Posted by: ssarge (ssarginson@earthlink.net) on Wed Oct 6 23:08:08 2004

I really have no ox to gore here.

But I look at a LOT of video of MLB hitters. Real swings, not drill swings. I generally use 60fps video, which gives a lot of detail compared to the usual 27-30fps.

On every swing I study, I use drawing tools (frame-by-frame) to draw the swing plane and then compare it to pitch plane (I draw other things as well, depending on what I am studying, but I always drawn swing plane). The product I use for this (RightView Pro) also has math tools to measure degrees of angle. The MLB pitch trajectory appears to me to be approximately 2-3 degrees downward at the top of the zone, about 5-9 at the waist, more at the knees. The swing plane is ALWAYS up w/ MLB hitters (maybe not Ichiro). It is clear that they are trying to match (in reverse) the pitch plane with their swing plane, for obvious reasons. The swing plane begins moving up from about the time the bat clears the back leg (or sooner). I can not imagine how the machine in question can be used to simulate an upward swing plane beginning approximately 2 - 3 feet before contact.

I do know that my 13 YO daughter, who is a pretty fair hitter in FP TB in California, was asked to hit in the device at a clinic. She laughed, and referred to it as a torture device. She wanted to know if it could be turned over and the ball hung from a string.

From the mouth of babes. . .


I also know for a certainty that many MLB players - including some names that would surprise us - BELIEVE that they swing downward to the ball. After all, the bat goes down before it goes up, and it may well feel like a downward stroke all the way to contact. But reality (as captured on video) transcends feeling.

This is why it is so vitally important not to listen to what anyone SAYS about hitting, even MLBers. Also including me. The only thing that really matters is how the best hitters in the world ACTUALLY hit, not how they say they hit. I think Jack can tell some stories in this regard himself, if he choses to. But few MLB players can describe their swing, and remarkably few study video of their own swings. This extends to many top hitting coaches as well. And college is worse.

It is my opinion that virtually none of the best hitters in the world swing down, or swing on a plane that can be accomodated with the Griffey machine. If I am wrong, I apologize in advance for demeaning a legitimate product. But before I conceed that I'm wrong, someone is going to have to explain the dozens (maybe hundreds) of marked up video clips I own illustrating MLB swing planes - all up.

Regards,

Scott

HI,
> just to let you know bonds did swing through this device in spring training of 1999 he did like it.How can you base a product on one person to say it's good or not?Your understanding of this device is off one baseball camp with a closed mind.I will say this device would help hitters that hit like Ichiro,and it also will help power hitters to.The angle adjustment allows this.I guess you agree that there is different types of hitters by your statement.I think you used this device in one swing plane .Which one?It is real to get the bat in the proper postion to hit a line drive.Again i'm not getting paid to promote this device i'm interested in people that truely know the product not someone that has spent 5 minutes with know real reality to it's value.Where is my report you said you would send ?