Posted by: Mister X () on Fri Apr 25 19:30:55 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.
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> > 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.
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> > 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.
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> So basically what you are telling me is that McGwire does not have an uppercut swing. I disagree. Even the most untrained eye can see that he swings on an upward arc. This downward angle of the pitch that you are refering to is irrelevant. Bat path is determined by the location of the pitch. Every animation of a player swinging up that I have seen is due to the fact that the pitch is belt level or below. You cannot hit a pitch at the top of the strike zone by swinging upward, and hit consistent line drives. Like I said, unless you are McGwire or Bonds, that high strike that you hit with an uppercut swing is going to be an easy fly ball to the outfield. The size of the other kids around them is irrelevant as well. A fly ball to the outfield is a fly ball to the outfield. Please tell me how you expect to get on top of a high pitch with an uppercut swing.


Since you are going by the traditional definition of uppercut, yes Mac does have an uppercut. But his swing is only directed upwards because he matches the pitch plane. A "true" uppercut would be a swing that is directed up at a angle greater than the pitch plane.

In the swing, the bat should come around perpendicular to your spine. To adjust for pitch height you bend at your waist. For a high pitch you don't bend very much. For a low pitch you bend a lot. And be careful saying "get on top of the ball". The last thing you want is to pound the ball in to the ground for outs all the time. You don't want to pop it up every time either, but you have to be careful using cues like that