impact
In the video, you’ll see Donaldson start opening his pelvis five frames before he weights his front foot. His front foot looks like it almost “hovers” over the ground for 3-4 frames. Opening the pelvis without a true compressive force (gravity and gravitational reaction forces) would be like hitting a baseball while standing on sand!
Bautista starts opening his pelvis only two frames ahead of weighting his front foot. Joey Bats experiences a higher compressive force at landing than Donaldson does. This is why “staying closed” with the upper half, and committing the body to landing on the front foot is crucial to an average increase of:
9 feet to batted ball distance, and
1.1 mph to ball exit speeds.
Post UPDATE: after Josh Donaldson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, this post was picked up by the Canadian National Post(Just above the Jose Bautista image). Also, there was an “upgrade” to his hitting mechanics since this post was first published in 2014. CLICK HERE for a link to an Athletics Nation article talking about a difference in J.D.’s 2013 & 2014 swing mechanics. In 2015, Josh Donaldson reverted back to his minimalist “barrel tilt” 2013 hitting mechanics.
'Add 40-Feet' To Batted Ball Distance
Swing Study reveals how tens of thousands of hitters are adding 40-feet to batted ball distance by using one simple strategy.
Click the button below to access the FREE video that's been downloaded over 30K times!!
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, I wanted to use the Scientific Method to see if using the “gorilla grip” or “door knocking knuckle” softball batting grip produces more bat and hand speed. One of my online lessons, Tyler Doerner, a red-shirt freshman at Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana is interning for me this summer, and will be doing the experiment.
. The book was written in 1992, and Coach Delmonico talked about a grip test that I do with my hitters to show them proper grip (included in video above).
and Tripod, and
. For a teased out version of this,
by leading author Dr. Erik Dalton.
,
.
(p. 168):
.
