Posted by: mb () on Thu Aug 7 20:18:26 2003

I'm confused about a couple of things here.
>
> 1. Coach C - you say "The swing I see is dominated by the
> left-side pull. This is what causes the back-side to drag... Do not
> pull with the front side!!!!!" In response to last month's post, you
> said "the lead side is clearing the way for the hands to come
> through, but unfortunately the hands can't catch up to the lower
> half at contact". But Jack said he saw "strictly a back-side swing
> with little or no help coming from the lead-side". Is that a
> contradiction? My left hand is pulling and dominating, but
> contributing little or no help? Could anyone explain that in
> different language?
>
> 2. Teacherman, you say "there is some rotation going on but not
> connected rotation... [y]our doing everything with the pull of your
> arms... In your swing those muscles may move but are they
> doing the moving. I believe your arms are causing the torso to
> move rather than vice versa". Okay, granted just because I'm
> turning doesn't mean the cause-and-effect is going the correct
> way. How can I tell if my hip-turn is leading to arm speed, or if
> they just happen to be going on at the same time? How do I
> prove, or cause, or work on, the "connection"?
>
> And, thanks to everybody who's expressed an opinion.
>
> Matt
>
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Matt,
You are a big kid with lot's of power potential.
Here is what I would teach to improve your swing.
Pratice swinging into an old tire, or heavy bag if possible. Stand close to the bag. At first, take the swings in slow motion to develop the feel. Keep your head over your right knee the entire swing!!!.You should be keeping you weight back and developing rotation in your swing. Let the rights side fire into the bag and the left arm and shoulder pull away from the bag. Get those hips moving early and quickly while keeping the hands back as long as possible. This training will stop the hip slide move in your current swing and increase the speed in your swing.
Next keeping the head over the right knee, let that right knee flex. The more it flexes (bends) the greater the upper cut. Find the perfect right knee bend that gives you the best swing plane into the ball, maximizing lift and power.
Last (once you have the feel of the new swing gooved) buy a swing aid called a "Hit away" ($29.95). Throw away the video that comes with it. This training aid simulates a live pitch. You can take lots of swings in jsut a few minutes and really develop the hand eye cordination to go along with your new swing. Use a wood bat with the "Hit Away" if possible. The wood bat is heavier and the sweet spot is a lot smaller than aluminum. 14-21 consecutive days of training 45 minutes a day and you will transform your hitting,
Hard to descibe it all in words but that is what I would have you do.
Report back your progress, let us know how you are doing.