Posted by: Paul () on Thu Dec 29 15:25:34 2011

> > > > > > http://www.hittingillustrated.com/library/SwingReview.htm
> > > > > >
> > > > > > A swing review that actually matches the video shown.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > That piece is not a swing analysis and it is not instructive
> to players or coaches. Period!!
> > > > >
> > > > > Aside from your unsupported commentary, you and your tiny
> clips fail to provide any analysis as to what is right, wrong or needs
> improvement with each swing. You merely conclude that any swing that
> has a "go," tilt and follow through is a proper swing. You make
> unsubstantiated statements, such as tilt is more powerful than
> rotation, and the shoulders don't rotate. Proof, theory and/or video
> evidence supporting your position? Of course not.
> > > > >
> > > > > Your latest views are unteachable and unsupported by video,
> and will not help anybody become a better hitter. It's purely
> speculation and commentary based on your personal "feel."
> > > > >
> > > > > We have heard you change beliefs constantly for years. How
> can anyone place any value in anything you write. We certainly don't,
> but if people wish to learn more about your newest "go" and "stop"
> batting mechanics or whatever the flavor of the day is, they will know
> where to find you.
> > > > >
> > > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I agree this is a terrible explanation of hitting. He obviously
> does not understand true rotational mechanics. He basically thinks
> rotational mechanics makes hitters "spin off" the ball which is not
> the case at all. By the way if you tell hitters to push with the rear
> foot (which is ridiculous and completely wrong) then that is going to
> lead to hitters leaking forward too much in their swing. The worse
> part is where he swears up and down the shoulders do not rotate and
> they clearly do every time.
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael,
> > >
> > > Ask a MLB hitter if he is a rotational hitter, see what kind of
> answer you get.
> > >
> > > If they don't push with the rear leg then what do they do? Just
> sit down on it and turn? Of course they push with it, they load the
> rear hip and push. Do you push when you throw or just turn and stay
> back? I believe that when Bonds broke the single season HR record he
> was coming out of a bit of a funk. When asked what he did he said I
> remember what my dad use to tell me load the back leg. If he loads it
> then how does he unload it? With a push. It will not cause you to
> leak. Not if you no how to maintain the rear hip load while creating
> forward momentum. The push doesn't come until "go". The front leg
> blocks the forward movement.
> > >
> > > I think you are missing the point on the shoulders, of course they
> rotate. So do the hips and the hands, it's the how and why that lead
> to a MLB swing. The shoulders do not rotate to power the swing, they
> tilt. They tilt to create stretch and to link up with the already
> turning hips. The hands are then able to be launched from a solid
> platform, not one filled with slop.
> > >
> > > Try it. First try to turn your hips as fast and as hard as you can
> then follow with turning your shoulders as hard as you can and see how
> well you can hit, see how much adjustability you have.
> > >
> > > Next, take a couple of 3/4 side arm throws, like turning a double
> play as a second basemen. Then take a bat and try to create the same
> motion. Make sure the hips open early and the rear shoulder comes
> down, just like in the throw. Then just throw the barrel just like in
> your throwing motion. Extend through your intended target and let the
> barrel move around the hands. If you can throw then you can hit.
> > >
> > > Does anyone really understand true rotational mechanics? I've
> heard Ted Williams name brought up as one of the greats, on this site
> numerous times, as someone who knew how to hit. Yet, I hear the fence
> drill (Enforcer Drill) bashed by Brian. When the instructor that uses
> it most is Mike Epstein who is a disciple of Ted. Ted endorsed the
> mechanics and drills that Mike uses. So what, Ted was wrong, please.
> > >
> > > I can watch all the video I want and I can break down every
> movement, but do I really know what they're doing to acheive that out
> come? The only way we can get close is to pick up a bat and try to
> copy what they're doing, to try to feel what they're doing, to listen
> to what they say they're doing, then and only then can you see and
> feel what it is they're really doing.
> > >
> > > I coach High School baseball with a guy who is good friends with
> Dustin Pedroia, they grew up together and played baseball together.
> When he asks Dustin what it is he does he tells him, When I get a good
> pitch I throw the barrel as hard as I can through the ball. Some days
> I'm seeing the ball great and others not so well.
> > >
> > > Throw the barrel. Direct the energy through the ball not around
> it. The bat is going around the hands not the shoulders. The hands
> control where the barrel goes not the shoulders.
> > >
> > > Graylon
> >
> >
> > Graylon,
> >
> > I actually think it is a combination of rotational and linear
> hitting that creates a high level mlb swing. I think explaining it by
> saying to push the rear leg is a very poor way of explaining it. Also
> comparing throwing and hitting are obviously different so comparing
> them has no merit. Certainly hitters don't just stay back and turn
> because that would lead to spinning off the ball.
> >
> > I think the best hitter I have seen that you can classify as
> rotational is Josh Hamilton. Also if you saw Alex Rodriguez's home
> run last night where they had to use the instant replay. They showed
> a great side view of it where I think you can pretty much classify
> that as a rotational swing. Ultimately like I said I think it's a
> combination of rotational and linear principles that lead to the best
> swing possible. It just seems very difficult to explain and I think
> you and the owner of this site both bring up very good points when
> talking about a high level swing.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hopefully this will help,
>
> I play college baseball in the highly competitive Peach Belt
> Conference, NCAA Division 2. I've played summer ball in the Coastal
> Plains League and faced pitchers from some top notch D1 schools and
> have been able to perform very well, hitting .343 throughout my
> college career with respectable power numbers. I believe the swing
> must be THOUGHT as purely rotational to be able to compete against 90
> MPH fastballs that are complimented with above average breaking balls.
> Whether or not this is what actually happens in slow motion is irrelevant. Yes, the more powerful hitters probably do a little bit of
> everything. Bryce Harper is a perfect example, he shifts his weight
> back and "pushes" forward, then rotates with all of his might. He
> pulls his hands through and then throws them out. Whatever it may be,
> all he is showing is an ability to swing very very HARD. There's
> nothing really mechanical to it, all he does is swing as hard as he
> can. He is also an exceptional athlete and probably a freak of nature
> with super human hand eye coordination. A player like me can't get
> away with that stuff. If I were to push forward AT ALL it would move
> the position of my head and my eyes forward, making the ball appear
> faster than it already is. I load my weight on to my back leg but I
> must stay there to be successful, so basically all I think about after
> I load is to spin my hips in the direction of the pitch. Everything
> else takes care of itself. I believe this is the reason Josh Hamilton
> is so successful. The very last swing of this video
> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWhYhrK1kr4&feature=related) clearly
> shows he is very stationary after loading and that he whips open his
> body. The stationary rotation gives his the ability to see pitches
> better and make solid contact which is why he can hit .350 against
> Major League pitchers. He is simply just strong enough to send the
> ball 450+ feet. I would bet a million dollars that if he wanted to, he
> could swing it like Bryce Harper and probably start flirting with the
> 550 mark. But that would mean he would have to sacrifice his eyes for
> more power (also write this down, Bryce Harper will be eaten alive for
> at least 5 years if he doesn't get rid of all that extra movement.
> Spring Training last year meant nothing, it's a long season, plenty of
> time to find a way to get a guy who is moving back and forth like that
> off balance.)
>
> I have done my fair share of video analysis for almost 8 years
> constantly trying to find ways to better myself. To be completely
> honest, I have come to the conclusion that there are far too many
> factors for slow motion video analysis to bring light to this on going
> arguement. In the Swing Review from above every single clip is of a
> different location. How can you possibly analyze something when the
> most influential variable is constantly changing? It's not logical in
> my eyes. And asking an MLB player wouldn't help the cause either. I
> doubt any of them actually know exactly what they do when they perform
> at game speed. 1) Thinking about mechanics while a 90 MPH fastball is
> coming at you will result in failure 99.999999% of the time, they must
> focus on the moment and The fact that this pitch is coming at them
> right this instant and it is the single most important thing in their
> lives for that moment. 2) The true swing, the swing at game speed, is
> very athletic and VERY NATURAL. The body is on autopilot at this point
> and almost non-existent. It is very much like going for a 8-10 minute
> drive. You'll arrive at your destination and it's like waking up from
> a trance, you know you were driving the entire time but you don't
> really remember it like it was a dream from a few days ago that you
> can only pick out bits and pieces. I have film of myself hitting home
> runs and I can only remember certain details, the follow through not
> being one of them. I always finish with one hand in BP because I feel
> like it looks cooler, but every single home run I have on film I
> finish with two. I don't even realize it, it just happens.
>
> If you want to teach proper mechanics, teach the rawest most basic
> forms (balance, confidence, and calmness) and allow the body to find
> it's own way. Information overloading like this causes confusion and
> turns ballplayers into worriers and most definitely leads to failure.
> Let their inner greatness shine on it's own. No mechanical analysis
> can beat that.
>
>
> Ian

When you said this "I load my weight on to my back leg but I
must stay there to be successful, so basically all I think about after
I load is to spin my hips in the direction of the pitch."

You're describing the "Thrust" that is being written about in that article! It's the same thing! It's not "pushing" forward. It's letting the swing transfer the weight, rather than "striding" to 50-50 and then going.

Do you load and then move forward without thinking about it?