Front shoulder up

Two guys that come to mind with 'elevated front shoulders' in their batting stance are Rod Carew and Ichiro Suzuki.

Power is sacrificed for better vision and the ability to 'spray' the ball around the whole park.

Carew, like Ted Williams, was said to have exceptional eye sight.

The results that I have seen are more bombs going yard. The creation of more backspin, and an increased ability to turn on an inside pitch.

I hope you have great success with that stance.

Power hitters that I have seen using a stance similar end up seeing high inside strikes above their hands that they can't touch.

Sounds like an excellent stance against a sinker/slider type pitcher.

I believe that a high inside strike is difficult for anyone, however I did not mention anything about premature extension.

The pitches he is driving are middle in to inside. Nice short stroke, out in front.

My son always began with his shoulder slightly elevated, however when he would load it would drop slightly. His adjustment is just to maintain his shoulder a bit higher, but the results left him shaking his head in disbelief.

could it be from staying on the plane longer? I'd imagine every MLB hitter that hits for power has an elevated front shoulder at contact.

I know there are a bunch of members here who have the Ted Williams swing plane illustration. Seems to me that in order to get on the plane, physics dictates that the body has to have some degree of front shoulder elevation.

This will sacrifice bat speed. If you can get on base with reduced bat speed, I guess it's OK.

Typically, the front shoulder is (slightly) down, then as you swing, the shoulders reverse position (up vs. down) as you powerfully rotate your torso.

My understanding is that this has increased his bat speed.

His instructor would never do anything that would jeopardize bat speed!

Can you post a picture of what you are talking about please. I'd love to see it.

Sorry, but both he and his instructor are out of town and being in his 20's works his own schedule. I don't get to see the action much anymore.

But, it is not a huge change. He just keeps his shoulder elevated through the swing. It apparently creates a shorter path to an inside pitch.

quote:

Originally posted by NDD:
Can you post a picture of what you are talking about please. I'd love to see it.

I second this request. I'm having a hard time figuring out what's being described. I can understand it as a thought, but I don't think it's reality.

I will see what I can do. But it is reality. My son can feel the difference and see the results. It was a very intentional tweak in his swing by his long time instructor to achieve more power, and more home runs, since he is being given the opportunity to advance as a 3rd Baseman.

It doesn't have to be your son, although that would be great.

http://www.break.com/longtail-...some-long-balls.html

I know that Guerrero is someone that may be an example, although he lacks plate discipline.

If you can slow these down they may show a high shoulder at finish. I see Guerrero's chin on his shoulder at finish in one of these, but I can't slow it down.

It looks like Ryan Howard keeps his shoulder high during the load.

Pujols may be a better example.

And it is a feel thing, elevating slightly the front shoulder does not mean that the body is upright. But the shoulder is to remain elevated during loading. That is the key cue, keep the front shoulder slightly elevated while loading.

After that... Well he finishes high... But in between...

Ah so. Now I think I get you. yes, we do this. Chin buried in front deltoid. Front elbow back behind the sternum and above the letters. Lock it in and turn until it's time to let it go. Am I on track?

I think a lot of people look at video and misinterpret what causes what they think they see. For example when a RH hitter is seen from the 1B side in video, many times what people think is a lowering or moving of one body part is actually anterior tilt and scap loading. Many people confuse scap loading and hand movement. Cause and effect.

I do think you have caught on to the general idea.
Again, I am hearing from the instructor, and my son. I have yet to see what it all looks like. I do know that the results should get him significantly more HR's.

It does involve keeping that front shoulder up, as opposed to burying the chin down...

The goal is to have it down by ST, and hopefully give the club something to think about.

yeah, burying the chin is just our cue. The real key is to get the front elbow behind the sternum and above the letters. In our world it has to do with the "C" in PCR. "P" as well of course.

I agree, once we get this part right, power seemed to come. He hit a ball the other day that hit in the infield dirt (back of it at the edge of the grass) for the first time in I don't know how long. It was crushed and a hit. When he got to first we both laughed. First one in a long time. All the rest have been in the OF or over the fence.

Best of luck.

Oddly enough we are not PCR adherents. Very much focused on "hands" and power line.

Perhaps there is common ground...

Perhaps there is, lol!