Posted by: Shawn (mariner0324@yahoo.com) on Fri Mar 17 18:44:13 2006

> I have ordered the dvd and reviewed it and I have the bag and practice bat.. I have all the equipment but the video seems to lag a little in the total beginner area.
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> I would like to hear from someone who has taught this and what they would do if someone delivered them a brand new kid who never picked up a bat. 8 and 7 year old boys.. 3 year old does not count he likes to spin and hit the ball.
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> Hoping to start the kids out on the correct swing.

I reviewed the video, It is good but I think it could have been better. Jack spends a good deal of the time on BHT and THT. He sort of leaves out how to rotate and swing plane development.

You are going to have to work on rotation and BHT first, or better yet the CHP. It may take a little time just getting him to rotate. The rotation is the power behind BHT, so you can work on both of them at the same time. You can start from the lag position like in the video, I prefer to start from a more normal position. Don't forget to work on CHP with the top hand to start with.

If you understand the video, BHT, THT, CHP then everything is there in the video. This website has a ton of information on it about these topics as well. Just go through the posts on BHT, etc., where Jack has made a reply and read his posts. Put simply and easy the power is in the lead arm. I have players put some tension in the lead arm vs muscling up the top hand. I do this to create a better connection with the lead arm and the front shoulder, or rotation. I believe there is "some" power in the top hand, but this is sub servant to the lead arm.

Jack spends some time on the swing and lead arm alignment in the video. That is important although there is another angle to it. If you teach a kid to swing around his spine then his posture basically sets the swing plane. First have him swing with the posture completely upright, creating a flat high swing. This way he gets a feel for swinging around the spine and how his upright posture creates a flat swing plane. Next have him bend at the hips tilting his posture towards the plate. Have him again swing around the spine, if does swing around the spine like I'm thinking of then his swing should be down, level, and up. Basically if he can do it correctly the swing should be roughly in the plane of the pitch from the waist to the knees because of his posture being tilted. Therefor minimal adjustments must be made to hit the ball. I know it sounds a little technical, but if you can get them to realize the connection between posture and swing plane, then he will be well ahead of the learning curve. It just takes a little practice.

If he has a hard time trying to learn BHT and how to rotate, then you will have to wait until he can understand the swing better. Just give him minimal advice and let him hit.