Posted by: Coach C () on Fri Jan 9 00:46:44 2004

"In your swing, I see no appreciable hip cock or load with your bottom half. I then see a stride of about 10"-11". After toe touch I see your head moving another 4"-5" forward before stopping and going back. I see your bathead centered over your spine half way through your stride and then see the bathead straight up at footplant. Your hands at footplant are much too far from your body to create much power along with the straight up bat.......all that is left is a push with your hands and arms from a less than powerful position. You shoulders are a little too level in the swing, not giving you a chance to swing into the path of the ball........If you want to use your hands as your primary force, I would have them closer to your body and have the hands cocked so that you are closer to having the bathead centered over your spine at footplant. I feel this would be a much more powerful approach than what you have now. Try punching someone from the position your right hand is in at footplant. I am not trying to be tough on you, I just read what you say about your swing and then when I look at it, things look a little different."
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> Doug
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> *****************
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> Doug,
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> EXCELLENT assessment of this swing, Doug! Though he manages to keep the hips moving ahead of his shoulders, there is no knee turn, no hip cock, and no shoulder movement (I'll refrain from starting up yet another resounding chorus of the counter-rotation vs. scap load debate) - IOW, no load other than what he started with. It's almost like he starts his forward movement from a standstill. Toggling between frames 53 and 54 several times really shows the forward push of the hands instead of a continued fluid turning of the body propelling the bat into contact. With the raising of the rear shoulder during the swing, perhaps the forward/down hand push is necessary just to make contact?
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> Ya know Doug, w/ such accurate scouting ability, you could even work for a pro team?! ;-)

Sandman,

Good assessment of the swing. At the time of the swing I was demonstrating the push stroke and getting taking the head down to the ball.....there is no appreceable power in the swing, but is highly effective at putting the ball play...call it a linear pepper swing. I have probably emulated over 20 different swings on video and for each one I've tried to assess the positives and negatives. I've made it my goal to emulate a countless number of swings over the years, so that I may have a better understanding of where students go bad....or good for that matter. My Son's swing is also on Nick's page.....this is closer to what I teach. http://webpages.charter.net/nickkio/Coach/ However, with that said....he too has learned the push stroke. At one time Nick had two other strokes on his sight of mine, that were completely different than the one currently up...one was left and the other was right. During those swings, which were much more powerful, I call upon my legs to create power. I'm a natural LHH. During those swings, there is quite a bit of sway going on as I move to the ball, and the scapula load is lacking, but otherwise it's the swing I played with in high school and college. Those swings were shot about 2 years ago. Since that time, I've made several changes to my own swing of which I will be sending out to Nick shortly. Contrary to what Doug believes, I am not sensitive to the assessments of the mechanics going on in any of the swings....mine or my Son's. In fact, it's my way of assessing the credabilty on this sight as well as improving as an instructor of young players.

Hope you and your Son have improved in your swings....I know you've been working hard.

Take care,

Nick....if you can post my other two swings.....if you have room.
By the way Nick......I'm still very much excited about the current changes with River......he's thrilled.....more to follow!! I learned a lot from that Bonds demo, probably watched it 500 times already!! I owe you one!

Coach C