Posted by: Cardinal2B (jeff0649@optonline.net) on Tue Jun 25 07:39:57 2002

There is no such thing as a magical technique, or "silver bullet". Spending money on Jack's video is no substitute for 600+ swings off a tee per week. If you are willing to put the work in, you WILL improve, and rotational mechanics will accelerate that improvement. It's the correct way to hit a baseball.
> > >
> > > I have met only about 1 of 30 kids (13-15 yr old) who are willing to do the work. Most will work hard for a week or so until the next game, or until they get the next hit. What are you willing to do for the next 24 months? If you are willing to do tons of wind springs, pushups, pull-ups, situps and crunches, and weight training if you're old enough (15 yrs up), along with your hitting practice, you will improve. But it takes 20-30 hours a week of regular workouts to improve, and consistent hard work to become a "star".
> > >
> > > Otherwise, in my opinion, you're wasting your money. The tape will sit on a shelf. With minimum practice, any technique will work equally poor.
> > >
> > > Regards.. Scott
> >
> > Hi Scott
> > Are you suggesting that if someone wanted to just improve their swing (not necesarily hit the ball 500 feet), and they understood and followed Jack's method, they would not improve unless they practiced as long and hard as you outline here!
> > Len
> >
> > They may improve, but as Epstein likes to say "the only place success comes ahead of work is in the dictionary". My own 12 yr old is an example. We did (and are doing) Epstein's drills this year and he's better in many ways- only 2 strikeouts (against the league's slowest, worst pitcher- he lunged desperately going after the barely moving object) and one pop-up. But he ain't where I'd hoped. He hits like a statue too much of the time- just not cutting loose. Maybe the new muscle memory isn't ingrained or he's still just thinking too much. And he definitely needs to learn how to get to the launch position more quickly. But getting him to do the work- or even think about baseball instead of kid stuff- is like pulling teeth, and I'm no dentist. (Maybe if I disguise myself as a 12 yr old girl...) And until he gets that burning desire to pay the price, he'll be just OK.


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Practice 600 or 700 swings per week? No wonder your 12 year old got tired, bored. I would be, too, and I've played ball all my life & love it.
So here are two observations.
1. Success is a virtuous cycle. Do you love baseball because you're good? Do you practice because you love baseball? Are you good because you practice? - the answer needs to be yes to all of the above; that implies some fun quotient....wind springs, pushups, pull-ups, situps and crunches, and weight training if you're old enough (15 yrs up), along with your hitting practice doesn't sound like much fun the way you outline it!
2. Incrementality is key. One step at a time - Limited success, with maximum (public)reinforcement from the coach, followed by a little more work begets another little success, another little bit of praise, and by-and-by the kid loves the game, and wants to practice. If a kid wants it (based on some previous successes) the kid will ask for the additional workouts. I don't think you can go about it the other way 'round.