Swing Attractors
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SWING/BARREL PATH
There are many different biomechanical variables or factors that influence the path of the barrel during the swing. In this article we will address the correlation of barrel ALIGNMENT to the positioning/movement of the spine and pelvis. In order to get the barrel on...
2 STRIKE PLAN/APPROACH
Hitting is difficult. Pitching will always dominate hitters and hitters will always struggle especially if hitters cannot figure out timing adjustments, hitting plans & approaches, and consistent swing mechanics to be on time. 2 strike hitting is: plate...
BIOMECHANICS MOTION ANALYSIS
What do you do with all this data - mostly from high speed video and optical data from marker-less tracking systems (KINATRAX for example)? Can you input ”motion” from joints by using inverse dynamics to calculate the force and torque within the body? Can you...
A GLIMPSE INTO THE COLLEGE HITTING PROCESS
This week’s Swing Attractors article is written by Chris Malveaux, Assistant Softball Coach/Hitting at the University of Tennessee. Coach Chris has been apart of multiple different college softball teams, from McNeese in the early 2000s, to Louisiana-Lafayette &...
THE ”EYES” HAVE IT
The hitting challenge is essentially a ”timing challenge” that involves the skills of PITCH RECOGNITION, IMPULSE CONTROL & MOTOR PROGRAMMING in order to be successful. The genius of human adaption to hitting 100 m.p.h. 4 seam fastballs followed by a nasty 85...
THE DIAMOND IS YOUR CHESSBOARD
Strong chess-players consistently make PURPOSEFUL MOVES that are FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES. OBJECTIVES help the chess-player: Make moves with a strong purpose;Guide the thinking process in the right direction. If the player does not keep the PLAN or...
“JUST SWING AT STRIKES?”
JUST SWING AT STRIKES! Simple advice, right? Anybody older than 10 years old who has played baseball or softball competitively knows they should swing at pitches more towards the center of the plate and take borderline pitches. Unfortunately, aggressiveness must...
THINKING FAST & THINKING SLOW
There are two systems in your brain that are constantly fighting over control of your behavior and actions. THINKING FAST & THINKING SLOW are the two systems. If you use the wrong system in the wrong situation, it leads to errors in judgment and decisions. The...
MY EYES SEE, MY HANDS DO
Perceptual (SEEING), IMPULSE CONTROL (yes, yes, yes, NO) and kinetic proprioception/strategic approach (getting the barrel to the ball) are THE MAIN COGNITIVE SKILLS involved in hitting a baseball/softball and being an elite level hitter. + being CONFIDENT &...
PROUD TO BE AN ALL-AMERICAN
Happy July 4th! God Bless America, the land that we love, stand beside her & guide her! Being given the distinction of NFCA/NCAA All-American in college softball is the biggest individual honor awarded in our sport. Being able to coach an All-American is likewise...