JoshFromMN
Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2019
- Messages
- 5
Hi Everyone,
I like this video of Mike Trout explaining his swing and felt it deserved some attention in the DG forums. He concisely explains some biomechanics that overlap across many athletic motions, including hucking discs. Many disc golfers struggle with directing their force down a straight line, balance, weight transfer and connecting their core to their hands at the point of contact. If you're one of those people (and aren't we all?), training in different sports can help with that.
Mike's first few words about his inside-out swing and trying to hit to right-center every time are direct analogs to getting deep into the power pocket and pulling in a straight line. When Trout talks about being a pull hitter in high school, that means he was "rounding" his baseball swing. He was releasing the head of the bat before his hands [and the pitch] got to the point of contact resulting in all of the forces of his swing coming off line and pointing towards his back (thereby hitting the ball to left field), much like a new disc golfer who is using their arms too early and constantly shanking right. Unlike in baseball, where you can get a hit anywhere in the field of play, we're always trying to hit our line. So what Mike says about sculpting his swing to hit to the same spot on the field (center-right) every time is part of what makes his technique great for disc golf.
The video goes on to explain his swing in more detail, and what they discuss about bat angle through the zone also translates to disc golf. Keeping your swing on plane with the pitch is equivalent to staying on plane through the rip, getting that perfect spin/angle control on your throws and efficiently delivering power. Enough about the theory; why is this approach useful?
The real value to a disc golfer comes from holding onto a baseball bat and trying to hit line drives to the opposite field. The bat gives you better feedback on your weight distribution & core-to-hands timing than a disc does. Swinging a bat requires you to stay balanced and recruit your leg & core muscles optimally because it's heavy, whereas it's very easy to flail around in a goofy manner with a disc. Swinging a bat also gives you a better feel for your angle through the zone, making it more apparent when you're rolling over on a swing/shot. Ultimately, better bat speed equals better disc speed. Once you know the feeling of smoking a line drive to dead-center or the opposite field in baseball, you know what a proper smash feels like from the tee: centered, connected, effortless, with a heavy hand when you're actually swinging the bat or ripping on the disc. The key is staying inside-out on your swing/throw (get into the power pocket with that bat/disc comfortably in control) and driving all your force to center/opposite field (staying back/releasing late/staying on a straight line).
I would encourage everyone looking to improve their game to watch the video, grab a bat (or any stick) and do some tinkering. Trying to replicate Trout's swing gives a great feel for connecting all the forces in your body. I've also found that when I'm on the tee and I imagine making solid contact on a line drive with a bat right at the basket, rather than throwing a disc, the timing and balance becomes more natural. These same concepts have long been related to a hammer throw, which is also appropriate, but Mike Trout is an amazing athlete, the best baseball player ever, and the videos of him demonstrating and explaining his technique are more readily available than any would-be professional hammer throwers.
Does this help? Think I'm full of crap? Do you think Mike Trout is full of crap (You don't, do you?)?? Has this been covered to death (I only saw one other mention of Trout in a quick forum search)? Let me know.
Cheers
I like this video of Mike Trout explaining his swing and felt it deserved some attention in the DG forums. He concisely explains some biomechanics that overlap across many athletic motions, including hucking discs. Many disc golfers struggle with directing their force down a straight line, balance, weight transfer and connecting their core to their hands at the point of contact. If you're one of those people (and aren't we all?), training in different sports can help with that.
Mike's first few words about his inside-out swing and trying to hit to right-center every time are direct analogs to getting deep into the power pocket and pulling in a straight line. When Trout talks about being a pull hitter in high school, that means he was "rounding" his baseball swing. He was releasing the head of the bat before his hands [and the pitch] got to the point of contact resulting in all of the forces of his swing coming off line and pointing towards his back (thereby hitting the ball to left field), much like a new disc golfer who is using their arms too early and constantly shanking right. Unlike in baseball, where you can get a hit anywhere in the field of play, we're always trying to hit our line. So what Mike says about sculpting his swing to hit to the same spot on the field (center-right) every time is part of what makes his technique great for disc golf.
The video goes on to explain his swing in more detail, and what they discuss about bat angle through the zone also translates to disc golf. Keeping your swing on plane with the pitch is equivalent to staying on plane through the rip, getting that perfect spin/angle control on your throws and efficiently delivering power. Enough about the theory; why is this approach useful?
The real value to a disc golfer comes from holding onto a baseball bat and trying to hit line drives to the opposite field. The bat gives you better feedback on your weight distribution & core-to-hands timing than a disc does. Swinging a bat requires you to stay balanced and recruit your leg & core muscles optimally because it's heavy, whereas it's very easy to flail around in a goofy manner with a disc. Swinging a bat also gives you a better feel for your angle through the zone, making it more apparent when you're rolling over on a swing/shot. Ultimately, better bat speed equals better disc speed. Once you know the feeling of smoking a line drive to dead-center or the opposite field in baseball, you know what a proper smash feels like from the tee: centered, connected, effortless, with a heavy hand when you're actually swinging the bat or ripping on the disc. The key is staying inside-out on your swing/throw (get into the power pocket with that bat/disc comfortably in control) and driving all your force to center/opposite field (staying back/releasing late/staying on a straight line).
I would encourage everyone looking to improve their game to watch the video, grab a bat (or any stick) and do some tinkering. Trying to replicate Trout's swing gives a great feel for connecting all the forces in your body. I've also found that when I'm on the tee and I imagine making solid contact on a line drive with a bat right at the basket, rather than throwing a disc, the timing and balance becomes more natural. These same concepts have long been related to a hammer throw, which is also appropriate, but Mike Trout is an amazing athlete, the best baseball player ever, and the videos of him demonstrating and explaining his technique are more readily available than any would-be professional hammer throwers.
Does this help? Think I'm full of crap? Do you think Mike Trout is full of crap (You don't, do you?)?? Has this been covered to death (I only saw one other mention of Trout in a quick forum search)? Let me know.
Cheers
