A common goal in modern hitting is to stay on plane longer. On plane means that the attack angle is matching with the pitch plane for a long time. We all have seen the famous Ted williams graphic.
https://images.app.goo.gl/iHEFKr2VTGFXmGGHA
However it is a bit more complicated than that. First of all a really consistent AA can only be achieved at the high pitch when you have basically zero vertical barrel angle. Once you add vertical barrel angle, and you should do that depending on the height of the pitch (too flat barrel causes roll overs on low pitches) the swing plane will become more tangential, i.e. the AA is flatter deeper in the zone and steeper more out front which makes timing harder.
And second there is also a side to side component of swing plane, which is often called “swing direction”. This means even if the AA matches you are not on plane long when the bat turns to the left too early (for a RHB) which often happens.
But let’s first start with what is needed to achieve the different components of on plane efficiency.
First it helps to get on plane deep in the zone. Too deep isn’t good either as this can make the swing too long when you just lay the bat back but as a rule of thumb the bat should be on plane behind the back hip.
To achieve that the bat gets turned down behind you using the “elbow seesaw” and some supination of the rear hand.
Here is a drill for the seesaw
The load and "entry" to the zone is very important. In the load the back elbow goes back and up and the front elbow also slides back. In the entry the rear elbow lowers and the front elbow goes up. pic.twitter.com/VwQ0AZ2Biu
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) May 21, 2019
Here is a detailed description of the hand movements
Not quite a "high level" discussion but for kids having trouble with a good hand and bat path I have developed this little progression using the cue of a karate chop w the hands.
Step 1: pull back arm and lower back shoulder and elbow
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) May 14, 2019
This drill with turning over a cup can also help to get this action.
Back arm Action/load Drill
Step 1: Pull back arm back and kinda spill a tea cup forward (internal rotation) pic.twitter.com/TgJyLUIgW9
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) August 5, 2019
I also use one armed drills like this rear arm ones with a ball clamped in
Back arm drill stop variety (for people w roll over problems) and full swing.
Checkpoints:
-back shoulder starts to drop before back elbow (no early adduction before swing starts
-elbow gets in slot and ball releases when arm starts to extend just before contact. pic.twitter.com/LrT1wt6Mmv— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) June 19, 2019
And front arm one
Execution of some drills. Front arm drill. Checkpoints:
-elbow away from body
-front elbow goes up and forward before barrel starts to work down
-finish up and through from behind the ball on a line with hand higher than shoulder and bat higher than hand pic.twitter.com/DyQOFWzmia— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) June 19, 2019
And this drill to get on plane
Lag position should be slightly inside of the hands to allow large final turn
3/ pic.twitter.com/0VB5ZHlApJ— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) July 20, 2019
For staying on plane in the vertical direction it is important to keep the tangential component as small as possible. Yes the AA will get steeper more out front but good hitters keep the barrel below the hands as long a possible and thus reducing a rising off the plane.
See JDM here, his AA does increase some out front but his bat doesn’t flip up but stays under the hands as the top hand shoots past the bottom hander under it and vertical barrel angle is maintained.
A drill to feel that is this board slide drill. In reality path won’t be quite as straight but the feeling should be to stay on the board.
A positive AA is important but make sure doesn't get too steep out front and raises off the plane by too much roll or flip. Bat tip stays down as the bat overtakes the hands in extension after contact while the hands extend slightly up. Bat stays below hands as long as possible. pic.twitter.com/0OIyarLAI9
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) July 25, 2019
Top Hand shoots through under the bottom hand while front elbow stays up pic.twitter.com/M5o9dwxLFN
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) August 14, 2019
Make sure the front elbow doesn’t roll down too early with this drill
Thread: a thing that can hurt swing plane is rolling down the elbow too early during extension. This can cause the bat to rise off the plane. pic.twitter.com/rrlv4GzVKI
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) August 13, 2019
As I said before it is also important to have a good side to side swing direction.
To achieve that there are some factors that help with that.
One is maintaining the vertical barrel angle. This means keeping the bat pointed angled down and not getting flatter or rolling over as you swing. Also maintaining posture and not rotating late and starting to decelerate before impact helps with achieving a straighter direction.
Keys to maintain swing direction:
-maintain shoulder angle through turn
-maintain VBA
-good path direction (hands stay on the inside batters box line as long as possible on middle pitch) pic.twitter.com/2qVFHaQYU1— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) August 14, 2019
You can also use a device like this
First time hitting with the @QuantTee. Excited for our girls to get back to campus and implement it into our hitting sessions. #SwingPathWork pic.twitter.com/phXAjvgCnT
— Evan Ruechel (@evanruechel) August 13, 2019
Or this drill to prevent swinging too much across
Bad execution:hit netting flush and below your shoulders pic.twitter.com/EQ6aLmp18f
— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) June 21, 2019
A great drill for direction are also stop swings like this one.
Stop swing side view
Checkpoints
-arms still slightly bent in finish
-bat below hands pic.twitter.com/wAKyT7ZR6b— dominikk85 (@dominikkeul) June 19, 2019
A great device to measure this are bat sensors like the blast sensor. Those sensors measure AA, VBA and sometimes even have a compound score for plane efficiency. With those devices you can see where you are at and track improvements.
But as always a good evaluation by a good coach is key, you cannot just throw drills at a player and see what sticks but a very precise evaluation has to come first so you can create solutions for a specific problem.