| the swing |
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introduction It is often said that the most difficult thing to do in sports is hitting a baseball. There is nothing found to be more true. The sheer physics of the matter - a round shaped object (the bat) striking another round shaped object (the ball) - can be a challenging concept and a frustrating endeavor. Despite this, teaching the skill of hitting to a young player can be achieved. It begins with the understanding of basic hitting fundamentals. In his book Hitting Made Simple: A Guide for Parents and Coaches, Professional Hitting Instructor Kraig S. Kupiec discusses the five elements that make up a mechanically correct batting swing. They are: stance Batting stances are like fingerprints in that there are no two alike. They vary from one player to the next but key characteristics are shared by all successful hitters. It is in these shared areas that parents and coaches should instill positive habits. The stance is the starting point of a mechanically correct swing. If a batter is unable to achieve all or most of these common traits, the opportunity for greater success or improvement will be minimal. (more) step, set, and see If the batting stance is the starting point, the Step, Set, and See is the preparation point. A successful batter will prepare his/her swing by initiating proper movement of the front foot and hands. In addition to these movements, the position of the batter's head at this juncture becomes critical to timing and power. (more) linear approach The third element of a mechanically correct batting swing involves the beginning forward motion of the hands and hips that follow successful pitch recognition. It is the most critical physical action of the swing because it sets in motion a series of proper techniques that are required for successful hitting. Unfortunately, most young hitters fail to initiate a proper Linear Approach to the ball which contributes to reduced bat speed, diminished power, poor pitch selection, and ultimately, hitting failure. It is in this area of the swing where most struggling hitters go wrong. (more) contact position The Contact Position is the correct movement of the hands, arms, shoulders, and hips culminating in the maximum acceleration of the bat at contact with the ball. A batter who is able to master the correct mechanics of the Linear Approach will more easily and more frequently achieve the proper Contact Position. There is an unfortunate misconception among many youth coaches regarding a critical part of a hitter's approach during contact. (more) finish point The actions that follow contact with the ball are understood to be passive and secondary. This is far from the truth. In fact, the movements of the bat, hands, arms, and feet after contact are essential to successful hitting. Its importance can be derived from the notion: any result is a consequence of a previous action or actions. The batter's ending position will not only determine the velocity and direction of the hit but will provide insight into flaws that may have taken place previous in the swing. (more) |
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Kraig S. Kupiec is known as an authority on teaching hitting to young players. He provides individual and group instruction at Inside the Park Hitting Facility in Fall River, Mass. He currently serves as the Hitting Coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He played at Wake Forest University and was selected by the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball draft in 1991. |
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