*Ichiro

Goal:

• Gain athletic balance and learn to separate bat from shoulder at stance

Setup:

• Start in normal position to hit off the tee

Process:

• Bring front knee back and hands forward until they almost touch

• Move back into position 1

• Repeat 3X

• On last time, when hands and front foot get to position 1, full swing

Checkpoints:

• Methodical speed

• Motion from position 1 to hand/knee touch and back. Do NOT just balance on back foot and go back and forth

• After last touch and getting back into position one, the body should move forward to the ball as you hit.

Notes/Thoughts:

The motion to separate the hand from the knees should simulate the feel for the hitter in stretching the muscles from back shoulder to front knees and the pull/power that is available in that position.