Comments on: Fastpitch Softball Hitting Tip: Forget “Elbow Up”

By: jugomang

jugomang — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

Youtube the swing …
Youtube the swing mechanics of ANY professional baseball player who hits for average and power. Griffey, Ramirez, Pujols, Giambi, Ichiro, Rodriguez, etc… What will you find in common? back elbow up….. “recently visited a number of Baseball Coaching Websites” ??? please…..

By: 126STRNGNFIT

126STRNGNFIT — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

You can not …
You can not eliminate the elbow drop as you put it. the elbow has to drop into the slot in order to keep your hands inside the ball. And wether your elbow is up or down your back elbow has to go into the loaded/launch position at the start of the motion. which if you watch any professional hitter the back elbow goes back and then upward to some degree. As I stated before the elbow up or down is a style prefference. Not a mechanical flaw

By: FewProud0311

FewProud0311 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

The reason that the …
The reason that the elbow down theory is in place is because it eliminates a step in the hitting process. The first thing the hitter will do with elbow up is drop it during the hitting motion. This will eliminate the elbow drop and give the hitter enough time to make contact with the ball. I also love the fact that she talks about the knuckle alignment. It is also important for a nice level swing.

By: 126STRNGNFIT

126STRNGNFIT — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

Kalena499. I read …
Kalena499. I read Epsteins theories years ago. Very good infomation. excellent coach as well. But I follow a higher authority in Ted Williams, who taught Mike Epstein the science hitting. Read his book The Science of Hitting and youll understand the diference between style and technique. Williams theories are the foundation for rotational hitting. Stacie Id really like to the hear your reasons for WHY elbow down would be better and is it FACT or opinion.

By: Kalena499

Kalena499 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

Thanks for …
Thanks for clarifying Stacie – by the way, I totally agree with you about elbow down being a matter of preference and also agree that you cannot easily line up knocking knuckles (which is critical to clean – on-plane contact) with the elbow up.

By: staciemahoe

staciemahoe — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

Guys – the main …
Guys – the main point I’m trying to make (and maybe not doing such a good job of) is that elbow UP should NOT be taught as a “must-do” or as an absolute of hitting. Yes, there are reasons why down can be better but even that is not necessary as a starting point.
126STRNGNFIT is right: up or down is a preference, not a flaw and not part of mechanics
Just don’t agree with coaches insisting players keep the elbow up.

By: Kalena499

Kalena499 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

She makes alot of …
She makes alot of sense but fails to explain more around why elbow should be down. It is important to distinguish between “style” (elbow up) and “technique” or an absolute (elbow down). Reegardless if a batter starts with the elbow up or down, what becomes critically important to the swing is whether the back elbow properly “slots” at swing launch. Read up a little on Mike Epstein’s studies.

By: 126STRNGNFIT

126STRNGNFIT — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

Elbow up or elbow …
Elbow up or elbow down is the prefference of the hitter. Its nothing more than the style of that particular hitter. It has NO bearing what so ever on the mechanics of the swing it self as long as the hitter is going into a proper loading position.which WILL be elbow up!How high up is AGAIN up to the hitter and what works for them.But we can all agree that the elbow will be up and away to some degree. As long as the basic principles are followed.Elbow up is a style prefference, not techique flaw

By: zulu9BC

zulu9BC — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

There are subtle …
There are subtle differences, they are not the same. Especially when you throw in the slap, not a baseball concept and is a fastpitch softball batting technique.

By: zulu9BC

zulu9BC — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000

I bet they are high …
I bet they are high fly balls…….?