Posted by: Larry Briody (ljbriody1@aol.com) on Fri Apr 25 20:31:40 2003

We all are looking for the right swing mechanics, and most of us here agree that rotational is the way to go. What many don't or won't understand is that successful hitters have a feel for hitting. They have timing and a feel for when to start the swing. They have a feel and idea of what to look for when at bat. They have a feel and understanding of what they can and can't do. They have a feel and understanding of what the pitcher is trying to do. A hitter can have great mechanics, but if he has little feel for hitting, he will struggle. If he has a good feel for hitting he will have success.
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> > > > Mr. Obvious just posted. That is why most MLB hitters can't describe what they do. They would be horrible coaches because it comes natural to them. The question is, how do "normal" hitters get that natural feeling? My guess is practice and repetition.
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> > > Mr. Noname, When you say most MLB hitters can't describe what they do, is that from personal experience? Have you taken a poll of the MLB hitters and asked them questions on hitting? The only people that I hear saying that are guys that did not play. I wonder why all the hitting coaches in the major and minor leagues are ex players instead of guys that never played? They must all be poor coaches if what you said is true. What is taught that can only be taught by someone who has been there is the mental side of hitting. 4000-5000 AB's will teach a man a lot about hitting that he can pass on to the young players. 0 AB's will pass on 0 experience and a lot of guessing.
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> > ..Doug I agree with your 1st statement completely and had wrote something today very similar that has not showed up yet.However there are those that not only played m.L. ball but at least 1 who was a great hall of famer that coached me in college 1 year and he had no clue about teaching or the game or winning.Yes he was a pitcher.I know another future hall of famer who coaches and has one of the worse teams in the league [h.s.]Now some can be taught mechanics and some well never get it.while others can be taught to think at the plate and many well never get that.only a select few can acquire both mechanics and mind and a good physical body to be a great hitter,that is the nature of hitting as I see it.I also talk to alot of college players who say they get little time spent on teaching hitting to them,which prompts me to think many are born then made.
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> rql, I agree that there are some ex major leaguers that are not good coaches, but there are thousands of guys coaching that never played that are poor coaches too. I played for 8 years and the best coaches I ever had were ex major leaguers who passed on valuable info on how to play the game, how to hit and how to pitch. Not only mechanics, but what goes on between the lines. I had a coach who was a Hall of Famer (Carl Hubbell) who taught me more about how to get hitters out in two weeks than I had learned from my amateur coaches in ten years. Give me a guy who has 5000 AB's or 1500 innings every time.
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> Doug >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Neither J.Mankin nor P.Nyman need anyone to defend them regarding the understanding they possess of the mechanics of the baseball/softball swing.
If you have the opportunity to peruse this site from the beginning and the chance to be able to review the setpro information (which is fascinating material),you do not have to be a genius to figure out that these men can teach you concepts and techniques as well as provide answers to questions on hitting that you were years away from asking.
Relax a bit and learn because good things like this site and setpro will not be around forever.