Mickey Mantle came up to the majors at 5'11" and 175 pounds. His career stats speak for themselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etSfBwcNpII
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Quincy - thanks for posting that. The thing that sticks out to me in those clips is bat speed - overwhelming bat speed. His bat appears flat through the hitting zone and then explodes on the ball. I rarely post in this forum so I have no idea if I described things correctly. Just trying to describe what I see.
Imagine having a whole team full of guys with that swing and two good legs.
If we teach em young they will have this swing all their lives.
If we teach em young they will have this swing all their lives.
Isn't there just a little bit of god given talent in that swing?
Does anyone else think his right-handed swing looks a lot like Aaron's?
Excellent close-up of Mickey's grip included.
I asked him about that grip while we were sitting in Central Park.
He said that if he ever swung with that grip he would break his wrist. It was just something for the camera.
This is a nice little bio on him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIGm0hYjUSg&NR=1
He said that if he ever swung with that grip he would break his wrist. It was just something for the camera.
This is a nice little bio on him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIGm0hYjUSg&NR=1
Looks quite a bit like what many ARE TRYING to teach.There were alot of swings in that video where he was just flat out fooled and made contact.
Talk about bat blurr
Believe it or not,some of us are trying to teach kids to get there but it takes work.
There are a few similarities between Mantle at contact(when he wasn't fooled) with this guy.
BUT,I agree that 2 good legs could turn some of the routine ground outs into base hits.
There are a few similarities between Mantle at contact(when he wasn't fooled) with this guy.
BUT,I agree that 2 good legs could turn some of the routine ground outs into base hits.
quote:Believe it or not,some of us are trying to teach kids to get there but it takes work.
Are you teaching, "how to rotate"?
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:quote:Believe it or not,some of us are trying to teach kids to get there but it takes work.
Are you teaching, "how to rotate"?
Yes,but you don't agree with the methods.
quote:Yes.....
Then, it sure could take quite awhile....
he's doing alright as a 9 year old and Ted Williams seemed to have liked the teaching methods so His coach and I will stick with them for a while. 
BUT,this thread isn't about my son,I just put his pic up in reference to teching them while they are young.
BUT,this thread isn't about my son,I just put his pic up in reference to teching them while they are young.
Watch that slow grounder again. The ump calls him safe.
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
Watch that slow grounder again. The ump calls him safe.
I know,that is why I agree with you about 2 good legs.
quote:Originally posted by tom.guerry:
Excellent close-up of Mickey's grip included.
Tom,
What, in your opinion, is the significance of the raised finger of the Mic's index finger of his bottom hand? I noticed Ruth did the same, but also with his top hand. I'm pretty sure Williams did the same.
When I bat my index finger of my bottom hand is raised too-
It's because you aren't supposed to grip the bat in your hand, but hold it with your fingers..if you read Ted Williams' The Science of Hitting, he talks about it in there.
It's because you aren't supposed to grip the bat in your hand, but hold it with your fingers..if you read Ted Williams' The Science of Hitting, he talks about it in there.
Good call gda.
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
Longest Home Runs
Mickey Mantle - 565 feet and, some say, longer
The Mick hit the first taped home run at 565 at Griffth stadium after he hit the roof five times coming within mere feet of hitting it out of Yankee Stadium. "ON ONE LEG"
Micky Mantle FOR THE YANKEES hit a ball 634 feet. the real record Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium on 2-3 occasions hit 550-560' and one occasion 570'--620'. Mick has the record.
In an exibition game, Mickey Mantle hit a ball 700 feet. He was also known for hitting home run's over 600 feet on more than one occasion.
Mickey Mantle - 565 feet and, some say, longer
The Mick hit the first taped home run at 565 at Griffth stadium after he hit the roof five times coming within mere feet of hitting it out of Yankee Stadium. "ON ONE LEG"
Micky Mantle FOR THE YANKEES hit a ball 634 feet. the real record Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium on 2-3 occasions hit 550-560' and one occasion 570'--620'. Mick has the record.
In an exibition game, Mickey Mantle hit a ball 700 feet. He was also known for hitting home run's over 600 feet on more than one occasion.
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
I asked him about that grip while we were sitting in Central Park.
He said that if he ever swung with that grip he would break his wrist. It was just something for the camera.
This is a nice little bio on him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIGm0hYjUSg&NR=1
Quincy,
I am still trying to figure out what you are saying about the grip. What do you say the position of the hands should be at contact? What position at start of swing?
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
Just as with Mantle and the other great hitters before the Charlie Lau and George Brett school of hitting became popular, the swing through the zone is palms facing side/side rather that palm up/ palm down a la Lau.
If you can do a side by side of Mantle (or Mays, Aaron, Ruth, Cobb, Musial, Wiliams, among others) and George Brett the differences would be glaring.
Willie Mays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euPx_t142PU
Mickey Mantle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO_MMVkSsBY
Yogi Berra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRW6FNjyZOc&feature=related
Joe Dimaggio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMP5qqacvMk&feature=related
Mel Ott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUTnTtTZcwo&feature=related
Ted Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cwJAYZEfU4&feature=related
Stan Musial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2fTNnWXy-0&feature=related
Rogers Hornsby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBf5vQZO0QY&feature=related
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
Micky Mantle FOR THE YANKEES hit a ball 634 feet. the real record Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium on 2-3 occasions hit 550-560' and one occasion 570'--620'. Mick has the record.
In an exibition game, Mickey Mantle hit a ball 700 feet. He was also known for hitting home run's over 600 feet on more than one occasion.
Stop spreading urban legends. It is physically impossible for any human being to hit a ball over 600 feet. 700 feet would be the equivalant of throwing a 125 mph fastball, a 2:30 mile, bench pressing over 1,000 pounds, running an 8 second 100-yard dash...it's nearly 20 percent greater than human limit. Mantle was an all-time great and probabaly had some of the best raw power known to man, but he never hit a baseball over 600 feet.
You have to realize that the same studies that you have read claimed at one time that a ball could not be hit over 500 feet.
That is obviously false.
I'm sure the same studies would claim that a player could never hit a ball 500 feet from either side of the plate.
His left handed shot off the right field roof facade is well documented.
1. 734 ft. – 5/22/63, vs. Kansas City, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Bill Fischer
2. 660 ft. – 3/26/51, vs. USC, at Bovard Field, USC, Pitcher: Unknown
3. 650 ft. – 6/11/53, vs. Detroit, at Briggs Stadium, Pitcher: Art Houteman
4. 643 ft. – 9/10/60, vs. Detroit, at Tiger Stadium, Pitcher: Paul Foytack
5. 630 ft. – 9/13/53, vs. Detroit, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Billy Hoeft
6. 620 ft. – 5/30/56, vs. Washington, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Pedro Ramos
7. 565 ft. – 4/17/53, vs. Washington, at Griffith Stadium, Pitcher: Chuck Stobbs
8. 550 ft. – 6/05/55, vs. Chi. White Sox, at Comiskey Park, Pitcher: Billy Pierce
9. 535 ft. – 7/06/53, vs. Philadelphia A's, at Connie Mack Stadium, Pitcher: Frank Fanovich
10. 530 ft. – 4/24/53, vs. St. Louis Browns, at Busch Stadium, Pitcher: Bob Cain
http://www.themick.com/
That is obviously false.
I'm sure the same studies would claim that a player could never hit a ball 500 feet from either side of the plate.
His left handed shot off the right field roof facade is well documented.
1. 734 ft. – 5/22/63, vs. Kansas City, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Bill Fischer
2. 660 ft. – 3/26/51, vs. USC, at Bovard Field, USC, Pitcher: Unknown
3. 650 ft. – 6/11/53, vs. Detroit, at Briggs Stadium, Pitcher: Art Houteman
4. 643 ft. – 9/10/60, vs. Detroit, at Tiger Stadium, Pitcher: Paul Foytack
5. 630 ft. – 9/13/53, vs. Detroit, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Billy Hoeft
6. 620 ft. – 5/30/56, vs. Washington, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Pedro Ramos
7. 565 ft. – 4/17/53, vs. Washington, at Griffith Stadium, Pitcher: Chuck Stobbs
8. 550 ft. – 6/05/55, vs. Chi. White Sox, at Comiskey Park, Pitcher: Billy Pierce
9. 535 ft. – 7/06/53, vs. Philadelphia A's, at Connie Mack Stadium, Pitcher: Frank Fanovich
10. 530 ft. – 4/24/53, vs. St. Louis Browns, at Busch Stadium, Pitcher: Bob Cain
http://www.themick.com/
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
Just as with Mantle and the other great hitters before the Charlie Lau and George Brett school of hitting became popular, the swing through the zone is palms facing side/side rather that palm up/ palm down a la Lau.
If you can do a side by side of Mantle (or Mays, Aaron, Ruth, Cobb, Musial, Wiliams, among others) and George Brett the differences would be glaring.
Willie Mays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euPx_t142PU
Mickey Mantle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO_MMVkSsBY
Yogi Berra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRW6FNjyZOc&feature=related
Joe Dimaggio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMP5qqacvMk&feature=related
Mel Ott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUTnTtTZcwo&feature=related
Ted Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cwJAYZEfU4&feature=related
Stan Musial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2fTNnWXy-0&feature=related
Rogers Hornsby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBf5vQZO0QY&feature=related
Quincy,
I asked you about contact position.
For the umpteenth time, palms side/side with the knocker knucles aligned.
Look at the swings in the videos. They do not agree with the Charlie Lau mantra.
Look at the swings in the videos. They do not agree with the Charlie Lau mantra.
Sure looks like Mr Williams's palm is up to me. 
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
For the umpteenth time, palms side/side with the knocker knucles aligned.
Look at the swings in the videos. They do not agree with the Charlie Lau mantra.
None of these hitters are in the position you state at contact. None!
quote:Originally posted by tfox:
Sure looks like Mr Williams's palm is up to me.
Yep! Also, look at the left bicep at contact. So much for don't use your biceps in the swing, huh?
Funny how Williams' swing in the demo is different and much less fluid than in the game footage.
A fluid follow through is the best proof that a batter is not swinging palm up/palm down.
Not only do you seem unprepared to decipher plain speech in text, you seem to to have a twisted view of optical clues as well.
Go sell your mantra on a thread where you are trying to make a point based on some original thought which you seem incapable.
A fluid follow through is the best proof that a batter is not swinging palm up/palm down.
Not only do you seem unprepared to decipher plain speech in text, you seem to to have a twisted view of optical clues as well.
Go sell your mantra on a thread where you are trying to make a point based on some original thought which you seem incapable.
Here is a game swing(I assume) and the palm is still up,follow through is different but just maybe the pitch location was different.
Here is another.Doesn't look to be a game.
http://www.starpulse.com/Athletes/Williams,_Ted/gallery/836517/
Here is another.Doesn't look to be a game.
http://www.starpulse.com/Athletes/Williams,_Ted/gallery/836517/
Notice that he is in his follow through.
The wrists cannot turn to this position without excessive wrist roll if the palms were up/down through the zone.
Swing a bat using both styles. Tell me which is more fluid into contact and into follow through.
The picture on the link appears to be a pose rather than a swing. He is contorted.
How does Williams swing compare to Mantle's swing?
The wrists cannot turn to this position without excessive wrist roll if the palms were up/down through the zone.
Swing a bat using both styles. Tell me which is more fluid into contact and into follow through.
The picture on the link appears to be a pose rather than a swing. He is contorted.
How does Williams swing compare to Mantle's swing?
Quincy, is this the contact hand position you speak of?
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
Notice that he is in his follow through.
The wrists cannot turn to this position without excessive wrist roll if the palms were up/down through the zone.
Swing a bat using both styles. Tell me which is more fluid into contact and into follow through.
The picture on the link appears to be a pose rather than a swing. He is contorted.
How does Williams swing compare to Mantle's swing?
OOPS,misread your response.It may be a pose but he obviously believed in the palm up palm down because in every picture you see of him,he is doing it.
Funny how someone posts video and does not even know what's happening in the swing.
[sarcasm]Guys, Quincy's right. Check out the difference between Brett and Mantle. [/sarcasm]
[sarcasm]Guys, Quincy's right. Check out the difference between Brett and Mantle. [/sarcasm]
quote:Originally posted by powertoallfields:quote:Originally posted by tom.guerry:
Excellent close-up of Mickey's grip included.
Tom,
What, in your opinion, is the significance of the raised finger of the Mic's index finger of his bottom hand? I noticed Ruth did the same, but also with his top hand. I'm pretty sure Williams did the same.
Yep,Williams did it too.
Having seen both play, I can assure you that Mantle would use that swing on an inside pitch. The inside pitch has to be hit further in front of the plate.
Brett on the other hand used the same hands forward swing for all locations.
Charlie Lau made it clear that palms up/palms down would cause the batter to release the bat with his top hand in the follow through.
Does Mantle or the pre-Lau batter release his top hand in the follow through?
Look at Williams follow through. With a palms up/palms down grip through contact, his follow through would never have been so fluid. The wrist roll to get the top hand forward would have been obvious.
Brett could never follow through strong. His bat would almost stop after contact unless swinging at a high pitch.
Take it for what it is. Try both styles and compare which is more fluid and offers greater range of motion. Decide which gives you beter bat control and better effect at contact.
The thread exhibits Mantle's swing and the fact that he was a comparable light weight by today's standards.
Take what you want from the post and use it as you see fit. It isn't about comparing me or anyone else's philosophy or teaching practice.
As a side note, I find showing the swings of such batting greats more qualified in teaching youngsters as comapred to some of the things being endorsed today.
Brett on the other hand used the same hands forward swing for all locations.
Charlie Lau made it clear that palms up/palms down would cause the batter to release the bat with his top hand in the follow through.
Does Mantle or the pre-Lau batter release his top hand in the follow through?
Look at Williams follow through. With a palms up/palms down grip through contact, his follow through would never have been so fluid. The wrist roll to get the top hand forward would have been obvious.
Brett could never follow through strong. His bat would almost stop after contact unless swinging at a high pitch.
Take it for what it is. Try both styles and compare which is more fluid and offers greater range of motion. Decide which gives you beter bat control and better effect at contact.
The thread exhibits Mantle's swing and the fact that he was a comparable light weight by today's standards.
Take what you want from the post and use it as you see fit. It isn't about comparing me or anyone else's philosophy or teaching practice.
As a side note, I find showing the swings of such batting greats more qualified in teaching youngsters as comapred to some of the things being endorsed today.
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
Having seen both play, I can assure you that Mantle would use that swing on an inside pitch. The inside pitch has to be hit further in front of the plate.
Can you download the video in your brain and post it on YouTube? I'd like to see what you saw. You must have great photographic memory.
quote:
Brett on the other hand used the same hands forward swing for all locations.
Hands forward, that's a new one. Whatever that means.
quote:
Charlie Lau made it clear that palms up/palms down would cause the batter to release the bat with his top hand in the follow through.
Does Mantle or the pre-Lau batter release his top hand in the follow through?
Release is a "style" issue, not technique. It usually has to do with dominant handed-ness. Chipper Jones releases from the left side, but holds on to the bat from the right side. Oh my! He must be using two different hitting techniques! Same for Mark Texeira! Beltran and Swisher are the opposite though, release from the right side, but hold on from the left.
quote:
Take it for what it is. Try both styles and compare which is more fluid and offers greater range of motion. Decide which gives you beter bat control and better effect at contact.
I'll take the one that allows for adjustability.
quote:
As a side note, I find showing the swings of such batting greats more qualified in teaching youngsters as comapred to some of the things being endorsed today.
"Here kid, look at this video of Mantle. That's how you should swing. Now, I have no idea what Mantle is doing, but just swing like him and you'll get there some day."
You make my point that you aren't about teaching.
You are about going after what people post.
I'll stick with the swing that offers greater range of movement and bat speed and power to all fields as compared to only pull power.
You do as you think is right.
It is easy to sit back and snipe at others postings.
Try starting a thread with what you support or endorse.
You are about going after what people post.
I'll stick with the swing that offers greater range of movement and bat speed and power to all fields as compared to only pull power.
You do as you think is right.
It is easy to sit back and snipe at others postings.
Try starting a thread with what you support or endorse.
quote:Originally posted by Quincy:
You make my point that you aren't about teaching.
You are about going after what people post.
You must have missed my lesson above. I just "taught" you that Brett and Mantle have the same grip. I'm about correcting wrong info.
quote:
I'll stick with the swing that offers greater range of movement and bat speed and power to all fields as compared to only pull power.
And how many MLB players actually use the whole field? I hate to tell you this, but nearly everyone is "only pull power". The ones that have opposite field power know how to use the hands/forearms. 'Tis better to be early on a pitch than late, unless your name is Derek Jeter.
quote:
You do as you think is right.
I correct what I think is wrong.
quote:
It is easy to sit back and snipe at others postings.
Try starting a thread with what you support or endorse.
No need to start a thread. The more I post, the more I might show what I don't know.
And why would Mantle use a "different" swing for a different pitch location? What is the difference between his "inside pitch" swing and his swing for any other location?
