Minoru Hirohata, also known as “Minorman,” teaches you how to solve the “body opening” that is the biggest problem when teaching.
When coaches and parents teach <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/the-baseball-players-from-fussen-are-finding-what-they-are-looking-for-overseas-news-from-fussen/” title=”The baseball players from Füssen are finding what they are looking for overseas – news from Füssen”>batting to young baseball players, the most difficult point is the “body opening.” It’s easy to convey this in words, but what kind of guidance should we give in concrete terms? Minoru Hirohata, also known as Minoruman, a baseball YouTuber and former captain of Osaka Toin High School, gives advice: “The center of gravity of the soles of your feet is important when you take a stance.”
No matter how much you increase your swing speed, if your body opens up, you won’t be able to hit the ball in the ideal way. The bat head returns faster, and more ground balls are caught, creating a mountain of mediocre hits. Mr. Hirohata, who instructs children at his own baseball school, says, “Swings that open the body are mostly sideways rotations.The hands move away from the body, the bat goes in a roundabout direction, and the probability of hitting the ball with the center of the ball decreases. ” he explains.
So, what do we need to do to keep our bodies from opening up? “It’s almost decided as soon as you set it up.” The biggest cause of gaping is the “heel center of gravity,” and to prevent this from happening, he points out points for improvement, saying, “I want you to be conscious of holding your stance with the toe center of gravity.”
Put your weight on your toes, lean forward slightly to create a stance with your pelvis upright, and then swing by dropping your back (catcher’s side) shoulder, and your body will naturally rotate vertically. It is said that the weight is firmly placed on the hip joint, creating a powerful swing.
Place your heel on an object and raise it higher…Forcibly create a “center of gravity on your toes”
One way to improve your toe center of gravity is to “force” your heels to be higher. Mr. Hirohata, who has developed a number of baseball gears, came up with a tool called “TSUMADACHI.” By placing your heels on a 100cm long semi-cylindrical bar, you can create a “toe-centered gravity” position.
“Even if you don’t use gear, you can use something you can rest your heel on, such as a ball or a thick board.Before a match, practice swings with the center of gravity on your toes, hit the tee, etc. to keep your body open, and aim for the ideal position. I want you to learn how to swing.”
In order to continue playing baseball at a high level, it is necessary to acquire skills from the elementary and junior high school stages. However, there are some things that children have difficulty understanding with just sensory and body language guidance. Mr. Hirohata devises teaching methods that everyone can understand and experience, and supports technical improvement.
(Kengo Hashimoto)
I want to increase the speed of the ball, I want to hit the ball farther… “First-Pitch,” a sibling site of “Full-Count,” tells baseball boys and girls, coaches, and guardians about the coaching methods they want to know about, as well as the “current situation” in the field of baseball training. We will provide useful information every day as a gateway to learning the fun of baseball and as a clue to solving your questions.
