Backspin Blogger

B ackside Release - The swing mechanics of the back leg Question:   What does the back leg & foot do during the contact phase of the swing? If you ask 99% of coaches, players, etc, the answer would be pivot,  squish the bug , rotate your hips, etc. FAULT:  This is actually a MYTH that has been passed down from generation to generation without really finding out what does happen. ***All premier hitters do NOT SQUISH THE BUG .   WHY:  If a hitter pivots or squishes the bug with the back foot; 1          They lose most linear movement which results in diminished power 2          Their margin for solid contact decreases 3          The swing mechanics start to break down immediately(Cast, dip, etc) 4          The hitter becomes strictly rotational 5      ...

A Proven Teaching Method As you read this, think about what we want in the end – a road map per say. 1.         You will know the  commonalities  of exceptional hitters.(Swing mechanics of the best players   on earth) 2.        You should know what the hitters do from head to toe and from the start of the swing to the end of the swing. This will be the model we use. Use the photos throughout as references for all the topics and concepts. The program is taught step by step . It is also the way it is best learned. *** One major problem I have witnessed over and over is “over-coaching”. It is very difficult to work on more than one thing at a time. Work on one thing, one technique, one commonality, one drill at a time. Then after a few workouts working on one technique, review the material, work on it a little and go to the next. Less is more sometimes. Less information at one time equa...

. The ALL Star and the Rookie While working out, on swing mechanics and general mental approaches, with one of the 2008 US Olympic baseball team members in the off-season (I know… tough life), he told me a great story … In the 2008 season, one of the San Diego Padres young catchers watched as the best hitter on the planet (at least that season) dug into the batters box. This guy was a star of stars and the catcher was just a “rookie nobody.” As the hitter got in the box, planting his back foot, he told the rookie catcher that he had a nice swing and was just doing a few little things wrong. He went on to tell him he was getting his front foot down late. Here is the funny part! He then told the rook to take the first pitch in his next plate appearance and work on getting that foot down on time. Then look out to the outfield where the star of stars was playing. “If I take my hat off, you were good, you were down early.” The catcher couldn’t believe this was happening.  Q...