Baseball batting technique out of the question! Have you heard of crushing the bug?

Sometimes in sports, as in life, we do things and we don’t really know why. Our techniques and responses have been ingrained in us for so long that we just accept that this is the way to do it. There are countless examples of this in the great game of baseball.

To test my theory that we do things automatically without analyzing the ‘why’, I took to visiting batting cages and baseball practices to see coaches and players in action. My goal? Identify and counter ancient striking techniques that most believe to be successful “if only the player got it right.” My findings may surprise you and will ultimately help your player significantly improve his batting average.

Since then, I have helped baseball coaches, parents, and hitters overcome misconceptions about how to hit a baseball and how to challenge ancient training techniques that actually do more harm than good. In total, we have removed seven misconceptions from the park. This is one of the most popular:

Have you heard of crushing the bug in baseball? This phrase refers to the pivot of the rear foot when the batter swings the bat. In this case, the back foot “turns” on the ball of the foot, as we do when we squash an insect.

This is the result you will get:

  • Long race
  • Inhibited weight transfer
  • Hands may not come out in front to make contact
  • Pushing unnecessarily with your legs

This is what should happen during the pivot:

  • The rear foot rolls over the rear toe as the hips rotate toward the pitch.

This is the result you will get:

  • Facilitates a shorter stroke
  • Weight transfer will occur.
  • The hands will be allowed to make contact with the ball in front.

Try these proven techniques today to improve your swing and your overall confidence in the game.

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