WHo was used mike epsteins hitting system succesfully??
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I have and believe it is good stuff.. have a BS in Ex. Science with an emphasis in Biomechanical Principles of Human Movement - the science side of what he teaches is the same thing that is being taught in other places (higher levels)...
I had three former players called up this year to ML's (to make it six total now on ML rosters), I have 13 in minors and a little over 50 in college right now... have had 22 high school age clients drafted out of H.S. in last four summers combined...
people may not agree with everything he teaches, but students are producing on the field...
I had three former players called up this year to ML's (to make it six total now on ML rosters), I have 13 in minors and a little over 50 in college right now... have had 22 high school age clients drafted out of H.S. in last four summers combined...
people may not agree with everything he teaches, but students are producing on the field...
I am one of Mike Epstein's instructors. My website is listed below. I have worked with and know of numerous players that have had tremendous success through our teaching. Mike Epstein has a number of big league players that train at the Colorado facility and have actually played for Mike while growing up.
It's a really good teaching system. There are lots of good instructors and coaches teaching these mechanics, similar mechanics, AND different mechanics that are equally as good. I/We believe in what we teach, but would never say that our teaching system is the be all end all for EVERY single player.
Mike Epstein has said to me on numerous occassions and from my years of teaching I must say I have to agree with him... Mike's mentor Ted Williams was known to say that "hitting a baseball is the toughest thing to do in all of sports"... Mike says "I used to agree with that, but I've changed my mind. TEACHING SOMEONE to hit a baseball IS the toughest thing to do in all of sports."
If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me.
It's a really good teaching system. There are lots of good instructors and coaches teaching these mechanics, similar mechanics, AND different mechanics that are equally as good. I/We believe in what we teach, but would never say that our teaching system is the be all end all for EVERY single player.
Mike Epstein has said to me on numerous occassions and from my years of teaching I must say I have to agree with him... Mike's mentor Ted Williams was known to say that "hitting a baseball is the toughest thing to do in all of sports"... Mike says "I used to agree with that, but I've changed my mind. TEACHING SOMEONE to hit a baseball IS the toughest thing to do in all of sports."
If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Epstein gets some things right........
Tom Guerry could really expand on this for you, but, I'm thinking he may have gotten the boot....I hope not because he knows alot about this stuff, but, he argued with someone who likes to get people booted around here...
Sure does put a crimp in our hitting discussions....
Tom Guerry could really expand on this for you, but, I'm thinking he may have gotten the boot....I hope not because he knows alot about this stuff, but, he argued with someone who likes to get people booted around here...
Sure does put a crimp in our hitting discussions....
I am a baseball coach and father of a four year old who loves to play, so I
research this stuff quite a bit. There are many problems with the Epstein
way of hitting - one being the backward tilting spine angle (leaning back
toward the catcher) through the swing. Another being the lack of an
effective stride move or any stride at all (I went to an Epstein speech and
he never even mentioned the stride!). There are other methods that seem to
really be getting results. One is called "Positional Hitting" which was
invented by a guy named Jaime Cevallos - Major League players have had
impressive improvements in their stats with this, including Rays
superutility player Ben Zobrist.
Anyway, with any hitting system, it's the improvement that is important. In
trying to find the best instructor for you or your son/daughter, ask the
instructor who he has helped to improve. I've even asked for before/after
stats from instructors. Most can only name players they work with, but not
the player's improvements. How much they improve is the key.
research this stuff quite a bit. There are many problems with the Epstein
way of hitting - one being the backward tilting spine angle (leaning back
toward the catcher) through the swing. Another being the lack of an
effective stride move or any stride at all (I went to an Epstein speech and
he never even mentioned the stride!). There are other methods that seem to
really be getting results. One is called "Positional Hitting" which was
invented by a guy named Jaime Cevallos - Major League players have had
impressive improvements in their stats with this, including Rays
superutility player Ben Zobrist.
Anyway, with any hitting system, it's the improvement that is important. In
trying to find the best instructor for you or your son/daughter, ask the
instructor who he has helped to improve. I've even asked for before/after
stats from instructors. Most can only name players they work with, but not
the player's improvements. How much they improve is the key.
My son has been taught with Epstein techniques and I must say they are a very good way to teach hitting.He is only 11 but 1 of the best hitters in the 11/12 year old league he plays in.
quote:There are many problems with the Epstein
way of hitting - one being the backward tilting spine angle (leaning back
toward the catcher) through the swing.
This should be taught...It's a good thing...
quote:Another being the lack of an
effective stride move or any stride at all (I went to an Epstein speech and
he never even mentioned the stride!).
Doesn't mean he doesn't teach it.....
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:quote:There are many problems with the Epstein
way of hitting - one being the backward tilting spine angle (leaning back
toward the catcher) through the swing.
This should be taught...It's a good thing...quote:Another being the lack of an
effective stride move or any stride at all (I went to an Epstein speech and
he never even mentioned the stride!).
Doesn't mean he doesn't teach it.....
I agree it is a good thing but one needs to be careful when teaching it not to let the student start bending the back.Both my kids did this and both used the epstein approach.
I am not an exxpert to any degree - always looking for advice to help my son keep weight back and not fly open. From a beginners viewpoint it looks like the backward angle helps accomplish this. The other thing I had noticed in some power swings is that the hitter also has a forward leaning tilt (leaning in toward the plate), not sure if this also a component.
Lean-in to the plate is a non-teach....
Lean toward the catcher is definitely a teach.....
Lean toward the catcher is definitely a teach.....
It is great to read the non positive responses
I will not pretend to be an expert on Epstein's system as I have not purchased any of the materials but have read everything on his site. I have purchased Cervallos' "Swing trainer" bat and used with my son. All that being said to swing it correctly it appears to mimic many aspects of the Epstein model of focus on lower body to start swing and elbow slotting. So to me they are may not be identical but are very similar at least.
quote:Lean toward the catcher is definitely a teach.....
One doesn't teach leaning back toward the catcher in the approach.. it's the proper physiological response to a well balanced striking of the baseball.... action-reaction.
A stride, per say, isn't necessary for all hitters.
yall don't have a clue what you're talking about, if you want to know something please pm me
I'm sure you know the price for staying at a Holiday Inn Express..... 
BBDeuce, you have a PM. Can't wait for your response.
Yes, my son has used for about 4 yrs. We have spent time with Mike and his son Jake. i started studying hitting when my son was about 5, he is 14 now. What Mike teaches is found in all great MLB hitters. The terminology sometimes scares people (rotational hitting, etc) but the results are undeniable. Someone mentioned the stride in here. My son doesn't use a "stride" cause he doeasn't need one. He has more power now than ever. Power is in the rotation of hips/body not the stride. If you have an open you will learn something from Mike and Jake even if you buy in to everything they say.
I have lurked here for a couple of weeks and as my son is younger I found a lot of good stuff, but didn't really find anything I felt I could contribute until now. Passing on my experience in hopes someone can learn from it.
My son completed this program about six months ago with a local instructor. I must say he and I couldn't be happier with the results. For the last several years he has always played on some of our area's best travel teams, but it was certainly not because of his stick. He is an excellent defenseman and decent pitcher and that got him on these teams.
So as you can imagine being like most competitive dads I had many days of angst trying to help my otherwise very athletic son get over his inability to hit. His mother would argue it was my fault as I let him start hitting on non dominant side and did not make him switch to dominant side until this past year when almost twelve. Sadly she is probaly more right than wrong.
I spent lots of time and money on lessons (note word usage) trying to see some improvement. Always left these lessons feeling like we were making progress but now know I should have realized I was really just letting someone make a few bucks off me and my kid.
So May of 2010 ran across a local instructor teaching this method. The cost was outrageous but he and I were truly desperate. He was falling farther and farther behind and the grumblings were getting lounder and louder from his coaches. My guess he was at best a .200 hitter and zero power. My son wanted to try this program and we decided we would give it a shot.
After two professional instruction sessions (note word choice) I could see immediate results and a change. No live hitting yet but swing on video was starting to change. Long story short one month later hit first two homeruns in Cooperstown of all places and had a great fall season where he hit .400 and batting in the four and five hole by end of season.
So I should be a huge fan of Epstein system right? I think I am but more importantly and the reason for my post is that I think the most important investment as parents we can make in our boys' baseball futures is the commitment to professional instrucion. I think oftentimes we as parents get too hung up on what is being taught to our boys vs. who is doing the teaching.
There are lots of folks out there giving lessons. You need to find someone who is a professional instructor and who your son will click with as well. They will not only teach your son the right way but they will help instill confidence and trust which leads to more confidence. Hitting a baseball is a confidence thing. With it you can do great things, without it you have little chance.
Trial and error and if you can't see the results on the field then you need to move on, because when you find someone you can trust they can truly change things for your son. My son and I now believe in his ability and the confidence from that makes this so much more enjoyable.
My son completed this program about six months ago with a local instructor. I must say he and I couldn't be happier with the results. For the last several years he has always played on some of our area's best travel teams, but it was certainly not because of his stick. He is an excellent defenseman and decent pitcher and that got him on these teams.
So as you can imagine being like most competitive dads I had many days of angst trying to help my otherwise very athletic son get over his inability to hit. His mother would argue it was my fault as I let him start hitting on non dominant side and did not make him switch to dominant side until this past year when almost twelve. Sadly she is probaly more right than wrong.
I spent lots of time and money on lessons (note word usage) trying to see some improvement. Always left these lessons feeling like we were making progress but now know I should have realized I was really just letting someone make a few bucks off me and my kid.
So May of 2010 ran across a local instructor teaching this method. The cost was outrageous but he and I were truly desperate. He was falling farther and farther behind and the grumblings were getting lounder and louder from his coaches. My guess he was at best a .200 hitter and zero power. My son wanted to try this program and we decided we would give it a shot.
After two professional instruction sessions (note word choice) I could see immediate results and a change. No live hitting yet but swing on video was starting to change. Long story short one month later hit first two homeruns in Cooperstown of all places and had a great fall season where he hit .400 and batting in the four and five hole by end of season.
So I should be a huge fan of Epstein system right? I think I am but more importantly and the reason for my post is that I think the most important investment as parents we can make in our boys' baseball futures is the commitment to professional instrucion. I think oftentimes we as parents get too hung up on what is being taught to our boys vs. who is doing the teaching.
There are lots of folks out there giving lessons. You need to find someone who is a professional instructor and who your son will click with as well. They will not only teach your son the right way but they will help instill confidence and trust which leads to more confidence. Hitting a baseball is a confidence thing. With it you can do great things, without it you have little chance.
Trial and error and if you can't see the results on the field then you need to move on, because when you find someone you can trust they can truly change things for your son. My son and I now believe in his ability and the confidence from that makes this so much more enjoyable.
BackstopDad,
Nicely said and from my experiences you are indeed correct. The right guy, that connects with the hitter and conveys support and confidence, makes all the difference.
good luck and continued success with your son!
Nicely said and from my experiences you are indeed correct. The right guy, that connects with the hitter and conveys support and confidence, makes all the difference.
good luck and continued success with your son!
Thanks Prime9. I really enjoy this site as it is so different than a lot of others. Everyone in it for the right reasons. Boys and parents that love baseball 
