How do some of you teach the timing of exploding your hips with the swing?
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Exploding hips - now that's gotta hurt !!! 
I attended a coach's clinic put on by Cal Ripken a few weeks ago and someone asked about teaching the hip turn / hip explosion part of the swing. Cal said don't even worry about it as long as you start and finish in the proper positions, it's one of the things that just happens. Cal knows way way more about hitting than me so I'll go with what he said. I really like the keep it simple approach, as long as certain fundamental things happen properly. (Golf instructors could take a cue from that, but they'd be out of business if unsuspecting customers didn't pay them big bucks to tell them that at the 10:30 position in the swing the arms should be at a 47.9 degree angle, the wrists should be at a 19.2 degree angle, the hips should be turned 13.2 degrees.....)
I attended a coach's clinic put on by Cal Ripken a few weeks ago and someone asked about teaching the hip turn / hip explosion part of the swing. Cal said don't even worry about it as long as you start and finish in the proper positions, it's one of the things that just happens. Cal knows way way more about hitting than me so I'll go with what he said. I really like the keep it simple approach, as long as certain fundamental things happen properly. (Golf instructors could take a cue from that, but they'd be out of business if unsuspecting customers didn't pay them big bucks to tell them that at the 10:30 position in the swing the arms should be at a 47.9 degree angle, the wrists should be at a 19.2 degree angle, the hips should be turned 13.2 degrees.....)
Then again it's quite possible that Cal's hips were doing something special, something natural to him but not to most, and he didn't even know it.
And, since he didn't know it, it's a "no teach" to him.
The Hanson Doctrine may be the most important words ever spoken about hitting. Compare everything anyone says to slo mo video of the best doing it.
A corollary to that would be "the most important words to compare to video are the words of the best at it".
Many many times their words do not match what they do.
Barry Bonds insists he swings down at the ball. Video shows quite the opposite.
And, since he didn't know it, it's a "no teach" to him.
The Hanson Doctrine may be the most important words ever spoken about hitting. Compare everything anyone says to slo mo video of the best doing it.
A corollary to that would be "the most important words to compare to video are the words of the best at it".
Many many times their words do not match what they do.
Barry Bonds insists he swings down at the ball. Video shows quite the opposite.
I agree with info about how wonderful video is. But, having said that, I think some all too often dismiss the words or cues or thought process that players use to obtain results. It is much more valuable to have a thought or phrase that gets you to do the right thing than it is to have a correct phrase that gets you doing the wrong thing. Case in point, half way through our practice yesterday I was tired of seeing my guys trying to lift the ball with an upper cut and hitting the top of the ball or skying it. I called them over and we made a goal of swinging to hit grounders for one inning; at which point we hit line drive after line drive. I explained to them that when we feel we are swinging "down" we are actually taking a level cut short and to the ball and often catching the ball just as our bat begins it's upswing, if we don't time it perfectly we are catching it mostly level.
In this instance if I say swing with a slight upper cut, or finish high--we are not as successful. But when they feel they are swinging "down" or level they are actually taking a beautiful swing. Complex results through simplistic thought. If a certain feeling or phrase is what helps high level players achieve a great swing, maybe we should listen to that as well.
In this instance if I say swing with a slight upper cut, or finish high--we are not as successful. But when they feel they are swinging "down" or level they are actually taking a beautiful swing. Complex results through simplistic thought. If a certain feeling or phrase is what helps high level players achieve a great swing, maybe we should listen to that as well.
Coach, Complex results through simplistic thought. You don't mind if I use that one, do ya? Great stuff.
Sometimes I see less experienced individuals, in their quest for knowledge, require a certain amount of technical information in order to prove their new found knowledge.
Experience mixed with ongoing learning will often give the most thorough results.
Sometimes I see less experienced individuals, in their quest for knowledge, require a certain amount of technical information in order to prove their new found knowledge.
Experience mixed with ongoing learning will often give the most thorough results.
