Correcting a Batting Flaw

[Coach Bob]

I have been coaching fastpitch for about 40 years and I have met my match with a girl that lifts her back foot during her swing. She is an extremely strong girl with quick wrists that hits doubles and triples, when she makes good contact, but she is hitting with all her weight on the front foot. I have used up all my methods (having the front foot on a higher plane than the back foot during soft toss, going through a slow motion of how to transfer weight from the back to the front evenly, hitting volleyballs off a tee,stepping over and hitting off a tee, etc.) and when it is game time we go right back to square one. Does anyone have any experience in correcting this problem, as I may have been lucky, but I hadn't seen it till this year. I wake up in the middle of the night trying to solve it, so if nayone can, please help. I know this girl can become an even better hitter and improve her game if this is corrected. Thanks.

[Jeff Hammond]

Wow! Coaching for 40 years! There is a lot I could learn from you I bet. I have only been coaching for 14 years, but I have a suggestion that has worked for me before. Go to Walmart and by a pair of 2.5lb ankle weights and put one on her back leg as she bats in practice. This instant feed back will tell her exactly when she lifts the foot. You could have her do this in a scrimmage to add the game like intensity and have someone run for her. I would also put her on a routine of 5 minutes a day in front of a mirror (no bat) If she can watch herself do it correctly (or see herself do it wrong and fix it) that will create the muscle memory she needs to do it in a game.

Good luck with her. They can be a challenge but that is why we coach them.
Jeff

[Coach Bob]

I really like your suggestion and plan to use it tonite at practice. I had come up with a drill where I had her trying to hit semi-deflated volleyballs off a tee and it makes her have to keep her weight back and it seems to be working. With the addition of your drill i expect to see her becoming the hard hitter that i know she can be. Again, Thanks....

Jeff Hammond said:

Wow! Coaching for 40 years! There is a lot I could learn from you I bet. I have only been coaching for 14 years, but I have a suggestion that has worked for me before. Go to Walmart and by a pair of 2.5lb ankle weights and put one on her back leg as she bats in practice. This instant feed back will tell her exactly when she lifts the foot. You could have her do this in a scrimmage to add the game like intensity and have someone run for her. I would also put her on a routine of 5 minutes a day in front of a mirror (no bat) If she can watch herself do it correctly (or see herself do it wrong and fix it) that will create the muscle memory she needs to do it in a game.

Good luck with her. They can be a challenge but that is why we coach them.
Jeff

[Stacie Mahoe]

Does her foot come completely off the ground or just most of her weight is off it?

Is she leaning out over her front leg or just weight all up against a firm front side?

[Coach Bob]

Her back foot was coming off the ground and she ended up with the top of her body over the front leg. (Yet would get big hits) It takes alot of coordination to be able to do this, I know if she corrects it, she will an even better hitter - currently use her as #6 batter.

Stacie Mahoe said:

Does her foot come completely off the ground or just most of her weight is off it?

Is she leaning out over her front leg or just weight all up against a firm front side?

[Greg Robinson]

Are you able to post her swing somewhere? It may help to see what you describe. I love to problem solve swings. Goodluck. greg

[Coach Dorsey]

I use a drill to make sure they turn their hips and "squash the bug".

I have them stand parallel to the fence (back facing the fence), I set a tee even or slightly in front of their front foot and have them swing to hit the ball in the fence to their left (RH batter).

If they don't keep their weight back, open their hips and turn on their back foot, they have trouble hitting it into the fence,

Just something else to try.