Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Wed Mar 7 11:17:21 2007

> BHL,I think you are probably right re: force applied relative to a jab vs hook. My only point (obscure at best)is that a straight line is more accurate and gets to the target quicker. Now nobody actually believes that hitting is purely straight line, clearly the lower body turns first to create separation. What happens next and in what sequence seems to be the question...then the bigger question is how do you teach a kid to be effective hitter and finally how does that translate into a higher level swing in high school and college. From what I've read, on a variety of websites and books, no one seems to agree. I've consistently felt that to play at the higher levels of baseball, you have to be able to control the bat head and that a purely circular swing is not the most effective method...it may create the most bat speed, but that in and of itself does not make a high level baseball hitter. In prior posts, I've described my disillushionment using the Epstein approach with my son and how working a major league hitting instructor helped him. I've described how my son, when he got to travel baseball had a hard time hitting the outside pitch and changeup...which I believe are the inherent difficulty in a pure rotaitional motion. That being said, I'm sure that their are Dad's and coaches out there who are using Jack's or Epstein's methods and are perfectly satisfied. They should stay with it...maybe their kids are better athletes than mine. Dennis, I'm not trying to sell anything and I don't have a website. I'm trying to let parent's, who have had similar experiences to mine, know that there are other teaching methods to hitting a baseball that incorporarate turning and hands to the ball. Anyway, too much coffee this morning BHL...continue your quest. jima

Hi jima,

Various websites have different ways of teaching how to hit, complete with their own strengths and weaknesses. Paul Nyman articulates the reality of the motor-physical movements of hip and shoulder rotation, but fails to provide the mose effective cues for doing so. Dsvid Hudgens has the most complete program that I'd ever seen, but his methods do not seem to allow the hips to turn forcefully. Jack Mankin's work on upper body mechanics is revolutionary, but he places little emphasis on lower body mechanics. Mike Epstein's program can allow a person to unload on an inside pitch, but only at the expense of the outside pitch. Finally, Jeff Alberts preaches quickness, bit at the expense of optimum power. I am impressed, though, by Jeff's Albert's attempt to teach the batter how to produce the quickest swing for all pitch locations with the least possible effort. Nevertheless, I believe that any one of these gurus can help hitters achieve results, depending on what visual movement makes the swing "happen" (Nyman).

Let us now be fair to the gurus, and give their homepages:
[deleted by moderator - advertising]

In my opinion, attempting to hit the ball for distance consistantly entails perusing through information, borrowing bits of information from them, adding self-created cues, and creating cues. For the average athletes, the act of researching the swing and researching the swing will play huge dividends. Personally, I know: I am 5'9," 204 lbs., and can hit the ball 330 feet on a continuum, and am constantly outhit by a 5'8," 145 lb. Dominican native who went from being a singles hitters to a home run hitters through research, hard work, and dedication. Enjoy your coffee break!

Best,
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. Two more questions:
1) Do you think the back leg should be in an "L" shape at contact?
2) Do you think the back arm should be in an "L" shape at contact?