Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: In reading the Charlie Lau school of thought much is said about hitting the bal (> > >) on Thu May 24 15:16:24 2001

> > >
> > > "You need to regulate the swing through "weathervaning" the lead elbow. If a player is taught correctly to get the plane of his swing on the plane of the pitch, he not only increases his contact area immeasurably, but sets himself up correctly to hit line drives. IF, the player is a little "late," he will hit the bottom-half of the ball which will produce a fly ball with "back spin," a desirable combination; a fly ball with "carry" to it. On the other hand, if he is a little "early," he will hit the top-half of the ball, producing a ground ball with "over spin," another highly favorable combination; a ground ball which gains momentum. Now, if the player times the pitch correctly and hits it dead-on, the stronger hitters can actually stop the rotation of the pitch altgether, producing 100 mph "knuckle balls." I did it for nine years in the big leagues, trying to catch these line drives playing first base. They're murder to catch -- no matter WHERE they're hit. So, if a hitter can match the plane of his swing to the plane of the pitch, lots of great things can happen. He has the best of all possible worlds!"
> > >
> > > Hope this helps, it sure makes sense to me
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> >
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> > > i don't know much about the weathervaning concept, although it sounds intriguing & i would love to learn more about it....in the meantime, i'll give my 2 cents.....i take exception with lau's assertion that you obtain backspin by hitting down on the ball.....all that might accomplish is ground balls with backspin....and the difference in a grounder with backspin vs. no back spin is that the friction of ball and ground will always cause the ball to slow down, but the ball with backspin will not slow down quite as quick............what you want is backspin with the ball hit in the air.....and this is achieved not by swinging down, it is achieved simply by contacting the ball about 1/2 inch below center of ball...........steve garvey said this is always how he achieved backspin............there was a book published called "keep your eye on the ball", authored by bahill and someone....it goes into much more scientific detail than adair's book ...there is an entire chapter analyzing how far below center of ball to contact it in order to achieve maximum backspin....maybe lau should read that book......respe extended at or above your head. Should listen to my coach or swing the normal way?
> > > >
> > > > I am playing at a high school level and want to know if I am getting good advice or bad. <<<
> > > >
> > > > Hi YOU KNOW IT
> > > >
> > > > I would not give you the advice your coach gave. But I am sure he is trying to help you with the best advice from what he has been taught. Most coaches have their player’s best interest at heart. I think it would be better if he would him come to the site and discuss his ideas with other coaches. If he is open minded, many of your problems might be solved without you having to confront your coach.
> > > >
> > > > Jack Mankin
> > > >
> > >
> > > Thanks for responding to my message.
> > >
> > > Would you suggest I rather take a small step towards the pitcher, rather than towards the plate? Or would you suggest no stride at all? I think when I step into the plate it is a good way to get jammed on an inside pitch.
> >
> > I'm having the same problem too. I just had my first live batting practice a week ago after practicing all winter with this swing. When I swing in a mirror, my swing looks exactly like the guy in the Swing Mechanics part of this sight, only a bit different at the stance. Now when I had hit in live practice, I noticed I was stepping toward the plate, making it harder for me to see the ball, and harder to get my hips going. Little help pleez?
> > >
> > >
> My other coach also says to step into the ball (weight shift forward). He says I should meet the ball 2 feet in front of plate. I think this is crazy, simply because I will start leaning all over the place and I think it will mess my swing up.
>
> Thanks for responding to my message Jack, and if you could again that would be great.
>
> Thanks,
> Graham

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> > > > 
> > > > "You need to regulate the swing through "weathervaning" the lead elbow. If a player is taught correctly to get the plane of his swing on the plane of the pitch, he not only increases his contact area immeasurably, but sets himself up correctly to hit line drives. IF, the player is a little "late," he will hit the bottom-half of the ball which will produce a fly ball with "back spin," a desirable combination; a fly ball with "carry" to it. On the other hand, if he is a little "early," he will hit the top-half of the ball, producing a ground ball with "over spin," another highly favorable combination; a ground ball which gains momentum. Now, if the player times the pitch correctly and hits it dead-on, the stronger hitters can actually stop the rotation of the pitch altgether, producing 100 mph "knuckle balls." I did it for nine years in the big leagues, trying to catch these line drives playing first base. They're murder to catch -- no matter WHERE they're hit. So, if a hitter can match the plane of his swing to the plane of the pitch, lots of great things can happen. He has the best of all possible worlds!"
> > > > 
> > > > Hope this helps, it sure makes sense to me
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > i don't know much about the weathervaning concept, although it sounds intriguing & i would love to learn more about it....in the meantime, i'll give my 2 cents.....i take exception with lau's assertion that you obtain backspin by hitting down on the ball.....all that  might accomplish is ground balls with backspin....and the difference in a grounder with backspin vs. no back spin is that the friction of ball and ground will always cause the ball to slow down, but the ball with backspin will not slow down quite as quick............what you want is backspin with the ball hit in the air.....and this is achieved not by swinging down, it is achieved simply by contacting the ball about 1/2 inch below center of ball...........steve garvey said this is always how he achieved backspin............there was a book published called  "keep your eye on the ball", authored by bahill and someone....it goes into much more scientific detail than adair's book ...there is an entire chapter analyzing how far below center of ball to contact it in order to achieve maximum backspin....maybe lau should read that book......respe extended at or above your head. Should listen to my coach or swing the normal way? 
> > > > > 
> > > > > I am playing at a high school level and want to know if I am getting good advice or bad. <<<
> > > > > 
> > > > > Hi YOU KNOW IT
> > > > > 
> > > > > I would not give you the advice your coach gave. But I am sure he is trying to help you with the best advice from what he has been taught. Most coaches have their player’s best interest at heart. I think it would be better if he would him come to the site and discuss his ideas with other coaches. If he is open minded, many of your problems might be solved without you having to confront your coach.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Jack Mankin 
> > > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks for responding to my message.
> > > > 
> > > > Would you suggest I rather take a small step towards the pitcher, rather than towards the plate? Or would you suggest no stride at all? I think when I step into the plate it is a good way to get jammed on an inside pitch.
> > > 
> > > I'm having the same problem too.  I just had my first live batting practice a week ago after practicing all winter with this swing.  When I swing in a mirror, my swing looks exactly like the guy in the Swing Mechanics part of this sight, only a bit different at the stance.  Now when I had hit in live practice, I noticed I was stepping toward the plate, making it harder for me to see the ball, and harder to get my hips going.  Little help pleez?  
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > My other coach also says to step into the ball (weight shift forward). He says I should meet the ball 2 feet in front of plate. I think this is crazy, simply because I will start leaning all over the place and I think it will mess my swing up.
> > 
> > Thanks for responding to my message Jack, and if you could again that would be great.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Graham

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