Posted by: The Hitman (ahsnumber3@aol.com) on Thu Oct 3 23:00:34 2002

My coach says most guys on my team have too much of an uppercut. He says it's because when they inward turn the drop their back side. He tells us that when we "load" or inward turn, the front shoulder should come down a little and the back shoulder and elbow should go up just a little. This will then put a downward bathead path to the ball and come back up slightly, and just before contact. My question is I want to know if that's true or not? Cause none of us have video cameras.
> > > >
> > > > How nice, a serious topic for one. Buck, most cases I have seen where there was a connection between inward turn & uppercut was when the shoulders turned too far inward. This combined with an excessive attempt at "keeping the weight back" can not only cause a severe uppercut but also an inside-out swing as well.
> > > > I suppose pointing down the front shoulder could help restrain an excessive amount of shoulder turn. I think Epstein advocates this---maybe you could check out his material.
> > > > No video camera? As much as the bats, gloves, etc cost, you might as well invest a little more $ and get a digital video camera. And at least it won't wear out like the bats & gloves.
> > > > ***********************************************************
> > > The videos I have of MLB greats show little or no up and down shoulder movement on the inward turn. The hands and back elbow do go back and up on the inward turn which allows the bat to THT and the greatest degree of hip and shoulder separation
> >
> >
> > mb: Good point about little up or down shoulder movement on the inward turn. I should have read the original post more thoroughly. I was thinking the coach was saying start out the inward turn with the front shoulder down a bit. But turning the shoulder down DURING the inward turn is indeed utterly rediculous. As far as the THT stuff is concerned, I think that might be meaningless to most people.
>
> Let's not be too complicated. Start with a comfortable and workable stance with some rythm and movement in the stance. Hit against the front leg, let go of the top hand and everything else will fall into place. My free advice, a true gift considering my rates are normally $300 an hour. Take advantage of my free advice.

Hey anonymous,
You got it wrong, a quote from Lau "Many so called hitting instructors tell you to hit against your front leg to keep you from lunging at the ball. The problem with hitting too much against your front leg is that it forces the bat head away from your body, draining swing energy and causing you to get around the ball (weak hitting position) -- forcing you to pull every pitch"
Although Charley Lau Jr. Appears to be arrogant, I think his system can help out the average baseball player.
The Hitman
> >