Couldn't disagree more. Some of the comments are a complete contradiction to Ward's approach. I attended his camp at OSU in the 80's. I still have a VHS copy of "The Hitting Machine" from the camp. One of his most important points he makes right out of the gate is "different strokes for different folks" Quite the opposite of what I reading in this thread that he teaches a robotic swing for all. Where the hitter arrives at the point of contact should be generally the same, but how a hitter gets to that point can differ according to body type or overall ability or skill. The description of a "handsy" swing is misleading. Ward emphasizes bat speed and does point out the amount of speed the wrist, hands, and fingers can generate versus big slow muscles. Hands and wrist are quick and backs and shoulders are slow. Wards teaches the legs are your base and the legs combined with the back and shoulders provide the mass behind the ball but the without using your hands you are not maximizing your bat speed. In the video he goes through many "touch" systems to emphasize hands staying inside the ball. Yes, one is the hands in line with the sternum for stockier/shorter armed hitters, but he points out others that help different style hitters and body types such as the one Cal Ripken Jr. used where he laid his bat on his shoulder or Rod Carew's flat laid off approach but all good hitters arrive at basically the same position at the point of contact. Ward's system is not for a freak of nature, which most major league hitters are...with superior eye sight and reflexes that the average person. Ward definitely does not fix what's not broken. His philosophy is for players who need instruction not the the best hitters in the world who have superior abilities and can hit from what ever position they chose. He points out guys like Willie Stargel's low hands or Will Clarkes barred front arm. They get away with it because they are Willie Stargle and Will Clark. As for the lack of power in Ward's approach...I disagree. Bat speed means power and solid/square contact means power. Ward's approach is all about maximizing bat speed and meeting the ball squarely. It is definitely geared towards increasing a hitters contact skills which is the only way to become a better hitter is to make contact more often.