Expert: John Priest - 3/23/2009

Question
my daughter who is 13 and hits the ball very well. presently steps to about 32inches half her height. the biggest problem with her swing is that she often steps to early. so it was suggest by a private hitting coach that she starts off at 32inches with a open stance, ans doesn't step. this seems to work well for her she has only been using it for a couple of days. at her practice today her coach said that if she is not going to step that she needs to start off even father then 32inches. so my question is if she doesn't step should she be at half her height or beyond and will she loose a lot power with no step? i was also told that down south a lot of coaches are teaching batting with no step is that also true? we could even go back to the step if that would be better too.

Answer
Aaron,
    I have never heard a hitting coach tell a player to not step.  There should be some type of movement that initiates the timing.  If there is no step then the next motion (which is the rotation of the hips) becomes the timing mechanism.  If the hips are late then theres not much to adjust to get the bat on the ball.  You can start wide and lift the foot up and down or you can start narrow and take a step.  The step should always be short, quick, and cause no body movement forward.  By lifting the foot up it brings the weight slightly back (40%/60%).  What your daughter should work on is waiting as long as possible.  In practice don't let her pull the ball.  This will get her to "sit back and trust her hands".  As long as she has good rotational mechanics she will stay behind the baseball and get inside it.  It is always easier to adjust your swing if you are late rather than early.  
    Usually the step is not the problem.  I've obviously never seen your daughter swing but through my experience it may be her confidence.  Usually hitters that get in the habit of stepping too early don't trust themselves or get nervous at the plate.  To fix this make sure she has good rotational mechanics.  Players that swing rotational have power, bat speed, and have good hand control.  This gives them the ability to stay behind the baseball and the confidence to be late and still be able to drive the ball with power.

Thank you for the question and let me know if I can help with anything else.
John Priest