Batting
Recommended Skill Analysis Tasks
Written Analysis: Analyze the following
- Stage: Identify the stage of the skill that is exhibited (e.g. beginner, intermediate, expert).
- Stage Characteristics: Describe 2-3 features of the movement on the video that is characteristic of the stage identified.
- What to Change: Identify and describe the most important aspect of the skill that will need to be changed for the subject to improve.
- Cue: Write the single most important verbal instructional cue to help the performer improve.
Video Annotations
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Comments
Skill Analysis
Stage: Beginner.
Stage Characteristics: Eye remains on the ball while following through with the bat once contact is made.
What to Change: Back (right) elbow should be up until bat swing is initiated to increase batting power.
Cue: Pick that back elbow up!
Stage: Beginner Stage
Stage: Beginner
Stage Comments: Feet are not stationary while swinging, bat does not make solid contact, drops back shoulder, almost falls over after swing.
What to Change: Keep feet stationary, shoulder up, and try to hit the ball on the ground this will cause more line drives.
Cue: Keep the feet still while swinging and lift the back elbow to bring up the shoulder.
Hitting Analysis
Stage: Beginner
Stage Characteristics: He moves his feet to much and also steps back instead of stepping at the pitcher. When he steps back it pulls him off the ball and he loses eye contact on the ball. He swings under the ball which means he drops his back elbow when he swings. When he pulls off the ball it takes the bat out of the hitting zone. So he will not make solid contact with the ball. He lets go of the bat.
What to change: He needs to step at the pitcher when he swings. He needs to keep his back elbow up so he has a level swing. Stay balanced. He also needs to keep both hands on the bat when he follows through.
Cue: Step at the pitcher with front leg
Keep both hands on the bat.
Keep back elbow up.
hitting
Stage: Beginner
Stage characteristics: Drops the back elbow, Does not step to the pitcher, and does not keep both hands on the bat.
What to change: make him keep his feet still untill he swings, as well as making sure he does not pull his head at the end.
Cue: keep the back elbow up and step to the pitcher.
hitting
Stage - Beginner
Stage characteristic-
This batter needs a wider stance to be more stable. One of the most important aspects to hitting is being balanced. With the feet close together you are not as balanced as if they were shoulder width apart.
Stride foot is going towards the left when he should stride at the pitcher.
Also its important to keep your hands up and not drop them. When you load your hand should stay high, then go straight to the ball. I think this is far more important then the elbow staying up. Your elbow can be down and hands are up
What to change-
The most important thing is for this guy to stride toward the pitcher and keep balance. The swing should not make you off balance. Widen the base, weight should be distributed evenly over the legs before the load, stride at the pitcher.
Cues-
for balance - say “50/50” even distribution of weight before the load.
Stride - “stride at pitcher”
Hitting Analysis
Stage: Beginner
Stage characteristics: Not keeping eye on the ball (head looks out instead of following the ball in). Too much bat movement in anticipation of the pitch. Stance is a little narrow but this should have very little affect. Drops the back shoulder when swinging (swinging for the fence vice base hits). Steps toward left field instead of toward the pitch. Does not extend the arms or "throw the hands" at the pitch. Releases bat with one hand during follow through.
What to change: I would widen the stance slightly to get this individual a little more view of the ball path. Minimize bat movement in anticipation of the pitch. Keep the head down on the ball and watch the ball make contact on the bat. Step toward the pitch instead of left field. Keep the back shoulder and elbow up and "throw the hands at the ball" to produce a more level swing. "Break the wrists" at point of contact with the baseball to also level the swing and have a proper follow through. Keep head down during the swing and do not take eyes off the ball. Drive off the back foot. Follow through swing with both hands on bat.
Cue: "Head down" - "Back shoulder" - "Steady bat" - "Break the wrists" - "Follow through" - "Drive off back foot" - "Throw the hands"
Beginner
Stage: Beginner
Characteristics: Batter pulls his head to the left after his swing not keeping his eyes down. Although busy hands can be successful for an experienced batter, a beginner at this level should have quiet hands and feet to keep concentration. Foot placement is inconsistent and will lead to bad habits when swinging.
What to change: Keep eyes down at bat at point of contact. Striving to keep head down will also keep his swing from opening up on the follow through. Hands and elbow should be still or nearly still before stride to ensure proper placement. (keep them from dropping at the beginning of swing) Feet should be at more balanced distance and should stride consistently.
Cues: Eyes down. rotate hips. still hands. elbow up. feet balanced. closed swing.