Approach Help..

[coachmanzi]

So, I am stealing this from Ryan Owens (Nat'l Team, Currently Pro Ball in Brazil). He put this up on myspace about tips and tricks for an approach...check it out..some of it is kind of basic, but that's what is needed..right?


1st step is small (like 1.5-2x your foot size) and just to get your timing down and/or momentum started.

2nd step your arms are ready to fire backwards when you push into the third.

3rd step (1st closing step)means you should look like you are lunging far with your arm swung back as far as you can. Going into your 4th you will be swinging your arms forwards as powerfully as possible.

4th step (the 2nd and last closing step) is important because you have to end your horizontal movement and transfer it into vertical. Do this by getting your last step about shoulder width dstance from your foot on your 3rd step and in front of it too. Angle your foot inwards in the direction of your hitting shoulder. like 45 degrees... and since you were lunging in step 3 then you should be still low to the ground on the last step without having to stand to make the last step. Your arms should initiate your elevation with your legs finishing it.


Tips:
A: Arms swing back and forward together....
B: Start you approach slow and end it fast... you should be pushing hard from 2 into 3 and 4.
C: Leave your non-hitting arm up until you start to swing forward with your hitting arm. when you do bring your non-hitting arm down do so with force bending at the elbow on the way down as if pulling a string straight down ending a your side.
D: Do not pike or bend sideways when attacking keep your torso tall and slightly rigid.
E: Keep your hitting arm's elbow parallel to the ground. Never let it dipbelow parallel at any point beforeor during your swing.
F: Lead with your hitting elbow when swinging. From parallel to the grounpull it up towards the sky/ceiling and snap your lower arm up and then your wrist at the top with a strong hand.
G: Follow thru to your target.
H: Referring to Tip C, to get more power, when pulling down with the non-hitting arm try to snap your hip on your hitting arm's side forward as if you were spinning a bit.
I: Do not hop, skip or jump while taking your approach's steps. Jump ony after your fourth step has been planted.