Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sat Jun 8 09:51:02 2002

re: "The need to chart the pitchers and figure out what they most frequently through for a 1st strike pitch (and their percentage), their out pitch, and especially, what the pitcher's plan was for them the previous AB."
> > > >
> > > Thanks for your input. As far as the stride to the #1 position and holding it until swing is concerned, how is this different than a normal no stride hitter. What they are doing is striding to a no stride if you know what I mean. Epstein says a no stride approach is okay as long as everything else is in line.
> > >
> > > As far as the strike outs are concerned he's swinging at fastballs and the combination of timing and pulling off are the problem. The pitchers are not really overpowering but he has so much to think about that timing becomes the main issue. I think keeping the hands back until the front heel drops may solve both problems (timing and pulling off).
> >
> > =============================================================
> > "Pulling off" sounds like a problem with balance, and where the arms are extending (i.e. to the side=casting, and the hitter tends to swing across his body, and may fall backwards; to the front is good extension, i.e. "power V"). I'm relying on the problems I've experienced with moving my kids from "linear" to "rotational" hitting. I haven't seen your son. You're probably on the right track.
> >
> > I'm not sure what you mean by a "normal" no-stride hitter. Epstein says stride is style, not technique, but he recommends a no-stride approach.
> >
> > The reference I read regarding an "early #1 position" is Mikes comment here: "The main disadvantage to getting to the “1” position too early, and having to “stop,” is that it breaks the continuity of the swing. The player will lose some power and quickness because of this delay."
> > Ref: http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/80.html
> >
> > You've probably seen all of this (I just keep building my notebook):
> >
> > RE: Balance - http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/169.html
> >
> > RE: Timing -
> > http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/141.html
> > http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/108.html
> >
> > RE: Mental aspect of hitting -
> > http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/images/collegiatebaseball6enh.pdf
> >
> > RE: Trouble shooting
> > http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/troubleshooting.htm
> >
> > - Scott
>
> By a normal no stride hitter I mean someone who takes no stride. It seems to me that a hitter who is in the #1 position is in a no stide position. If you're in the #1 position you've already taken your stride. From that point further there is no stride. So, if Epstein supports no stride hitting, why wouldn't he support hitting from the #1 position. And if he supports hitting from the #1 position who cares when you got there as long as it's early enough to execute the swing. Why would it matter if you got there just in time to swing or if you got there before the pitchers hands separated? It seems to me that if you support no stride hitting you must think that you can generate power from that position (i.e. Jim Edmunds). If you can generate power from the no stride position why can't you generate power from the #1.
>
> I guess I'm confused. Help me out.

A few responses,I may have missed a few issues.

As Jack says,keeping the shoulder in there is a bad cue for rotational mechanics because you don't want to inhibit shoulder rotation.The preferred way of fixing "pulling off the ball" should be aimed at what the rotational flaw is.One as mentioned above is extending the arms/hanpath which hampers rotation and gets the bat away from the body which later has to be pulled back across the body with poor power and the feel of pulling off the ball.This is more likely because of poor connection then compensation.To correct this do what is necessary to have good connection at launch and keep the hand path circular after launch.Do not let the hands get away or drag the bat.

The second cause is lack of upper/lower body separation.If the hips aren't leading the hands(muscles stretched) at launch,then there is a one piece body turn with great timing error and low batspeed which can again give the feel of pulling off the ball.Do what is necessary to have consistent adequate separation.

In another area,the get the front foot down early is often good advice for young hitters.It is one of Hudgen's 2 favorite corrections.Why would this work?I think the main reason is you need to get off the backside and onto the front side or regain balance or get dynamically balanced at front toe touch,whatever you want to call this.Kids will tend to either never get off the backside,collapse the backside and uppercut or have the weight continue back to front with hip slide after launch(lunging) which ruins rotation at launch-both forms of suboptimal swaying of the body instead of ground up rotation.If you get the front foot down early,you may be more likely to have regained balance/gotten off the backside/created some resistance so you can then rotate better on a stable axis.However,make sure you don't end up breaking the motion into pieces(break chain of muscle contraction after it starts) or get stuck on the front foot so the axis has/has to drift forward after launch.

However,,once you are doing the motion fairly well,I think it is better to be a little early rather than a little late,because you can speed up the body to adjust timing more than you can slow down because slowing down risks breaking the chain.

Finally,I would not confuse "no stride" with lack of motion/weight shifting.Even though the stride foot may not go far,rhythmic preswing activity/breaking inertia/getting the muscles ready for action by being in motion is important.Minimizing motion too much will ruin quickness and rhythm important to the swing timing.It will be interesting to see Epstein's upcoming no stride articele.Keep an eye out for that.