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Definitions Page 9


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A to C Pathway
acceleration
angular velocity
athletic position
back foot
back hip commitment
backside
backside collapse
backside hitting
backside under you
balance
balance, dynamic
balance, static
barred arm
barrell
barrel above hands
barrel up
bat
bat angle
bat, flat
bat, horizontal
bat mass (weight)
bat path
bat selection
bat speed
bat, vertical
batters box
bisect the head
bottom hand
bottom hand pulls
bunt
bunt, drag
bunt, push
bunt, sacrifice
bunt, suicide squeeze
casting
center of gravity
centering, fine
centering, soft
chicken wing
cocking
cocking the barrel
contact
contact hitter
contact point
count
count, hitters
count, neutral
count, pitchers
delaying action
drag backfoot
dropping the barrel
elbow to belly button
elbow, high back
elbow, high front
elbow, lift back
elbows down
extension
eye dominance
finish
finish, high
five eyes on pitcher
follow-through
force
form an “A”
form an "L"
front foot
front shoulder down & in
front side
front side collapse
front side, firm
front side, weight against
front side, weight over
grip
grip, choked
grip in fingers
grip in palms
hand path
hand, bottom
hand dominance
hand, top
hand position
hand-eye coordination
hands away
hands, hide the
hands, high
hands, low
hands, barrel above
hands, dead
hands inside the ball
hands, noisy
hands, quiet
hands outside the ball
happy zone
hard inside, soft away
head position
head still
head flies out
head movement
hips under you
hips rotate
hit and run
hit the inside of ball
hitch
hitch position
hitter, dead stop
home plate
hook
inertia
jammed
kinetic energy
knob to the ball
launch position
lever
line drive
linear
linear transfer method
load
load, bat
load, inward turn
load the knob
load, no
load, preloaded
load, reverse C
load, tiny circles
long-short-long
longitudinal axis
lunge
maintain angle
mash the bug
mechanical couple
motion
muscle memory
off-speed pitch
number knuckles
on your heels
opposite field
palm-up, palm down
pivot
pivot on back foot
plate coverage
power base
premature extension
pull
quiet eyes
reach
release point
rotational
rotational method
rhythm
separation
short front arm
shoulder to shoulder
shoulder, high front
stance
stance, close your
stance, closed
stance, open your
stance, opened
stance, parallel
stance, pigeon-toed
stance, square
stance, widen your
step in the bucket
stepping on ice
stride
stride closed
stride, developing a
stride, direction
stride, length
stride, no-stride
stride, opened
stride, overstride
stride, toe closed
stride, toe open
swing
swing, compact
swing length
swing, long
swing, short
swing, looping
swing, inside-out
swing, outside-in
swing, sweeping
swing, round
swing, uppercut
swing, wood chopper
take
take a strike
time, movement
time, reaction
time, response
timing
top hand
top hand, hanging
top hand push
top hand release
top hand too early
top hand, too little
torque
trigger
under the hands
up the middle
visualization
weight
weight shift
weight transfer
weight forward
weight on front side
weight on heels
weight distribution
wrapping the barrel
wrist roller
wrists cocked
wrists flat
wrists, roll

 

 


swing, long:
A term used to describe a swing in which the bat must travel a longer distance from the loaded position at the top to contact. This type of swing normally has a long radius from the longitudinal axis of the body. Although more bat speed can be developed with a longer arc, unfortunately, the ball does not sit on a tee and wait for us. Hitters with long swings must start their swing early to hit the fastball. They are often fooled by offspeed pitches, that disrupt their timing causing them to get out on their front side too early. Once a hitter's weight has shifted to their frontside, most of their ability to drive the ball has been lost. Once hitters get out on their frontside, most of their ability to drive the ball has been lost. Factors that contribute to swing length include, a poor grip, improper hand position, outside-in swing path, wrapping at the top, a barred arm, casting the hands, dropping the barrel to name a few.
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swing, short: A term used to describe a swing path in which the bat head travels a shorter distance from its loaded position to contact. Hitters with short swings have a shorter radius which allows the bat head to travel a shorter distance to contact. Being able to deliver the bat head to contact in less time allows a hitter a split second longer to see the pitch and make a swing descision. Consequently, hitters are less likely to be fooled and chase bad pitches. By using proper mechanical techniques, a hitter needs to develop the maximum bat head velocity over the shortest distance. A short swing is a must, to be an effective hitter at the higher levels.
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swing, looping: A swing path in which the barrel drops below the hands. See swing, uppercut.

swing, inside-out: A swing path that starts with the radius formed from the longitudinal axis to the bat head short, and progressively lengthens through contact. This swing path mirrors the action of the hands moving straight from the launch position near the back shoulder, away from the body to contact.
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swing, outside-in: A swing path in which the hands start away from the body, which lengthens the radius formed from the longitudial axis of the body to the bat head. From this position, the hands can only pull across the ball, resulting in a swing path that moves from outside, to inside.
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swing, sweeping: A swing path characterized by premature extension or barring out of the lead arm. This results in the hands casting, which drives the front shoulder open. Consequently, the bat head is forced to move in a long, sweeping path to the ball. This style of swing is naturally developed by the majority of hitters who begin at an early age without proper coaching.
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swing, round: See swing, sweeping.

swing, uppercut: A swing path characterized by the bat moving abruptly upward through the contact zone, resulting in the ball being lifted into the air. The barrel drops below the hands and an upward trajectory is created. This can be caused by gripping the bat in the palms, a high front side, a high back elbow, low hands, or collapsing on the back side.
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swing, wood chopper: A swing path characterized by the bat moving abruptly downward through contact, resulting in the ball driven downward. This can be caused by overcoaching “swinging down on the ball” or by using the top hand too early in the swing. Starting the top hand action too early results in the barrel raising as it comes over the top, driving the ball downward. Too much emphasis of developing the top hand can cause this problem. Remember, not all kids have the same problems, so not all kids need to be prescribed the same drills. What is medicine to one may be poison to another. Sometimes giving a kid a thought of finishing high can flatten him out through contact and help this problem. Picture a plane coming into an aircraft carrier for a landing. It does not come in straight down, crashing and burning. It comes in from high to low, leveling off, able ti hit the carrier and take off again. Remember, ideal contact is a line drive, not a ground ball!
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take: A term used to instruct a hitter not to swing at the pitch.

take a strike: A phrase used to instruct a hitter not to swing at a pitch until the umpire has called a strike on him.

time, movement: The time elapsed from the beginning of a movement until the movement is complete.

time, reaction: The time elapsed from the presentation of a stimulus until the movement begins.

time, response: The time elapsed from the beginning of a stimulus until the movement is complete. Reaction Time + Movement Time = Response Time

timing: A characteristic of rhythm. In hitting we use timing in conjunction with hand-eye coordination. A pitcher attempts to disrupt a hitters timing by changing speed and location.

top hand: The hand that is located nearer the barrel when taking a grip. The top hand is considered by many to finish what the bottoms hand has started. It controls the barrel of the bat during the swing.
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top hand, hanging: A term that describes a type of hand load in which the top hand moves closer to the pitcher. This action causes the bat head to load at the top.

top hand push: The action of the top hand during the swing. Once the bottom hand pulls or drives the knob straight to the inside of the ball, clearing the front side of the body, the top hand begins to rapidly push the barrel through contact. Some have characterized this action as “trying to turn the knob around to point toward your belly button as fast as possible”.
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top hand release: This terms describes an action of the top hand releasing just after contact in order for the barrel to continue moving through contact, ensuring that complete extension occurs. This maneuver is more popular in the linear transfer method of hitting. The purpose is to keep a hitter from pulling off the ball, leaving the chest and head down over the plate. Kids see a high, one-hand finish from some professional hitters and are under the impression they are hitting primarily with the bottom hand. Without slow motion, most people don’t see contact, only the finish. Many young hitters don’t use the top hand enough to control the barrel, accelerating it through impact. Consequently, they are destined to be opposite field hitters with little power.
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