Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 1 01:26:28 2006

Hi All

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are in the process of developing a Swing Analysis DVD that can be viewed on your TV or it can be transferred into our Swing Analysis computer program. I would appreciate any suggestion you may have for swing analysis content or features you would like in the computer analysis software.

Below are suggestions I received from Jim and my reply. The exchange gives you an idea of the type of feedback that will allow us to produce the best analysis program available. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Jack Mankin
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>>> Jack,
I have four suggestions.
1- Identifying Flaws
The instructional resources (coaching clinics, videos, DVD's, computer software, etc) that I have used in learning how to coach hitting concentrate heavily on showing what the perfect major league swing looks like. That is great and very helpful. However, I believe that a resource that shows what specific flaws look like on a frame by frame basis as typical 14-18 year old individuals swing would be of equal importance and sometimes maybe even more helpful to a coach. It would also help to prioritize flaw correction. In other words, which flaws are the big problems that need to be addressed first and which are little problems that don't necessarily need immediate attention. It would be nice to see examples of female fastpitch players as well as baseball players.
2- Standardize Terminology
The RightView system breaks the swing into nine specific points of the swing. The verbage they pioneered has created consistency that makes a lot of sense and is easy for coaches, players, and parents to understand. As I attend clinics, high school games, travel ball tournaments, etc, I notice more and more people using these specific terms. I believe that standardization in swing terminology is occurring. It is certainly needed. Swinging a bat correctly requires a very specific set of movements. It follows that these movements should be labeled with standard terms. I recommend that you incorporate the use of their terminology as much as you feel is practical. It is as follows:
In the preparation to swing phase
1. Stance
2. Negative move
3. Toe touch
In the actual swing, or rotational phase:
4. Heel plant
5. Connection (the point during the early part of rotation where forces generated by the muscles of the body begin to connect, or add together)
6. Bat lag
7. Contact
8. Extension
9. Finish
3- The coach should make sure what he sees is really what he's looking at!
Take care not to over-generalize the "perfect" swing during analysis. When viewing swings frame by frame in stop action video, confusion about what it should look like often occurs when pitch placement is not taken into consideration. It is true that "all great hitters have identical swings", at least during the rotational phase. However, a perfect swing at a high inside fastball pulled down the left field line will never look identical in slow motion to a perfect swing at a low outside fastball hit down the right field line. Apples should be compared to apples.
The batter's timing on the pitch is a huge factor when analyzing clips. We have a young lady in our program who was born with a perfect swing. But I can make her look terrible on the computer by capturing a swing where she is being fooled by a change-up. Bad timing forces all batters to try to make adjustments during the course of the swing. The result is messed up mechanics and a poorly hit ball. A coach using analysis software must recognize this type of situation and reject the clip, not use it in an attempt to fix something that may not be broken.
4- Software flexibility
Develop software that can utilize video input from any source. Our CV300 will only capture and trim a swing clip it receives from a digital video camera via a firewire cable. It would be a great advantage if the software could receive video input via USB cable, CD/DVD drive, flash drive, or another location on the computer's hard drive.
Thanks for inviting me to give you some input. Good luck with your project.
Jim <<<

Hi Jim

Thank you very much for your excellent suggestions. They are all good points and I think you will be pleased with our plans for content and capabilities of the computer program we will offer.

Using the frame-by-frame, split screen, drawing and voice-override capabilities of our computer software, we will clearly demonstrate and define the key position found in all high level swings. We will also demonstrate and show frames of flawed positions that result in reduced bat speed and flaws in the swing-plane (which we will show and define in detail – wrist roll, wrist binds and waves in the plane).

Much of the DVD time will be spent showing frame-by-frame analysis of swings taped during batting practices (from little league to the pros (AA & AAA) – fastpitch and baseball). We will point out the good, the bad, and the ugly. (spilt screen comparisons) Lastly, we will demonstrate drills that should help fix the problems we show.

You state, “When viewing swings frame by frame in stop action video, confusion about what it should look like often occurs when pitch placement is not taken into consideration.” – I could not agree with you more. I will point out in the DVD why they must know pitch location to make a correct analysis of a swing. It is also important to know where to the ball is hit. The more a ball is pulled, the more the back arm will be extended by contact (likewise for outside pitches). I suggest they select a clip with a good pitch to hit and reference the frame when the bat becomes perpendicular to the flight of the incoming ball (hitting straight-away position) rather than at contact which vary significantly.

Question – I have seen “Bat Lag” referred to in many different ways. How does RVP define it and what determines if the batter’s “Lag” in good or bad?

Jim, the more suggestions we receive like yours, the better product we can develop. With your permission, I would like to post your suggestions on the discussion board as an example of what we are looking for. Please let me know.

Best regards,

Jack Mankin