Ryan Harvey Swing Breakdown: The Premier Power Hitter | USA / ASA / USSSA Slowpitch Softball

[@philipwelsh8413]

Really helpful video. The size of that step was a revelation and inspired me to give it a go. All of a sudden I feel much less cramped and able to swing fully. Will require practice but feels a lot better at least

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

A big step can make a big impact on your swing. Glad we could share our insight and happy that we had good footage and an amazing hitter to demonstrate it!

[@Jason_Newland]

Thanks again to @sw48 for letting us grab some game footage for the swing breakdown & @rharvey35 for being an absolute beast on the field!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

We cannot thank you enough!

[@amiller2121]

Great video guys! Thanks for this.

[@matthewnewkirk8035]

Another great video guys!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Thanks! Can't wait to get some follow-up video of your swings in the coming months to see the improvements!!

[@wheelzbat]

Good stuff guys! Amazing how much torque Ryan gets on his swing

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

It's really crazy, but makes sense given his baseball background and his size. Amazing athlete.

[@Realreggierob]

Great video. You should do Flip Washington next. Record batting avg for major conference. Smoothest swing I’ve ever seen.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

That is a great suggestion. Flip is definitely on the short list of major conference players to breakdown. Keep an eye out for that one coming soon!

[@Jason_Newland]

Flip breakdown should drop around 10am PT today!

[@Realreggierob]

@@Jason_Newland LFG!!!!

[@RhiNoTheRep]

Very Cool to watch a breakdown, Ryan is such a cool individual, very humble on the field and off! Very nice and also is a sub-par Call of Duty Warzone player!! lol Great Stuff gents! -RhiNo

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Haha! He's is definitely one of the best hitters in the game and I have heard he is a great dude off the field as well. I cannot speak to his Warzone skills! Appreciate it RhiNo!

[@RhiNoTheRep]

@@LeagueNightSoftball keep up the great work!!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Thanks! Will do! New Flip Washington video live today!

[@maxmartinez9780]

Awesome video. I love that you got Ryan Harvey for the first in this series. 2 things I want to add. 1. I believe that standing all the way to the front of the box is not only for an angle on the ball but because it makes the strike zone so much smaller. Makes the pitcher work for a strike. 2. He's loaded entirely on his back foot so he's basically standing on one leg. The toe tap is used for timing but also for balance. Keep up the great videos! #nagaaa

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Thanks! Great point about the front of the box and the strike zone. That had not occurred to me but absolutely makes sense. He definitely fully loads on that back foot and then fully transfers that weight to the front foot right before striking the ball. It's a thing of beauty.

[@Jason_Newland]

Any other conference players you would find interesting for a breakdown? Would love to hear who folks enjoy watching swing! Also, do you play in NAGAAA too? Let us know your team name and we will keep an eye out for you at tournaments!

[@maxmartinez9780]

@@Jason_Newland Kyle Pearson, Filip Washington, Dale Brungardt, Jeremy Yates, Bubba Mack... I just moved so I'm playing with a new team, Dallas MadBatters but I travel a lot for tournaments with my team, friends or pick up. Looking forward to GSWS Dallas later this year!

[@millsgm1]

Phil matte

[@badmanners7078]

I watched another video with Harvey. He stands in the from of the box to catch the pitch higher in its ark. This allows you to put more backspin which results in more carry.

[@MFosterAgent23]

Good stuff fellas.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Much appreciated Marieo! We hope to have more of these coming in the future as well. If there are any players you want to see, let us know!

[@MFosterAgent23]

@@LeagueNightSoftball I'm going to have to link up with you guys to do an in person video when I get a chance and we can make it happen. The senior softball circuit (40 and over) and the bats used are a great conversation topic. My signature model from Easton is a one piece design with a motherload. Dale Weiser (SW48) is a great source for all things USSSA Conference Softball.

[@aroth8835]

Hey kind of new to commenting to this video been playing ball since 1981 still playing in the seniors division but his foot is out of the batter's box completely out he should be called out or is there different rules for that level of competition?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Hey there, thanks for popping in! Based on our research into the USSSA rule book, as long as the back foot starts and remains behind the front of the plate, there isn’t an issue with the front foot landing outside of the front of the batters box. It does seem like USA softball doesn’t follow this same ruling though. What organization are you playing in? I don’t know if Seniors also treat this rule differently or not

[@antoniorenteria6799]

This. Yes guys!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Glad you approve! We should be releasing more swing breakdowns of Major Conference players in the near future. Stay tuned!

[@jswaby]

Drafted by the cubs organization in the first round. 6th overall. He did an interview on the SIS channel. It’s fascinating.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Let's go Cub-bies! 👏👏-👏👏👏 I feel like I have seen that before but didn't remember all the details. Great player that puts in the work. He's doing it the right way.

[@Nick-pl9gn]

Great breakdown

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Thanks! Appreciate that.

[@zachgreenwald]

Any idea what weight bat he’s swinging? Are the lighter bats more standard now 26-26.5oz?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

No idea what he is swinging here. However, I would definitely say lighter is more prominent these days. I would say 26oz is the weight I see most often.

[@maxbruk]

Great stuff Guys. Would be curious how closely the bat angle after impact correlates with bat angle before impact or if impact with the ball changes the trajectory of the swing. If there is a difference, I can see being slightly misled by frames of the bat angle after impact. Especially since there are going to be proportionately more of those frames captured due to slower bat speed after impact. … The second guy has a freakishly level swing and there’s no arguing it!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I do not know the science on this but I would have to assume that something in that process changes when the ball is struck. However, I would also assume the least amount of changes has the best results. I often tell others to swing through the ball. This, basically, it trying to get people to reduce how much the ball effects the bat path by applying more force to the bat path. Though, at the end of the day I have no idea of the actual science. Great question!

[@chrisfilsinger1897]

His front foot is out of the batters box this should be an out correct?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I am not exactly sure, to be honest. The rule, by the book, seems to state that he would be out. However, almost every batter I see at this level does this and I rarely if ever see them called out. If you find out more information please let us know!

[@chrisfilsinger1897]

I just think if that is the case then why have the rule? Essentially you are allowing a batter to "charge" because they are able to meet the ball at a spot closer to the pitcher

[@bradhawks5599]

What weight bat does he use

[@thedingbatdingers4326]

What core softballs do they hit in conference leagues?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

As far as I can tell, every event is different. They are all USSSA sanctioned balls but not one standardized ball. However, I could be wrong. If anyone knows for sure, please share in the comments!

[@keeparoundkeep]

Can you include full speed next time you do such a breakdown? Thank you.

[@jasonmartinez8773]

Blessed

[@rebelyankeesshow5686]

What ounce bat does he use?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I have no idea, but if I were to guess , a guy that large probably uses a heavy bat.

[@rustyshackleford6475]

Does 6’4” and 310 work?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

That would make for a pretty large human being. Assuming there is some softball skill within that body, sounds like potential for a pretty powerful hitter?

[@herts9999]

I remember back in the day, asking how Rusty Bumgardener how he's able to hit the ball so far, and while mechanics help, it's good to be built like the Empire State Building.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Size kind of makes up for everything else. For us mortals, we have to maximize our technique and strength as best we can.

[@herts9999]

@@LeagueNightSoftball I wish I knew at 21 the things I know about hitting at 41. Being strong helps, but I was always a lanky 6’2” with good flexibility and strong wrists. Cutting a ball with all of that working for you made me be able to keep up with the 24 year olds for this long.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I hear you. I (Cam) am turning 40 this year and feel like I am playing better than ever. I plan on keeping that going as long as I can!

[@gerardschmenk6264]

Here’s my own advice. I’ll need to grow 7 more inches and put on 40lbs of muscle. Then I can have the worse swing possible and still hit them out! Haha. Perfect example is when you see guys like Harveys size and come up to the plate and barely hit 300’. I think to myself can I have your body type and I’ll show you how to hit it 400’ +. They just swing there little T-Rex arms while I’m swinging out of my shoes just to hit one out. Harvey definitely the complete package. The goat of dingers!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

There is no doubt that size plays a large factor in how much power can be created. That being said, suggesting that guys like Harvey have bad form is simply incorrect. This guy is huge but he also puts a ton of work on his craft so that he can be the best player he possibly can be.

[@ItsGamingFancy]

​@@LeagueNightSoftballhe said Harvey is the complete package. Size and form

[@shepardfamily8278]

Is it legal to step out of the box?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I am not exactly sure to the rules on that. I know that you cannot step completely out but it seems as if as long as you start in the box and end with at least one foot in, its legal. However, I am not an expert on the rules so consult your local umpire!

[@Jason_Newland]

@@LeagueNightSoftball Here is what I found in the USSSA slowpitch softball handbook: RULE l PLAYING FIELD Sec. 5 page 8: Further, the following batter’s box guidelines will be used: the batter must set up with his back foot no further forward than home plate. Any forward stride will be allowed. The batter will be called out, when either one or both of his feet are in contact with the ground COMPLETELY outside the lines of the batter’s box in front of home plate or when his foot is in contact with home plate while contact is made with the ball. Any batter, who runs forward through the batter’s box to hit a ball will be judged in or out of the box at the time they contact the ball. (SEE: ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL Rule 3 page 20) It sounds like it is legal to step out of the box assuming you start in a legal batting position within the box, and you don't land in front or on top of home plate.

[@barrygerber7253]

@@LeagueNightSoftball it’s only illegal if you make contact with the ball while the back foot is completely in front of the plate in the box or the front foot lands in front plate( like where the ball would be come through) if that makes since. Also they stand up in the box to be able to judge a pitch falling short better and to make it harder for a pitcher to throw that low strike

[@christopher.smith537]

Standing up in the box limits you from swinging on top of the ball, better angle, more line drives and not grounding out to the infield.

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

I totally agree. I've been experimenting with this myself recently and it seems way easier to hit the ball low and hard on command.

[@CommentingTheTruth]

So step 1. be 6'5" tall... Well I'm out... Guess i'll live with 280ft bombs!

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

You and me both haha! The good news is, on most fields the 305ft hits count the same as the 405 ft hits. 305 is attainable by many!

[@jcorcoran6686]

280 is no bomb

[@CountryBoy-qx8ul]

Met em in real life, he’s 6’8 295lbs

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

He is a large human. Glad to see someone with that amount of natural ability and size that is still constantly working on his game. I've seen so many players that just rely on natural abilities and don't ever try to improve skills. Harvey is NOT one of those people. I've seen so many videos of him practicing all the time.

[@samhly2]

Helps to be 6 5 and 280

[@daveotv]

Wasnt he a rookie for the Cubs?

[@LeagueNightSoftball]

Yes, it looks like he started out in the Cubs system. He was a top-100 prospect for a few years also!