Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: The Hitting Guru () on Sat Jan 7 19:52:18 2006

> I have a 15 yr old son about to try out for the high school baseball team and I have 11 yr old daughter who plays select softball. My daughter is currently taking lessons to learn the rotational method of hitting. Is this method something that I should introduce my son to? He has been learning the Charlie Lau method for a number of years.

Chuck. Your daughter is doing a good thing in learning the benefits of rotational hitting. Actually, if you have the opportunity to watch any of the top womens college baseball games on ESPN you will find that more often than not at least the 3rd thru 5th hitters use the same techniques, especially the team USA team.

With regard to Charlie Lau methods for your son, I would say if he is hitting well, stick with what is working. The absolutes of hitting are a winning format and if done correctly can benefit any hitter. Sometimes people get caught up in technical talk that distorts what is really being shared. It is my belief that the linear concept was meant to be an approach that would allow a hitter to make more contact, because his swing plane would be in the hitting area longer. Rotational hitting was thought to produce more power for which I agree. The problem lies in that many players who use rotational like methods do not employ it correctly or do not have proper instruction to correct flaws. A player who has great physical strength can make mistakes that those who do not possess the same physical strength could not make. A player who tried to hit like Reggie Jackson of average strength would not succeed in the major leagues. This is not the fault of the rotational system, but merely points out that it must be done correctly.

George Brett was a disciple of Charlie Lau. Other hitters such as Dwight Evans, and Carlton Fisk also benefited from Lau. The talent and physical strength cannot be overlooked with regard to our subject. But any method linear, rotational, or combined if done correctly can produce a successful hitter. Ty Cobb could have played in any era, and as such makes an argument for other methods. Also, Ichiro Suziki uses an unorthodox style, but yet hits over .300 is good in the clutch, and does not possess enormous physical strength.

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> > I have a 15 yr old son about to try out for the high school baseball team and I have 11 yr old daughter who plays select softball.  My daughter is currently taking lessons to learn the rotational method of hitting.  Is this method something that I should introduce my son to?  He has been learning the Charlie Lau method for a number of years.
> 
> 
> Chuck.  Your daughter is doing a good thing in learning the benefits of rotational hitting.  Actually, if you have the opportunity to watch any of the top womens college baseball games on ESPN you will find that more often than not at least the 3rd thru 5th hitters use the same techniques, especially the team USA team.  
> 
> With regard to Charlie Lau methods for your son, I would say if he is hitting well, stick with what is working.  The absolutes of hitting are a winning format and if done correctly can benefit any hitter.  Sometimes people get caught up in technical talk that distorts what is really being shared.  It is my belief that the linear concept was meant to be an approach that would allow a hitter to make more contact, because his swing plane would be in the hitting area longer.  Rotational hitting was thought to produce more power for which I agree.  The problem lies in that many players who use rotational like methods do not employ it correctly or do not have proper instruction to correct flaws.  A player who has great physical strength can make mistakes that those who do not possess the same physical strength could not make.  A player who tried to hit like Reggie Jackson of average strength would not succeed in the major leagues.  This is not the fault of the rotational system, but merely points out that it must be done correctly.  
> 
> George Brett was a disciple of Charlie Lau.  Other hitters such as Dwight Evans, and Carlton Fisk also benefited from Lau.  The talent and physical strength cannot be overlooked with regard to our subject.  But any method linear, rotational, or combined if done correctly can produce a successful hitter.  Ty Cobb could have played in any era, and as such makes an argument for other methods.  Also, Ichiro Suziki uses an unorthodox style, but yet hits over .300 is good in the clutch, and does not possess enormous physical strength.

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