If you train youth baseball hitters to squash the bug, you’ve only put them in a hole. Smashing the insect involves a small muscle movement that reduces the power and speed of the bat. Some young baseball hitters are taught to twist or rotate their back foot to create more bat speed and swing power. Nothing can be further from the truth. Also, it’s almost impossible to hit middle or outside pitches with the sweet spot of the bat if you have a problem with your back-spinning foot. A sure pop!
Why are young baseball hitters still taught the swing technique called squashing the bug?
Some coaches believe that it is necessary for hitters to be on the balls of their feet at the point of contact. This is commonly known and taught as “squish the bug”, “squash the bug”, “squash the bug”, and “squish the bug”. Coaches who advocate this swing technique are often youth league coaches. This swing technique is not what heavy hitters in the minor and major leagues do.
Trainers who still advocate the bug swing smash technique generally do so for one of the following reasons:
1. Coaches often have big egos and believe their methods are better than others’.
2. The coach is underestimating the potential and abilities of young baseball hitters.
3. They’ve never seen a slow-motion, frame-by-frame video of professional hitters.
When viewing live speed videos or still images, you’ll probably see what appears to be crushing the bug. But when viewing frame by frame, you’ll see that the bug doesn’t get squashed until well after the point of contact. The heel lifting off the ground and the ball of the foot rotating is actually the result of the body rotating about its center of mass, or axis.
Another reason why some coaches still advocate squashing the bug.
They believe it is a simple way to teach hip rotation to young baseball hitters.
Some people argue that many coaches underestimate what youth baseball hitters can do. No matter how you look at it, or whatever the reasons, teaching minor leaguers the wrong swing techniques only sets them up for failure as they progress through the top leagues of baseball.
Young baseball hitters need to learn the proper way to swing the bat early on so that what they learn doesn’t have to be unlearned later. Most adults know how hard it is to break bad habits.
In case you’ve been taught the wrong way to hit, here are some tips to unlearn the smash from the bug swing technique.
Try to swing the bat while your back foot is planted on the ground. See if you can balance without moving your back heel off the ground. Keep practicing until you can. Also, it can be helpful to work on shooting outside off the tee. This will help you strike off your heels and prevent your foot from turning too soon. Rotating the foot before the point of contact greatly reduces the speed and power of the bat.
When players of any age learn proper swing rotation technique, they’ll be able to hit balls over the outfield fence, even if they’re the youngest kids on the team.