Posted by: Joe A. () on Thu Dec 13 04:57:13 2001

I'm involved in a discussion of hitting mechanics on a high school baseball web site and the fellow I'm discussing it with likes hitting.com. After looking at hitting.com, in order to better understand what this fellow means (I am also trying to get him to post on here), I find it difficult to pin down exactly what hitting.com is proposing. It sounds pretty linear, but there are mixed signals and it's all in bits and pieces. Perhaps if you buy his package there is more, but from what I see (closed front foot, knob to the ball, etc) I am not interested in his product. For the sake of helping me with my discussion with this fellow, can someone give me a rundown of the mechanics taught at hitting.com? If you would prefer to do so by email for some reason that's fine as well.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Mark H.
> > > >
> > > > Mark H,
> > > >
> > > > I reviewed the site you asked about. It's poor.
> > > >
> > > > Most of what I read is telling us what "not" to do. This is a fundemental error of coaching, especially for young kids. You can't teach anyone to do something by telling what "not to do." Untrained athelets will try to repeat what they see. But their actions are determined by some natural tendicies that they get from who knows where.
> > > >
> > > > A coach can't cure mistakes of natural tendicies without repelacing it with something. So, telling a kid "don't do" this or that will not work unitl you give him something to replace it with.
> > > >
> > > > But, on the hitting.com site, this is not a case of the common error of coaching. They are telling you that the things that are commonly said are wrong. By doing this they put questions in the reader's mind. I didn't read any actual coaching information that wouild correct these mistakes. These questions can be ansewred only by buying their product.
> > > >
> > > > Based on the questions I would say that their products will be a repeat of what is being commonly said in the "baseball training video" industry.
> > > >
> > > > In this sense the Batspeed.com site is better in that it actually gives information. While much of the information is wrong, its a more honest approach. Well, maybe wrong is too strong a word. It's misguided and incomplete.
> > > >
> > > > Joe A.
> > >
> > > Batman,
> > >
> > > I have coached baseball for many many years. In the past 5 years I have "Studied" hitting. For the past 2 1/2 years I have studied and researched hitting. I am not about to give away the resluts of my work to people who make money selling what they know.
> > >
> > > It has long been obvious to me that most people involved in "coaching" are in it for their own ego, not the improvement of the players. Therefore, if I say something they don't agree with they go a little wacky.
> > >
> > > Besides, it would take a lot of education to create a foundation for what I would say. Since I haven't see anyone on any of these sites who are even close to the correct thinking, I couldn't do in this setting.
> > >
> > > But, I will say this, when it comes to hitting mechanics are, at best, third on the list of importance.
> > >
> > > I only come here once in a while to post some observations and ridicule.
> > >
> > > Joe A.
> > >
> >
> > "when it comes to hitting mechanics are, at best, third on the list of importance"
> > and let me guess, we'll never hear what the other two are...
> > and blah, blah, blah
> > You don't have a hitting philosophy, you have a mental disorder, you fraudulent imposture
> > and we're still waiting...
> I have to agree with Joe A. the slightest bit. Mechanics, IMO, is not THE most important aspect of hitting. I don't believe you can say what THE most important aspect is. Hitting is a combination of so many things, it would be impossible to pick one out above the others. Most great hitters have very little idea what they do - they just do it. That's wht it's difficult, is not impossible, to find a former major league player who is also a good teacher - they both take very much time and if you're taking time to be a great hitter you don't have time to be a great teacher and vice versa. I know that's not always true - some people become great teacher BUT only after a period of time where they really study hitting. So, is there ONE THING that you absolutely have to do to become a great hitter?

Ed Howell and All,

I guess you are all correct. There are many aspects of hitting a few of which are of equal importance at the top of the list. I am glad you pointed that out to me.

Damn! I guess I wasted 5 years of study and research. Oh, well.

Joe A.