Posted by: Jimmy () on Wed Feb 14 19:26:44 2007

> > > > The truth is that the debate between linear and rotational hitting doesn't exist in
the
> > Big Leagues today. This doesn't mean that it is not discussed but the discussion is
usually
> > laughed at.
> > > >
> > > > There is no debate because there is not one way to practice or teach hitting.
There
> > are certain fundamentals that are to be mastered, but not one way to master them.
The
> > most important fundamentals in hitting are as follows:
> > > >
> > > > 1) SEEING the baseball from the release point all the way in to the hitting zone.
> > > >
> > > > 2) BALANCE throuout the stance, load, swing, and finish.
> > > >
> > > > 3) Controlable RYTHM in the load
> > > >
> > > > 4) The first three fundamentals will help to contribute to the fourth which is
> > SWINGING AT
> > > > GOOD PITCHES TO HIT HARD ONLY
> > > >
> > > > 5) EFFICIENT swing path to and through the baseball
> > > >
> > > > 6) HEAD DOWN and EYES IN the hitting zone during and after contact has been
made
> > > >
> > > > ......Now all of the details of the lower half, the feet, the hands, the shoulders, the
> > hips, the knees, the elbows, the bat angle, the forces applied, the timing, the stride,
the
> > firmness and the timing of the firmness of the front leg, etc., etc., etc., are areas that
are
> > important, but these details should not precede the core fundamentals.
> > > >
> > > > Hitters practice what they know will help them produce. Some try to do off the
wall
> > drills while some just hit off the tee. It is up to the individual hitter more so than it is
up
> > to the hitting coach to figure out what is the best routine for him. The hitter is the
only
> > individual who can feel what is going on with his body when he swings a bat. He is
also
> > the only individual who sees the delivery and the pitch through his eyes.
> > > >
> > > > Teaching hitting should not be a debate, it should be a collective effort to help
an
> > individual hitter hit. And each individual is a seperate case. If one guy like the term
"X"
> > and he produces for the team, than great. If his teammate doesn't like term "X" but
likes
> > > > term "Y" and he also produces for the team, than thats great as well. In the end it
is
> > the hitter who decides and it is the hitter who deserves the credit for the execution of
a
> > good swing, not a hitting style, and certainly not a hitting coach.
> > > >
> > > > Jimmy
> > >
> > > This is perhaps Your belief to be the truth.
> > > I dont believe it to be THE TRUTH.
> >
> > Coach,
> >
> > What do you believe to be THE TRUTH? Do you expect credit for a players good
> > performance? If this is so than what about the players that didn't get better as a
result of
> > your expertise, do you take the blame?
> >
> > Jimmy
>
> No Jimmy I don't believe that I have ALL THE ANSWERS. I have spent a considerable
amount of my life playing, coaching, and researching the different concepts when it comes
to swinging a bat and what it takes to have a high level swing. I have a friend that I
coached at the American Legion Level who is now a batting coach in the Cubs
organization. I called him today and asked him what they discuss when it comes to a
proper swing concept. I was AMAZED when he said they do discuss the concept of being
connected to the body and if a hitter moves his arms prematuraly. A few years ago Derek
Jeeter was asked a question what is the difference between you and other players you grew
up with and why they didnt make it to play baseball professionally. His answer was
coaching. Just trying to think rationally. Thanks for the discussion
> coach13

Coach,

I didn't mean to offend you. My main point was that some terms or cues may work for
some and not others. And when the hitter starts to "get it", the hitter deserves the
credit... not the type of mechanics he is using.

I am also a professional hitting coach like your friend and of course we discuss different
hitting concepts. The point is that we do not only teach one way of doing it, nor do we
have one way to teach it. However, the desired goals are consistent.

Your point were well taken in this discussion. Thank you.

Jimmy