Fix Bat Drag Or Casting Hitting Drill: STOP Missing, Looping, & Swinging Under Ball For Baseball & Softball
Learn how to fix bat drag or casting with this hitting drill. Discover how to STOP missing the ball, looping swing, and swinging under the ball for baseball and softball players.
How To Use the Flashlight Barrel Angle Drill to Boost Barreling the Ball
This time of the season, I’m getting a lot of younger hitters starting their turn before the stride foot hits the ground. I ask them if they throw a baseball or softball before their stride foot hits the ground.
Try it. Feels awkward, doesn’t it?! Why are these younger hitters starting their turn before landing their stride foot. It could be because of a flat barrel at or close to landing.
I also called it a “bleeding barrel” in this post that analyzed Paul Goldschmidt’s swing. A flat barrel can cause:
- Racing back elbow bat drag,
- Launching the turn too early, and
- Inconsistently barreling the ball.
The biggest reason is because when the hitter flattens out the bat at or slightly before landing, it shifts the center mass of the bat behind the center mass of the hitter.
The video above is my favorite prescribed drill for fixing a “Bleeding Barrel” and a flat launched bat. Here are the video notes:
- What was once Pre-Launch Barrel Angle,
- Fixing throwing before front foot lands v. Final Turn before front foot land,
- Center mass of the bat,
- Variance using feedback markers, and
- As close to landing as possible.
Please keep me updated on your hitters using the Flashlight Barrel Angle Drill…
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Joey, I like the idea but I’m not sure about the whole thing (bigger picture)…Great topic….
Have you had a chance to look into the end loaded and balanced bats… I really hate balanced bats!!!! What say you? Hope all is well….
~DM
Djura, it’s all about feel for a hitter…I have my hitters train with both. Physics says an end loaded bat will have faster Ball Exit Speeds than a balanced one with all things being equal.
I had thought that the flashlight was to point at the catchers feet. Is that incorrect?
Yes Jay, but I’ve updated the drill using it this way to also take into account “hiding the hands” from the pitcher.
I got you… I love feel and I love thinking… I think because my approach adds another dimension or move that yours doesn’t include, I feel like if I was taught this drill I might off never found my swing… I guess at the end I need to stop commenting on our differences… and focus on what we agree on and ask question when I need help…I do like the drill…Thanks for your feedback… ~DM
Djura, I agree. One drill typically doesn’t work for all hitters. You’re dealing with primary feel, visual, or audible learning styles. Working with your swing using this drill, I could find a way to make it work keying in on your primary learning style.
This drill didn’t work for us. If they are committing to the turn to early doesn’t that initiate from the bottom half? So how does forcing an upper body movement fix this? I have a hitter struggling with this issue. Great hitter but deals with alot of inconsistencies. I have been watching youtube videos for years. Ordered analysis, worked with local and online coaches and have not fixed this issue. I’m not going to continue spending money just to tinker away and have no improvement. Personally I think he is a momentum hitter and gets alot out of his stride. So when the front toe touches he is trying to slot it esrly to hit with that momentum. I’ve tried going heel up heel down etc.. tried this flashlight drill. Even did it at night with a real flashlight.
Sorry for the frustration. Try lowering the hands, and not letting the top hand thumb get above the armpit level all the way to landing. Have you tried Finger Pressure? This seems to fix most of my racing back elbow hitters. I’m sure this hitter initiates from the bottom half when throwing, but the problem is he does it in reverse when hitting.
You have to get the hitter to focus on fixing the movement with process, not focusing on his outcomes early on. In other words, if he swings and misses but follows the process, then that’s an “A” swing. If he hits a fiery hole through the back of the net but ignores the process, then that’s an “F” swing. Please contact me directly and I’ll cancel/refund your order.