MILLARD SOUTH SOFTBALL HITTING PHILOSOPHY

OUR PURPOSE REINFORCE WHAT WE ARE TEACHING REINFORCE WHAT WE ARE TEACHING CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN INSTRUCTION WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN INSTRUCTION ANSWER QUESTIONS ANSWER QUESTIONS

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SWING HISTORICAL METHODS HISTORICAL METHODS LINEAR SWING (CHARLIE LAU) LINEAR SWING (CHARLIE LAU) ROTATIONAL SWING ROTATIONAL SWING SOFTBALL SWING VS. BASEBALL SWING SOFTBALL SWING VS. BASEBALL SWING

HITTING BASED ON RESEARCH

OUR BASIC PHILOSOPHY TO MAINTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP EXCELLENCE, A PLAYER HAS TO HIT A 65 MPH PITCH/AND A 45 MPH CHANGEUP TO MAINTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP EXCELLENCE, A PLAYER HAS TO HIT A 65 MPH PITCH/AND A 45 MPH CHANGEUP OUR HITTING EMULATES CREIGHTON, MICHIGAN STATE, ARIZONA, AND UCLA AMONG OTHERS OUR HITTING EMULATES CREIGHTON, MICHIGAN STATE, ARIZONA, AND UCLA AMONG OTHERS

OUR RESULTS YEAR DOUBLES TRIPLES HOME RUNS TOTAL EXTRA BASE HITS YEAR DOUBLES TRIPLES HOME RUNS TOTAL EXTRA BASE HITS

THE MENTAL APPROACH STARTS AT PRACTICE, DRILLS STARTS AT PRACTICE, DRILLS STARTS WITH CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT STARTS WITH CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT EXTRA WORK IS REQUIRED EXTRA WORK IS REQUIRED IN A GAME, THE MENTAL APPROACH STARTS BEFORE ENTERING THE BATTER’S BOX IN A GAME, THE MENTAL APPROACH STARTS BEFORE ENTERING THE BATTER’S BOX NEVER PRESSURE BATTING AVERAGE – HIT THE BALL HARD AND BE SELECTIVE NEVER PRESSURE BATTING AVERAGE – HIT THE BALL HARD AND BE SELECTIVE KNOW WHAT TO DO IN A HITTER’S COUNT (0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2- 1, 3-1, [3-0?]) KNOW WHAT TO DO IN A HITTER’S COUNT (0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2- 1, 3-1, [3-0?]) CAN’T EXPECT 100% RESULT FROM 60% EFFORT CAN’T EXPECT 100% RESULT FROM 60% EFFORT LEARN TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND FAILURE LEARN TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND FAILURE

THE MILLARD SOUTH SWING STARTS IN THE GRIP STARTS IN THE GRIP HAVE A WAY TO RELEASE TENSION HAVE A WAY TO RELEASE TENSION THOUGHTS ON STANCE THOUGHTS ON STANCE - EYES - ELBOW - CLOSED OR OPEN? - IS BAT POSITION IMPORTANT?

THE LOAD WE DON’T BELIEVE IN STEP-SWING IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION (LINEAR) WE DON’T BELIEVE IN STEP-SWING IN A CONTINUOUS MOTION (LINEAR) WE GO FROM STANCE TO LOAD WE GO FROM STANCE TO LOAD –BAT OFF SHOULDER (MAINTAIN POWER V) –SLIGHT WEIGHT SHIFT TO BACK SIDE (CAUSED BY ELEVATION ON FRONT BIG TOE) –BOTH EYES FORWARD AND LEVEL (NOT CHIN DOWN)

NOW IT’S TIME TO SWING MENTALLY LOOK FOR A PITCH TO HIT THE SNOT OUT OF MENTALLY LOOK FOR A PITCH TO HIT THE SNOT OUT OF SHORT STRIDE WHERE FRONT TOE COMES DOWN, LEAVING A FIRM FRONT SIDE SHORT STRIDE WHERE FRONT TOE COMES DOWN, LEAVING A FIRM FRONT SIDE KEEP BAT IN LAUNCH POSITION – DON’T CARRY HANDS WITH STRIDE KEEP BAT IN LAUNCH POSITION – DON’T CARRY HANDS WITH STRIDE DON’T HIP SLIDE DON’T HIP SLIDE

A = BATB = BALL IF THERE IS A “C” TOO MUCH IS OCCURING IF THERE IS A “C” TOO MUCH IS OCCURING KNOB LEADS TO BALL KNOB LEADS TO BALL QUICK HANDS “TO IT” QUICK HANDS “TO IT” HANDS STAY INSIDE THE BALL HANDS STAY INSIDE THE BALL HEAD IS STILL HEAD IS STILL TAKE THE “POWER V” TO THE BALL TAKE THE “POWER V” TO THE BALL

CONTACT LEAD ARM – PALM DOWN (ON KNOB) LEAD ARM – PALM DOWN (ON KNOB) TOP ARM – PALM UP (STRONG ARM) TOP ARM – PALM UP (STRONG ARM) ARMS ARE NOT LOCKED ARMS ARE NOT LOCKED CHIN, NAVEL, BACK HIP, BACK KNEE ALL COULD “TAKE PICTURE” OF BALL CHIN, NAVEL, BACK HIP, BACK KNEE ALL COULD “TAKE PICTURE” OF BALL “IKE TO MIKE” SHOULDER TO SHOULDER “IKE TO MIKE” SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

WE’VE BEEN ‘TO IT’ NOW ‘THROUGH IT’ STAY ON THE PLANE OF THE PITCH AS LONG AS POSSIBLE STAY ON THE PLANE OF THE PITCH AS LONG AS POSSIBLE INSIDE – PULL/OUTSIDE – MIDDLE OPP. INSIDE – PULL/OUTSIDE – MIDDLE OPP. DO NOT ROLL THE TOP WRIST OR AS LATE AS POSSIBLE (NEW SWING VS. OLD SOFTBALL SWING) DO NOT ROLL THE TOP WRIST OR AS LATE AS POSSIBLE (NEW SWING VS. OLD SOFTBALL SWING) “EXTEND AND EXTEND AGAIN” – OUT AND THEN UP “EXTEND AND EXTEND AGAIN” – OUT AND THEN UP BACK SIDE HAS TO COME UP AND THROUGH – BACK SHOESTRINGS AND BELLY BUTTON TO PITCHER BACK SIDE HAS TO COME UP AND THROUGH – BACK SHOESTRINGS AND BELLY BUTTON TO PITCHER SOLID FRONT SIDE KEEPS BODY FROM OVER- ROTATION “BALLERINA SWING” SOLID FRONT SIDE KEEPS BODY FROM OVER- ROTATION “BALLERINA SWING”