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HITTING THREAD: When creating hip/shoulder separation, remember more is not always better. A big problem I run into with hitters is creating separation by a big inward torso turn, rather than getting the hips in front of the shoulders. Excessive tee work exacerbates this but 1/
does create separation at foot strike. The problem? Direction. The big inward turn leaves the pelvis neutral to the plate and the hands buried behind the torso. This will lead to compensations for the hitter’s direction towards the middle of the field, as their hands will 2/
work around their body. This will create path issues and decrease their ability to get on plane and deliver flush contact. To correct this, think of the body as a car. The pelvis is the gas petal, and the shoulders are the steering wheel. Allow the shoulders to set the angle 3/
during the forward move, while hitting the gas petal (unloading the pelvis/back hip). While the hitter is on their way forward, a slight inward turn of the torso is ok, but we should see clear separation between pelvis and torso with the pelvis turning forward against a stable 4/
shoulder line. At foot strike, instead of the pelvis being neutral towards the plate, it will be ahead of that, most likely pointing somewhere around the opp. field outfielder. As you can see at foot strike here, there is clear separation and facing the right direction. This 5/
creates a clearer path for the hands to work through the middle of the field, instead of around the hitter’s body. The camera offset makes it appear as if her hands are hidden from the pitcher, but there is a clear view of them at foot strike (if the camera was the pitcher). 5/
The result is a more “head on collision” with the ball, more flush contact, and ability to stay on plane with the pitch longer. For hitters who break their wrist angle too early, have length in their swing, or struggle to get through the ball, it might be how they separate. 6/
Some general rules of teaching separation:
1. Make sure the hitter can disassociate their pelvis from torso. If they can’t, teach that first.
2. More separation ≠ better. Some hitters move tighter and don’t need a ton.
3. Hips ahead of shoulders, not shoulders behind hips. 7/7
1. Make sure the hitter can disassociate their pelvis from torso. If they can’t, teach that first.
2. More separation ≠ better. Some hitters move tighter and don’t need a ton.
3. Hips ahead of shoulders, not shoulders behind hips. 7/7
@_breemitchell (featured) is an absolute stud and is going to make @BadgerSoftball very happy when she arrives next spring.
