Originally Posted by jolietboy:
I apologize for ressurecting this thread... but I just had the conversation again tonight. Rest assured I did not bring it up. But one of the.older guys in my kids program did. I explained to him hitting the top half of the ball is a myth. He looked at me like I was the dumbest old man he had ever encountered and proceeded to tell me how all these great coaches teach it. Even gave me a demonstration by holding a ball in one hand and the bat barrel in the other. Showing me how you swing down and hit the top half and that makes the ball spin off the bat upwards and with backspin. THIS IS NO CUE!!! People believe this. Now what I am seeking is someone on here who believes it. I want to know from a believer what it is going to take to convince you otherwise. Any new suggestions are appreciated also. What do we have to do??? I am still waiting for even one piece of video showing the bat above.the ball - even slightly - and the ball going up for a nice line drive.
I think part of the fallacy came from the "Ken Griffey Jr. Swing Trainer" back in the 90's which seemed to try to convey that Griffey's swing (arguably considered one of the best) impacted the ball at a downward angle. I can still remember players warming up in the on-deck circle looking like they were ready to chop a cord of wood. The problem is that Griffey's swing never worked like the trainer.
But some things die hard!