Posted by: Thorpe Facer (tfacer@yahoo.com) on Tue Oct 16 14:11:44 2001

Not that this means a lot, but a 5-5 14 year old with great form can probobly hit (more) better balls than a 6-2 220 lb 30 year old with poor mechanics.
> >
> > Case in point, I work with kids, age 8-18, on hitting, and every once in a while their fathers or older brothers take a few swings. What always happens is that the father will make good contact on one or two pitches, and strut around around confident in his "acquired" skills. No one ever addresses the 15 or so pitches that were fouled off weakly, or the push that should have been a pull. The kids, on the other hand, hit more consistently with proper mechanics, hit more balls per pitches, and have the ability to drive opposite field.
> >
> > My point is simple. Proper fundamentals, together with training programs, = better hitters, regardess of size.
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> Jeff,
>
> It is really tough trying to educate people who know so little but I will try this one more time. Its obvious that a strong hitter with good mechanics will hit the ball harder more often then a strong hitter with poor. Do you think this is a revelation?
>
> Lets try to use a little deeper thinking and try to understand that just because a hitter, like Bonds, hits the ball out of the park alot, that does not mean that he uses good mechanics. He may be using poor mechanics but more then compensates by being quick and very strong. Get it? Long Ball does not equeal good mechanics.
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> This point has to be made because too many people see the result draw conclusions about the cause. Actually they do this because they do not know what the mechanics should be. They study people who produce the results they want and conclude that they are using the "proper" mechanics.
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> No real scientist would do this. Of course most of these guys are not scientist. They are just guys who became "coaches" because nobody else wanted the job at the 8 to 10 age level and they never let their poor results stop them from continuing.
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> Any way, try thinking about it. Maybe a light will come on though I doubt it. If it does some people wouldnt admit it any way. Jack won't.
>
> Joe A.


Oh great and marvelous Joe A.! How kind it is of you to come down occasionally from your great exalted mountain of knowledge and toss a few morsels to us starving peons. Thank you, thank you, thank you.