Lead Arm and Back Arm Feel

I was maybe a bit overzealous years ago when I discovered the effectiveness of the lead arm progression that I neglected to address the role of the back arm in the baseball swing.  While most hitters will get much better if they just focus on getting more of the lead side pathway working and less of the back side pathway working, many of you communicated to me that you need a more in-depth discussion of what the back arm should feel.  

This is why I'm developing a new training aid called the "Back Arm Trainer."  Like all of my training aids, I don't say that it is something you have to buy from me.  As of the time that I'm writing this, the Back Arm Trainer isn't even up on the site yet for purchase.  (But I do have some available so if you want to purchase one now, email me at jaime@theswingmechanic.com.  They are $35 + shipping.  I make them myself).  You can make it yourself by going to the hardware store and buying a dowel and cutting it down to about 14".  Hell, you could even use a stick in a pinch.  

The reason why I like using this size and shape for training the back arm is so we can keep the muscles in the arm loose as we move slowly through the swing.  If I were to use a small training bat for this, the weight of the barrel would be causing me to have to flex the muscles in the wrist and hand.  This would mean I'm practicing tensing these muscles as I go through contact.  I don't want that.  The main problem of the back arm is that it's too tense in the first place.

So when holding the back arm trainer, loosen your wrist and hand as much as you can.  As I show you in the video above, allow the wrist to release while your forearm is still facing the sky.  Only toward the end of the release action should you begin to rotate your forearm over.  

Combine this feel with the correct lead arm feel and you will have magic.  Here's what I want you to do: For a few minutes before and after your practices and games, swing with the lead arm for a few minutes from both sides.  Get the feel of the lead side pathway working.  Then grab the back arm trainer and get the right feel in the back arm for a few minutes, again, from both sides.  Lastly, grab a regular sized bat and take swings feeling the right feels in both arms.  In all, this should take you no more than five minutes.  

By doing this before your practice or games, you will increase the amount that you will swing in the right way during these events.  By doing it after, you reinstill the correct movement by making it the last movements you do for the day.

I'd love to hear your feedback.