Posted by: Mister X () on Thu Apr 24 17:06:35 2003

I think Coach C hit the nail on the head when he said that too many coaches are trying to "cookie cut" their players. These coaches that think that their way is the only way, and try to make every player look alike, are missing the big picture. Every person has a different body style, and a GOOD hitting instructor will recognize the fact that they must adapt their "methods" according to the individual. Let's say for example we take a 4'11" 12 year old who ways 74 pounds, and teach him to have an uppercut swing comparable to McGwire or Sosa. The chances of this player being successful are slim to none, as his chances of hitting consistently for power are not good.
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> This problem is found not only in hitting, but pitching as well. Too many instructors say that they teach "rotational", or "stand tall and fall," or "drop and drive." My question is why would someone teach a small kid (like I described) to "stand tall and fall?"
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> Any GOOD instructor must adapt to the individual.


What would you teach young kids? The wrong mechanics until they are older? A kid can have Mac's or Sosa's "uppercut" swing and still be sucessful. Remember that they are playing kids their own age who have similar body types and abilities. I agree that there should be no cookie cutting, but their is room for one's own style while using good mechanics.

By the way, Mac's and Sosa's swings are far from the old definition of "uppercut". They match the pitch plane with their body and rotate to the ball. The pitch comes at a downward angle so the swing must be at an upward angle (the same angle) to have the best chance of contact. Mac and Sosa might have more upswing that some, but upswing is necessary. And it all depends on where in the swing you hit the ball. In a good rotational swing (which Mac and Sosa have) there is a downswing (to get on the pitch plane), and an upswing along that plane. So if you wait and hit the ball right before the upswing, you should hit line-drives.