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MISTAKE # 1. Looking At Your Nose
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PROBLEM:
 
The batter does not have the head turned far enough
toward the pitcher. This prevents both eyes from picking
up the ball and the batter has difficulty seeing the ball.
 
The back eye is blocked from seeing the ball by the
batter's nose, thus the batter is "looking at her nose".
 
The batter is basically hitting "one eyed" ... so they
lose most of their depth perception and clarity.
 
SOLUTION:
 
Have your girls turn their head toward the pitcher
until their face is facing the pitcher and both
eyes are seeing the pitcher fully.
 
A good saying often used is "show the pitcher both of
your ears". This will always make sure the head is in
the correct position.
 
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MISTAKE #2. Poor Grip
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PROBLEM:
 
Improper grip reduces bat speed and bat control. Two
simple grip mistakes cause this problem.
 
Either the batter's hands are slowed by a grip that is
too tense or too tight, or the batter is gripping the bat
with the palms rather than the fingers.
 
SOLUTION:
 
The batter should strive to stay loose with the hands.
Effort should be made to reduce tensions and use a relaxed
grip.
 
Slight movement of the fingers may serve to keep the
"grip stress" down. The batter should hold the bat in
the fingers away from the palms.
 
This grip allows maximum hand speed and bat control.
 
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MISTAKE #3. Over striding
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PROBLEM:
 
Over striding is a common mistake. Batters that often
get "jammed" may be in fact causing their own problems
by over striding.
 
Over striding causes the batter's head and eyes to "jump"
up and down during the swing, so tracking the ball
becomes very difficult.
 
Also, a large stride usually results in a longer than
necessary swing with less hip involvement.
 
SOLUTION:
 
Batters should use a short or a "no stride" approach.
 
A short stride of 3 to 6 inches is often enough. In fact
simply picking the front foot up and putting it back down
is all the stride that is needed.
 
Try Sue Enquist's "stride" drill at 14:18 of the video
to fix this common problem!
 
http://www.softballinnercircle.com/signup/elite.php
 
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MISTAKE #4. Opening Up Too Soon
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PROBLEM:
 
The front side is opening too soon causing the batter's
"whole body" including head and eyes to pull off the pitch.
 
This flaw often causes the barrel to lag and a reduction
in bat speed. Much less plate coverage is allowed.
 
SOLUTION:
 
Have the batter strive to keep the "knob to belly button"
relationship during the swing.
 
The belly button rotates with the knob of the bat. On
inside pitches she will still "open" but the timing
will be perfect.
 
On middle and away pitches the batter will not open or
rotate so much. "The belly button to knob" relationship
maintains correct timing mechanics.
 
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MISTAKE #5. "Locking" The Front Arm
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PROBLEM:
 
The batter "locks" or straightens out the front arm
when the hands and bat are taken back to the "power" or
"trigger" position. 
This flaw causes the batter to be late starting the swing.
It also reduces bat speed, increases the bat's distance
to the ball, and often causes premature wrist roll.
 
SOLUTION:
Keep a bend in the front elbow. Keep the hands together
and working together. Keep the hands close to the body
and do not take them back so far that front arm flex is
lost.
 
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MISTAKE #6. "Hitch" In The Swing
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PROBLEM:
 
Batters that have a "hitch" in their swing often have
difficulty hitting the fastball.
 
They usually get "jammed" and are often late on medium
speed pitches. The batter is not "triggering" correctly.

Not loading up during windup.
 
In other words, she is dropping her hands before taking
them to the "power position" or what is often called the
"launch position". Also known as the plane of the ball.
 
This lowering of the hands causes her to be late
to the strike zone.
 
SOLUTION:
 
Take the hands slightly up and then back rather than
dropping them.
 
Sue's "quick bounce" drill (at 17:00 of the video) is
PERFECT for teaching this skill.
 
Try it a few times per week and your girls will be
pummeling the ball like an Olympic level cleanup
hitter...

kEEP AN EYE ON THIS PAGE, WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING PITCHING CLINICS. SOME WILL BE HELD DURING PRACTICE OFF THE FIELD AND SOME WILL BE HELD AT EXTRA INNINGS ON 23 MILE RD. WE WILL OFFER CATCHING CLINICS AT THE SAME TIME DURING PRACTICES.