Posted by: TC2 () on Thu Apr 29 05:30:39 2004

Hi All,
> >
> > Apparently, one individual was having trouble with hip rotation. More specifically, this person thought dropping the heel was more of a timing step than a motion to trigger the swing, since he did not feel the backside rotating upon heel touch. Here is Mike Epstein's response:
> >
> > No, it is not a timing mechanism; it is a de facto mechanical movement necessary to initiate proper hip rotation. Try this. When you drop your front heel, lift your rear heel up at the same time (Do NOT “squish the bug”). Move your rear knee slightly down and in and then slightly turn your rear hip “around” the imaginary axis you’ve set up in your stride. Once you have done this a few times and feel comfortable, attempt it doing all the moves simultaneously. When you drop your front heel, you should feel a “swiveling” of your hips from back to front. Sometimes, and this may very well be true in your case, you have to “help” it along at first. Once the body understands its role, it will take over from there.
> >
> > This is my advice to all individual who have trouble with getting their backside into the swing.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > BHL
> > Knight1285@aol.com
> >
> > P.S. Couple these great "cues" with Jack Mankin's upper body "cues," and one will attain unbelievable results!
>
> Sorry BHL- you quoting Epstein on this specific front heel mechanic has come back too haunt you on this site. I would refer you and any other posters to his website (home page no less) to review one of his students in a video clip demonstrating his newly learned rotational swing. Clip reference is Nick Ammiriti of Sparta NJ.
> If Epstein advocates the front heel drop as a "de facto" then how come we don't see it at all in his students swing? Not once..not ever? Is EPSTEIN really teaching what "he sees" and what "he" promotes? Not if this student is one of his promo examples? By the way, this student does demo a pretty good rotatioal swing.
>
> My point is- I can get in my batting stance,lift and drop my front heel until the cows come home and my hips do not initiate rotation. I would agree with Epstein that the lifting of the back heel and inward rotation of the back knee initiates hip rotation but...and again as "witnessed" on his "own" sight with his own student...this can happen without any front heel drop whatsoever.
>
> Based on his own video clip I would change "de facto" to "in fact" the front heel drop is a timing mechanism and "NOT" necessary to generate hip rotation. This is not to bash Epstein's methods or his credibility but more so his contention that we coaches are not "teaching what we see" when in fact in this instance...neither is he.
>
> If any posters check out the referenced clip you will not be able to argue this fact of believing what you see...though I am sure BHL will linguistically and theoretically combat my post instead of telling all of us what he saw with his own eyes from that clip.
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Follow up to my follow up. Same clip referenced on Epsteins site but you can add his other student clips as well from same site. "Head is down" at POC (point of contact). Again- Epstein is not teaching what he sees and advocates on all his tapes, CD's and in his literature?

Even his own videos show it if you have it (check out the A-Rod swing in super slow mo if your vcr has it) Not only does his head stay down at POC but it remains down (eyes at the plate) with the ball long out of the picture! I have countless other still photo's and videos of some of the greatest hitters of the game, past and present at POC and or just before and after. "Head down" on contact is the "categorical norm" of all these great hitters.
Now, Epstein does have some classic video shots of hitters with their heads facing out and "it appears" looking at the pitcher. My contention in those circumstances is that the hitter is hitting the pitch "out in front of the plate"...pulling it...so...yes...that is exactly where their head/eyes should be...at the power V. That doesn't "sell me" on his theory that every hitter should be looking out at the pitcher or in the 10 foot zone? Take these same hitters swinging a millisecond later (ball gets in)at the same pitch you would see their heads "down" at POC.

Even (especially)his student Brandon that he teaches on his video in his final swings it is EASY to see that his head "absolutely- unequivocally" is down on contact. Yet- Mr. Epstein either "doesn't see it that way" or...he has a different definition of what "head down" means?

One more thing- if you can super slow mo (frame by frame) his already slow video clips you will find he consistently fades out the swings of those he is touting at POC...when, in my observation, the head is down...but...coincidentally...the viewer doesn't get to see that? We easily note the "torque and rotation" but are not able to note the head position at contact? Oversight? Perhaps?
Exceptions on his tape: Edgar Martinez and A-Rod watch those clips in super slow mo and you won't be able to argue my point and my problem with Epstein telling the world of coaches "we aren't teaching what we see" when it is obvious to anyone with vision...neither is he. And sorry to say...coaches are literally buying $$$ into it?

For any coach to lessen the importance of good "head discipline" IMO this goes against the principles of good fundamental swing mechanics. Head discipline is evident in the hundreds of pictures I have showing successful pros and best hitters who ever played the game at POC. If you open your sports page today you may very well see a photo of a pro player at POC with head down usually followed by a caption "game winning HR or base hit". Epstein's results, be they from proven drills or methodologies "produce good rotational hitters" but in his promotion of same- he absolutely contradicts himself in his verbal analysis and descriptions of the swing itself. IMHO, causing himself some credibility.

Therefore and with all due respect to Mr. Epstein who has rightfully earned his guru title, I believe BHL using the terms "brilliant" to butter up to Epstein is a bit overboard for this board.