Written By: Garrett Gordon
Feeling the Initial Start of the Swing
We have talked about this before about the Initial start of the swing. It is crucial for a hitter to understand that if they want to hit the ball harder and farther they have to get their sequence right. Understanding the first initial moves and why you need to get your barrel slotted is crucial for success at the plate.
What is the Slot?
After reading the article that I tagged in the paragraph above we know that the swing starts with the hips. After that, the torso and the back knee and elbow begin to move as well. This is what will allow hitters to have the proper sequence in their swing. Getting the bat connected to a hitters turn is mandatory and if not done properly the hitter will not succeed even less. One of the most important aspects of the swing that this helps is swing direction. Direction starts with the proper sequence. Check out the video below for further information.
The Slot Simplifies
After hitters gain a better understanding of how to slot the barrel it will make decision making better. When hitters get to this "Slotted" position if makes them have to worry about things. Contact point and side bend are what will help hitter get to and through the ball much more efficiently. Contact point gets ditched by your timing and whether the pitch inside, outside or middle. The height of the pitch will determine how much a hitter will have to side bend. The higher the pitch the less side bend. The lower the pitch the hitter will have to side bend more. With the proper slot and sequence of the swing this is how hitters will be able to keep it simple and effective.
3 Things this Drill will Help
- Sequence- many hitters often times turn the hips, torso, and shoulder together. This will cause an improper bat path. As a result the barrel will come in and out of the zone. Therefore you must pay close attention to how I do this drill so you can reap the benefits of getting your sequence right.
- Early Connection- Another important part of the swing is getting the barrel connected to the hitters to turn. This drill done properly will help hitters feel the initial start of the swing and also get their bat slotted properly. Get slotted and get connected.
- Swing Direction- My favorite thing to get hitters to understand better is swing direction. It starts with the sequence but without proper slotting of the bat with the back knee and back elbow, swing direction will suffer.
The Main Thing to Avoid
This drill is simple to gain an understanding of how to find your slot in your swing. The move itself is subtle and you shouldn't try to overdo it. The front shoulder shouldn't drastically rotate away from home plate when learning this move. The goal is to get the hips turned then letting the knee and elbow move together. The front shoulder should move upward instead of outward.
Banded Slot Drill
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Words alone do not impress a learner. Repetition is the backbone for a desired result. Garrett is confident and clear. Showing the importance of the demonstrated skill invited learners to practice more. Perfect practice equals enhanced performance. Baseball Rebellion has the right idea. Excellent instructors and performance equipment without a gimmick.