eye
dominance: A
term used to denote one eye having control over the other eye. To determine
your eye dominance, extend your arms full length and place the palm
of one hand on the back of the other. Slide the hands outward until
a small hole appears between the two hands just inside the thumbs, just
large enough you can see through. Focus on a small object a few feet
away with both eyes. Shut your left eye. If you can still see the object,
you are right-dominant. If you cannot, you are left-eye dominant. Approximately
80% of the population is right-eye dominant. This is important to know
because it can relate to the stance and loading mechanism you select.
For instance, a right-handed hitter who is right-eye dominant, must
be careful that his stance, or the type of load he chooses, does not obscure the
vision of his right eye with the bridge of his nose. In order to track
the ball and have depth perception, it is necessary to see with both
eyes. This is one reason that some hitters choose to begin with a slightly
opened stance. Note- a small portion of the population are bi-polar,
in which neither eye is dominant.
Click for Illustration
finish:
see
follow through.
finish,
high: A
term used to describe the position of the hands at the end of the follow
through. The position the hands finish is directly related to where
contact was made. Example, a pitch down in the strike zone will normally
result in a higher finish due to having to go down and drive it out.
It would be more difficult to finish high on a pitch up in the strike
zone since contact would be more perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, causing
the finish to be lower. Thinking high finish may help a kid who swings
down sharply on the ball because it will cause the barrel to flatten out through
contact.
five
eyes on pitcher: A
phrase used to describe a hitter closing the front side in the loaded
or power base position, with imaginary eyes on the back of his front
shoulder, his front hip pocket, and the pitcher’s side of his front
knee. Along with his two actual eyes, he now has “five eyes on the pitcher”.
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to Develop Front Side Closed
follow-through:
The
completion of a swing in which the bat undergoes negative acceleration,
avoiding an abrupt stop which could result in injury.
force:
A
push, pull, or tendency to distort. Force equals mass times acceleration.
F=ma (Newton’s Second Law of Motion).
form
an "A": A
phrase that describes the position of the forearms and elbows in a down,
relaxed position when preparing to hit.
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form
an "L": A
phrase that is used to describe the front elbow forming approximately
a 90-degree angle when preparing to hit. From this position, while holding
this angle constant, raise the hands to shoulder height. This moves
the front elbow
to the belly button placing the hands in a good starting position.
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front
foot: Refers
to the foot that is located nearer the pitcher while taking a stance
in the batter’s box.
front
shoulder down and in: A
phrase used to describe the position of the front shoulder while taking
a stance. Starting with the shoulder slightly down will cause the shoulder
to "level out" as the swing progress. Hitter's need to force the shoulder
to stay down and in, in order to remain "closed" as long as possible.
Proper back side action will cause the shoulders to open at the right
time.
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Click Red Dot for Drills
to Correct Opening Too Soon
front
side: Refers
to the knee, hip, and shoulder nearer the pitcher.
front
side collapse: A
term that describes the position of the front knee as it breaks down
upon receiving the weight transfer. Keeping the front toe closed is
beneficial in preventing this problem. Since the knee is a hinge joint,
closing the front toe positions
the knee in such a way that it will not collapse as weight is transferred
from back to front. Hitting against a firm
front side is a must in order to properly integrate the lower body
and hip action into the swing. This action blocks the forward movement
of the weight shift, forcing
the front hip backwards. A proper back
foot pivot and back hip
commitment causes a forceful, rotational action in the hips, which
is used to generate bat speed.
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Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop a Firm Front Side
front
side, firm: A
phrase that describes the position of the front leg as the weight is
transferred against it.
Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop a Firm Front Side
front
side, weight against: A
phrase that describes the halting of the forward action of the weight
transfer by the firming up of the front leg. This offers resistance
and assists with the rotation action of the hips when combined with
proper back side actions.
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front
side, weight over: A
phrase that describes a hitter’s weight being on top of , rather than
against a firm, front side. This results in an inability to properly
integrate hip action in the swing.
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grip:
The
grasping or holding of the bat. The part of the bat that a hitter holds,
usually consisting of a non-slip material.
grip,
choked: A
term used to describe a hitter moving his hands slightly away from the
knob. This moves the hands nearer to the center
of gravity of the bat and allows a hitter more control. This is
highly advised with younger hitters, especially if the bat may be to
heavy. Example: Telling a kid to “choke up, or choke the bat” means
to move the hands up the bat, away from the knob.
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grip
in fingers: Holding
the bat at a position where the fingers and palms meet. This position
best facilitates proper wrist action and control of the bat head, allowing
it to accelerate through contact.
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grip
in palms: Holding
the bat in the palms can inhibit wrist action and slow the bat head.
This grip makes it it difficult to keep the barrel up approaching contact.
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hand
path: A
term that describes the route of the hands from launch position to contact.
hand,
bottom: Refers
to the hand in the grip that is located nearer the knob. The bottom
hand controls the swing plane and radius. (arc size)
Click for Illustration
hand
dominance: The
hand which one normally uses for writing, throwing, eating, etc., when
one hand is favored over the other. The dominant hand is normally the
stronger of the two hands.
hand,
top: Refers
to the hand that is located nearer to the barrel. The top hand controls
the bat head, and is used to forcefully accelerate the bat head through
contact.
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Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop the Top hand
hand
position: A
term used to describe the hands in the starting position in relation
to the body. Example, hands high, hands low, hands away, hands in.
hand-eye
coordination: A
term used to describe the process of receiving sensory information through
the eyes and feeding it to the brain where it is processed. A motor
nerve from the brain sends the information to the muscles in the hand,
requiring a precise movement. This action between the sensory and musculoskeletal
system is essential to becoming a successful hitter.
Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop a Hand-Eye Coordination