3 WCWS appearances; 2x Big 12 Coach of the Year; 3xNFCA Midwest Coach of the Year; over 280 career wins
Most softball coaches agree that speed doesn't slump. Now 2x Big 12 Coach of the Year Ehren Earleywine helps you take advantage of your team speed using effective slap hitting mechanics.
Coach Earleywine begins by presenting a few of the major goals of slapping. He discusses the three different types of slaps - The Tap Slap, Regular Slap and Power Slap - and the mechanics needed to be consistent from the plate regardless of the pitch. For each type of slap, Earleywine shows video of his Missouri slappers and has a few of his players demonstrate correct and incorrect mechanics.
Next, Coach Earleywine reveals four variations of footwork that slappers can utilize. As his players demonstrate the footwork, he discusses the pros and cons for each. He also discusses slappers having either slow or fast feet, and the benefits and drawbacks of both.
Coach Earleywine moves on to the hands and introduces four different types of grips that slappers can use. He covers the correct positioning of the hands, bat angle, and approach to the ball for slappers. Earleywine talks about the ideal bat plane for a slapper and how that bat plane will vary based on the type of pitch they are thrown. He has his players demonstrate and shows video to further explain his approach.
You'll also hear Coach Earleywine's discuss his coaching philosophy on slapping. He talks about when to slap, some common situations when slapping would be an ideal weapon, and which type of slap to use. He also points out a few situations when slapping would not be a go-to strategy. Finally, Earleywine offers some general tips to slappers about strategy and practice ideas.
Use Coach Earleywine's mechanics and strategy ideas to turn your slappers into base hit machines!
65 minutes. 2013.
SD-04232D: with Ehren Earleywine, University of Missouri Head Softball Coach;
3 WCWS appearances; 2x Big 12 Coach of the Year; 3xNFCA Midwest Coach of the Year; over 280 career wins
Get the most out of your practice time with slap drills that will keep your slappers' batting average up and strike out percentage down.
Ehren Earleywine follows up his slapping mechanics DVD by introducing 18 different drills he uses to help develop his University of Missouri slappers. For each drill presented, Coach Earleywine discusses the key coaching points as a few of his slappers demonstrate. He also presents video analysis of three different types of slaps, to help address coaching points for several of the drills.
These drills cover every aspect of slapping, starting with footwork and the importance of slappers running in a straight line out of the batter's box. Earleywine introduces a toe touch tee drill to put the slapper into the launch position and isolate the mechanics of the upper body.
Many of the drills Earleywine talks about emphasize developing the proper bat plane. To illustrate the importance of getting on plane with a pitch, he shows video of his slappers hitting various pitches. Earleywine introduces a few of the tee drills he uses to work on bat plane with rise and drop balls. He also shows a few innovative ways to throw front toss that simulates rise and drop balls, including a tennis ball bounce drill.
Often, slappers are naturally right handed, and therefore have weaker left hands. Coach Earleywine shows one-handed slap drills to strengthen the left hand, as well as hitting away and using a heavier bat.
Bat control is also of vital importance to slappers. Earleywine provides two drills designed to work on bat control through ball placement. You will also learn a few drills for eye hand coordination and timing.
This DVD will be an asset to softball coaches at any level. Use Coach Earleywine's drills to develop every aspect of your team's slapping game and dominate the batter's box!
47 minutes. 2013.