TWmccoy
3DX Connoisseur
Yesterday I went and hit for a while. Probably 200 swings. For most of those 200 swings I was noticing a trend.... a distinct lack of ability to lift the ball. I was topping EVERYTHING. Lots of very average liners or even ground balls. Power was a little meh. Some balls I was driving well, while others were flying listlessly.
At about swing 150 I changed one thing that made a big difference. I started punching my hands forward more toward the pitcher, and letting the bat lag and wrist snap occur on their own. Before that it seems I was starting the wrist snap too early in my swing. Somewhat alligator arming the ball. I wasn't really driving through with the bottom hand. Instead, the top hand was trying to drive the (early) wrist snap. This resulted in a really early wrist roll, which caused the bat barrel to lift up and over the ball a bit. It also meant I couldn't get "inside" the ball very well either. Its really hard to generate any lift if you can't hit the inside part of the ball.
Yesterday made me realize the importance of "throwing the knob at the ball". That's basically what I started doing late during the BP session. Rather than forcing the snap, I was allowing it to occur on its own. I was definitely hitting the ball more out in front, but I was also lagging the bat better and keeping my hands out in front of the barrel as I swung. My wrists felt looser. Furthermore, I started getting under the ball way better and with authority.
I guess my point in posting this is that rolling the wrists early is a common problem, and seems to be a recurring one for me. I tend to do it late in BP or tournies when I start getting tired. Its like I'm trying to force the bat head around rather than let it swing around on its own.
At about swing 150 I changed one thing that made a big difference. I started punching my hands forward more toward the pitcher, and letting the bat lag and wrist snap occur on their own. Before that it seems I was starting the wrist snap too early in my swing. Somewhat alligator arming the ball. I wasn't really driving through with the bottom hand. Instead, the top hand was trying to drive the (early) wrist snap. This resulted in a really early wrist roll, which caused the bat barrel to lift up and over the ball a bit. It also meant I couldn't get "inside" the ball very well either. Its really hard to generate any lift if you can't hit the inside part of the ball.
Yesterday made me realize the importance of "throwing the knob at the ball". That's basically what I started doing late during the BP session. Rather than forcing the snap, I was allowing it to occur on its own. I was definitely hitting the ball more out in front, but I was also lagging the bat better and keeping my hands out in front of the barrel as I swung. My wrists felt looser. Furthermore, I started getting under the ball way better and with authority.
I guess my point in posting this is that rolling the wrists early is a common problem, and seems to be a recurring one for me. I tend to do it late in BP or tournies when I start getting tired. Its like I'm trying to force the bat head around rather than let it swing around on its own.