Separation is one of the key factors in a successful swing. All great hitters have good separation in their swing which allows them to have more momentum prior to rotation, and separation that allows them to keep their shoulders, hips and hands on line with the incoming pitch. Check out the video below, let me know if you have any questions.
Mark Mulvany
Coach@Fastpitchtrainer.com
2 comments:
Is it REALLY as simple as adding length between the hands and the lead foot?
Also, how would you teach a hitter to do this? Lead arm extension is something all great hitters have! What I have noticed is that young hitters have what I call "slack" in their swings because they create separation the wrong way AND also create the separation before the transfer/ weight shift.
I'd be interested in your thoughts. Thanks
I like your term "slack" when it comes to separation. Obviously, it's more complicated than adding length to the distance between the front foot and hands.
One thing we do to eliminate "slack" is by using a rubber band to teach separation and how the forces of the linear move try and take the hitter out of a good hitting position prematurely. We keep the rubber band (industrial strength!) tied around the knob of the bat, and the hitter has the other end connected to their front foot. We try to increase the tension in the rubber band from our stance to toe touch.
Our players receive instant feedback on how the hands must provide resistance to keep in a good hitting position during the positive move. They learn that the momentum of the positive move will try and bring the lead arm and back arm forward, by adding resistance with the hands to remain in a good hitting position, we do create tension in the rubber band, which allows the body to be in a strong position at toe touch to begin rotation.
At a younger age, A LOT of our work is focused on the back arm during separation. A great deal of our hitters have their back elbow collapsing into their side during the stride, instead of pulling the hand and elbow together into a good slot upon a decision to swing the bat and to go into rotation. Even the hitters with good lead arm extension during the positive move can let their back elbow drift into the slot without the bat making progress.
The other thing the rubber band does is teach a good hand position at toe touch. The hitters that try and stick the bat by their ear and "chop" through the hitting zone can can no longer do this with the feedback the rubber band gives them.
I agree with you on the timing of separation. We don't let our hitters move the hands until they have made a move with lead shoulder, hip and foot towards the pitcher. As an example, we have them reach the hands back before the stride, and the rubber band acts like a sling shot moving the hands forward during the stride. We have a lot of "LOAD THEN STRIDE" people teaching the swing, and when you watch the great hitters, they don't "load" the hands, they load their source of power.
The other part I would point out in hitters that crates separation the wrong way is when just the hands and foot move. We teach our hitters a balanced positive move. Manny Ramirez's swing in RVP is a great teaching tool. From his negative move to toe touch, the lead shoulder, hip, foot and knee all move foward almost exactly the same distance during the weight shift. Some of our kids will try and leave the front shoulder back and only shift the lower half forward, which will then lead to an inconsistent swing plane.
Send me an e-mail sometime I really like your comment.
Mark Mulvany
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