Lessons With Holly

Natalie Shaw | 2022 Grad | Outfielder

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STAYING INSIDE THE BALL

We use phrases that make sense to those of us that spend a lifetime talking hitting but the term or phrase may not make a lot of sense to some.

The closest part of the ball is the inside of the ball. Hitters that have a long swing will often attack and/or connect with the outside of the ball (the farthest side of the ball). This causes a lot of problems. In fact, most of the problems in hitting are from attacking the outside of the ball. Most of the time we refer to this action as "getting long"

Saying inside the ball is a phrase where we want the hitter to NOT attack the outside of the ball and aim more for the inside of the ball.

More on our Virtual Academy
https://nda.knack.com/nationalfastpitchacademy -academy-home/main-va-details/600ee0adbe0336001d1c25bc/

THE GREAT HANDS DRILL

This isn't something I invented but I have modified it a little. I use this drill almost with everyone. It is a really hard drill to do well which is one reason it is such a great drill.

https://nda.knack.com/nationalfastpitchacademy -academy-home/drills/main-va-details/5fde75fbea9f88001b42d220/

DON'T TAKE YOUR HANDS TO THE BALL!

I hear it every so often (even from experienced coaches/instructors) and, quite honestly, I cringe. I just don't believe they really have thought clearly what they are saying. We do not want our hands to go toward the ball. We want our hands to go forward (toward the pitcher). Don't use this phrase as it really will confuse the hitter.

The hand path something we spend a lot of time working on with hitters. One of the common flaws for hitters is getting long with her swing. Extending the arms early is one of the major causes of getting long and this is what will happen when a hitter takes her hands to the ball.
https://nda.knack.com/nationalfastpitchacademy -academy-home/main-va-details/5feca1373c1d22001bb18748/

TWO BALL EYE CONTACT DRILL

Following the ball, all the way to contact is the first and primary absolute requirement of all quality hitters. This skill isn't as easy as we think it is sometimes. It requires us to rotate our head in the opposite direction of our body rotation. So, as a right-handed hitter, she is rotating her body counter-clockwise as her head should be rotating clockwise as she follows the ball all the way in.

"Pulling our head" can be caused by a long swing but also just a bad habit. This drill can help both but mostly is for those hitters that just need to develop a better habit of following the ball into contact. Click here to learn more about the Two Ball Eye Contact Drill.https://nda.knack.com/nationalfastpitchacademy -academy-home/main-va-details/600af563b15fc0001cb37f41/

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PHRASE OF THE DAY! ROLLING OVER

Rolling over describes the act of the top hand "rolling over" the bottom hand. The results are usually weak ground balls to the strong side of the field. However, it is actually possible to hit a home run and rollover but it takes extreme strength and perfect contact and is rare.

Rolling over is usually caused by a long swing or getting way out in front of the ball.

Rolling over causes the ball to have topspin but not all topspin is rolling over. It is likely that hitting the top third of the ball even when we stay through the ball it will cause topspin.

Rolling Over is to be avoided as much as possible but it is really difficult and maybe impossible to NEVER rollover. You just want to not do it a lot.

We avoid rolling over by creating a quality bat path/attack angle and staying inside the ball.

More terms, phrases, drills can be found on my Virtual Academy.

Virtual Academy | Lessons With Holly Our Virtual Academy is a database of all our instructional material from our Fastpitch Blog, Video Blog, Gap to Gap Radio, and other sources.