Posted by: Mark H. () on Sun Oct 19 07:06:01 2003

> > > > "No sound advice for the boy.....HMMMMMM, oh yeah, hit the bag. Clips are not the issue......the issue is how does one arrive at those positions in the clips."
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> > > > Positions? You do understand I'm talking about video clips, not stills?
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> > > > "I see the same thing you see in the clips, this we agree on."
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> > > > What is the "this" that we agree on?
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> > > > "Every kid I've ever worked with has improved, power/average."
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> > > > Really? Every last one of them? Wow! Hats off to you!
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> > > > "Every great hitter I've had the pleasure of knowing has excelled at pepper......a hand game. This is the foundation of a great swing, it builds bat head awareness, how bat angles effect ball flight, how the body get's in the right positions to hit, and how not to hit past the ball."
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> > > > Hmmm.
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> > > > "You've avoided the main question repeatedly"
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> > > > Sorry. I thought I was the one asking questions in an attempt to discern your message.
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> > > > "(Major)"
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> > > > Major?
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> > > > "and it is my belief that we have different agendas."
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> > > > Wouldn't know. Tell me what your agenda is and I'll tell you if your belief is right.
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> > > > "I am not searching.....I'm saying I get to all of those positions in the clips, have always hit for average and power, etc."
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> > > > Great. Now explain it clearly like Jack, Mike, Paul, Tom or any of many other lesser knowns do. Or not.
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> > > > "Never once did I need to hit a heavy bag (not that there is anything wrong with that), but ultimately it's about making swing changes that impact the player."
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> > > > Now see, there's where you drive me crazy. The whole sentence is just useless hedging and or generalities. You didn't actually say ANYTHING, but it all sounds very smooth, wise and zen like...until you look for substance. You don't hit the bag, but it's OK to do so. Well now there's an opinion we can take to the bank. You say "ultimately it's about making swing changes that impact the player". Well SHAZAM! Why didn't we think of that. Making swing changes that impact the player. That's where all these instructors are going wrong. See what I mean?
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> > > > "For the sake of the kids you impact......I wish you well, and thanks for saving me from myself. You WIN!!!!! "
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> > > > I could only win if I convinced you to be clear and concise. Or at least clear. Tom could never do concise, but he has always darn sure been clear and detailed. : )
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> > > You have issues. eeeeeeesh!! Is that to general? Noooooooooooooooooo don't answer that!!!!!!
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> > No, I would be happy to answer. My "issues" are with those who either make hitting seem like fuzzy feely hard to understand hocus pocus with their vague generalities and refusal to be clear and concrete about what they believe or with those who continue to teach linear mechanics without doing their due diligence research as to what the majority of the best hitters in the world are actually doing when you study slow motion clips of their game swings. Either of these are detrimental to kids acheiving their potential in terms of hitting. My current thinking is you probably have a handle on the knowledge. I don't know why you want to present it the way you do. Jack, while I don't agree lockstep with each of his points presents his material in detail and is quite willing to discuss and defend it in detail. You have to respect that.
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> I'm trying to convey a feeling I believe is relevant in great hitters. Think of a delayed release in golf.....fast hands is a delayed release. Sorry it doesn't make sense to you...but others have chimed in and said they feel it too. Someone understands me and most probably won't...that's o.k., but I wanted to address it, because fast hands are givn a bad wrap. It's like Mark Prior expolding through the pitch, but getting great extension with his arm and hand. Added Power!!!!!!!!! I want all my students to feel their hand speed, how they get it.....that's the real issue.
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> Coach C

Perhaps my hot buttons make me too impatient with you. Certainly I would agree that "feel" can be useful to the learning hitter. Keeping in mind the difference between what it feels like to a hitter versus what is really happening, you need to avoid stepping on the land mines of confusing feel with reality. This is up to the coach who MUST understand the difference. You might want to consider touching on both feel and reality when you post in order to avoid confusing the average youth coach.