I am often asked, “What is it and what does it do?”
The most truthful answer I ever give is, “Get on it and see what it does for you,” though that kind of sounds cliché or like a short answer.
Instantly, the hitter realizes that he or she HAS a bottom half and has an appreciation for balance and weight distribution.
But, to try to answer that question more specificly, the experience and the developmental stage of the hitter must be taken into consideration. I have seen it effectively benefit hitters as young as 5 and professional hitters as old as 39. I have also seen it transform the thinking of very seasoned and experienced coaches from tee-ball through the Major Leagues.
Based on feedback and observation, the BASEBALLANCE does the following:
1. Allows the hitter to establish a balanced stance and a strong anchored base from which to hit.
2. Allows the hitter to feel and understand negative gain or the load.
3. Allows the hitter to feel a controlled load.
4. Allows hitters to exaggerate the load to create muscle memory.
5. Allows the hitter to feel proper weight transfer toward contact.
6. Allows the hitter to exaggerate an explosive movement out of the backside, promoting an explosive backside on flat ground.
7. Forces a firm front side.
8. Prevents the opportunity to allow transfer to leak out of the box, forces movement directly toward contact.
9. Prevents hitters from allowing transfer to pull off or away from the ball.
10. Prevents hitters from diving over the plate.
11. Promotes balance through the swing and the finish.
12. Provides instant, self correctable feedback.
13. Allows the hitter to feel what it feels like to “stay back,” keeping stored energy behind their belt buckle.
14. The BASEBALLANCE allows hitters to hit from a strong, anchored base. It creates an explosive backside and allows the hitter to generate more power. It forces transfer through contact and allows the hitter to feel as though he or she is screwed to the ground. It promotes proper knee/hip drive out of the backside and allows hitters to recognize that the bottom half does START the process of the swing. Hitters recognize, through feel and repetition, that the hands follow the bottom half. Hitters stop relying on the top half to generate power and initiate their approach at the plate. Hitters stop spinning and start driving! Hitters recognize the value of the bottom half and begin to trust it. Hitters STAY BEHIND THE BALL and get through it.
