Posted by: hank king () on Fri Feb 14 13:52:09 2003

I think it's hard to understand your mental approach if you don't understand your mechanicas and how you adjust.Without a sound mechanical model underlying your mechanics that allows you to analyze yourself,how do you know how your timing and plate coverage varies.Epstein is very informative because he has experience and a mechanical model that provides a rationale for developing a good plane for each pitch that is a combo of the situation and your stle and ability.Otherwise things like look outside or inside(because timing is significantly different and timing is the most important aspect of the swing)or how you adjust in 2-strike situations,etc. will not be as effective as they need to be.
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> > Tom, you have said here exactly what I have been trying to think, (I think). Certain mechanics and mental approaches can't coexist. I have really bought into Epstein's approach, he has gotten to the core better than anyone IMO. I think hitters need to be able to hit on both halves of the plate effectively. With less than two strikes, they should focus on one half only, (preprogrammed swing).
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>i have to say that i think tom makes a terrific point on understanding your swing before you can truely understand the mental approach, based on making your own adjustments at the plate..
for the guy who is talking about spliting the plate into halfs, good idea, but take it one step futher. there are 3 fields, split the plate into 3rds, with less than 2 strikes issolate a third of the plate gear your timeing and direction to that 3rd and really start to hit for extra bases to all fields.