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MILLARD SOUTH SOFTBALL. HITTING PHILOSOPHY. OUR PURPOSE. REINFORCE WHAT WE ARE TEACHING CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN INSTRUCTION ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE EVOLUTION OF THE SWING. HISTORICAL METHODS LINEAR SWING (CHARLIE LAU) ROTATIONAL SWING
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MILLARD SOUTH SOFTBALL HITTING PHILOSOPHY
OUR PURPOSE • REINFORCE WHAT WE ARE TEACHING • CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST • WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN INSTRUCTION • ANSWER QUESTIONS
THE EVOLUTION OF THE SWING • HISTORICAL METHODS • LINEAR SWING (CHARLIE LAU) • ROTATIONAL SWING • SOFTBALL SWING VS. BASEBALL SWING
HITTING BASED ON RESEARCH • http://www.norcalhitting.com/Fastpitch.htm • http://www.batspeed.com/ • http://www.beabetterhitter.com/index.html • http://www.sportskool.com/sports/softball • http://www.game-ex.com/drills/index.shtml • http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/
OUR BASIC PHILOSOPHY • TO MAINTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP EXCELLENCE, A PLAYER HAS TO HIT A 65 MPH PITCH/AND A 45 MPH CHANGEUP • OUR HITTING EMULATES CREIGHTON, MICHIGAN STATE, ARIZONA, AND UCLA AMONG OTHERS
OUR RESULTS • YEAR DOUBLESTRIPLESHOME RUNSTOTAL EXTRA BASE HITS • 1999 17 10 1 28 • 2000 17 6 3 26 • 2001 7 4 0 11 • 2002 21 2 0 23 • 2003 16 6 0 22 • 2004 42 13 4 59 • 2005 55 10 9 74 • 2006 48 22 7 77 • 2007 52 19 10 81
THE MENTAL APPROACH • STARTS AT PRACTICE, DRILLS • STARTS WITH CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT • EXTRA WORK IS REQUIRED • IN A GAME, THE MENTAL APPROACH STARTS BEFORE ENTERING THE BATTER’S BOX • NEVER PRESSURE BATTING AVERAGE – HIT THE BALL HARD AND BE SELECTIVE • KNOW WHAT TO DO IN A HITTER’S COUNT (0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, [3-0?]) • CAN’T EXPECT 100% RESULT FROM 60% EFFORT • LEARN TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND FAILURE
THE MILLARD SOUTH SWING • STARTS IN THE GRIP • HAVE A WAY TO RELEASE TENSION • THOUGHTS ON STANCE - EYES - ELBOW - CLOSED OR OPEN? - IS BAT POSITION IMPORTANT?
THE LOAD • WE DON’T BELIEVE IN STEP-SWING IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION (LINEAR) • WE GO FROM STANCE TO LOAD • BAT OFF SHOULDER (MAINTAIN POWER V) • SLIGHT WEIGHT SHIFT TO BACK SIDE (CAUSED BY ELEVATION ON FRONT BIG TOE) • BOTH EYES FORWARD AND LEVEL (NOT CHIN DOWN)
NOW IT’S TIME TO SWING • MENTALLY LOOK FOR A PITCH TO HIT THE SNOT OUT OF • SHORT STRIDE WHERE FRONT TOE COMES DOWN, LEAVING A FIRM FRONT SIDE • KEEP BAT IN LAUNCH POSITION – DON’T CARRY HANDS WITH STRIDE • DON’T HIP SLIDE
A = BAT B = BALL • IF THERE IS A “C” TOO MUCH IS OCCURING • KNOB LEADS TO BALL • QUICK HANDS “TO IT” • HANDS STAY INSIDE THE BALL • HEAD IS STILL • TAKE THE “POWER V” TO THE BALL
CONTACT • LEAD ARM – PALM DOWN (ON KNOB) • TOP ARM – PALM UP (STRONG ARM) • ARMS ARE NOT LOCKED • CHIN, NAVEL, BACK HIP, BACK KNEE ALL COULD “TAKE PICTURE” OF BALL • “IKE TO MIKE” SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
WE’VE BEEN ‘TO IT’ NOW ‘THROUGH IT’ • STAY ON THE PLANE OF THE PITCH AS LONG AS POSSIBLE • INSIDE – PULL/OUTSIDE – MIDDLE OPP. • DO NOT ROLL THE TOP WRIST OR AS LATE AS POSSIBLE (NEW SWING VS. OLD SOFTBALL SWING) • “EXTEND AND EXTEND AGAIN” – OUT AND THEN UP • BACK SIDE HAS TO COME UP AND THROUGH – BACK SHOESTRINGS AND BELLY BUTTON TO PITCHER • SOLID FRONT SIDE KEEPS BODY FROM OVER-ROTATION “BALLERINA SWING”