Help with HS Freshman Swing

Almost makes me long for the old days! Almost!!! Old School, you need thick skin here in the hitting forum. Posters aren't going to take your word for it. Post video and comment on your beliefs. You'll get all the action you can handle. Comments in Red to follow:

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:
CoachB25, Never at any time was not hitting the ball square discussed, when you execute the tee drill as discussed, and you take the barrel thru the center of the ball from contact thru extension, HOW IS THAT NOT SQUARE? Didn't I read previously about you stating that you wanted to hit the ball and practice hitting the ball to create backspin? I presented the scientific fourmla for that.

The bat upward angle on the illustration is created by the pitch being DOWN. Please remember this conversation started out on a fastball up in the zone, not a pitch that you have to drop the barrel on as in the illustration. What illustration are you referring to? The illustration above is an illustration of Adair's concepts which, again, are proven. They are not subject to a sense of "what I think." Therefore, the location of the pitch is not the point. The reaction time and ability to track a ball is. The point then is the ability of a hitter to have 25 milliseconds to decide to swing the bat and then to also have the ability to tack said pitch, extrapolate the location of that area of the ball slightly below center and then hit it.

Your more than welcome to come to one of our sessions. It might help you get the concept. One of my coaches was a JUCO All American and played at NW LA for current Alabama head coach Jim Wells. Before being drafted, and coaching at D1 UTA for 8 years. He said he'd be more than happy to demonstrate how easy it is to backspin a ball with the barrel up for you. Old School, you seem to like dropping names. Again, many of us have been at this a long time and have players that have done well. I've coached a few high school All-Americans myself. Also, a few of them have gone on to hold some NCAA records including career hits. A few more have gone on to play professionally. I'm not some hick from the sticks. OK so I am but... ;-0 I don't think we ever discussed backspin. We simply worked on hitting "**** rockets."

I not sure what the: Englishbey or Richard methoid is in the other thread, where YHF is hammering you. Nor do I care. Hammered by YHF? You're joking right? Just for fun, it'd be interesting to have Richard's take on this but I'm not into monitoring more abuse. As per Englishbey, Texan that talks with a drawl. Spandex!!! Can't keep a beat even though he pretends to be a drummer. I can't wait for my next conversation with him. ;-)

I've seen Englishbey website. Looks like his barrel is up at contact, along with his top hand, if it was attached to the bat. The video on the opening of his webpage is a one handed drill that was intended to demonstrate one aspect of the swing. Englishbey's in your area since your brought up his name. Steve is a very good friend and we talk on the phone about once every couple of weeks. PM me your location and facilities and I'll see just how close you are to him.

I teach the same mechanics that Dave Hudgins teaches. He's the hitting coach of the Indians....What current MLB team is Englishbey hitting instructor at, or has ever been? Are you sure? I thought that Bruce Fields was the Hitting Coach. I thought that Hudgins was Field Coordinator. I own Hudgin's DVDs. I found "stuff" I like more. Bluedog coaches stuff different than I do. I do understand a lot of what he coaches. Hey, if it floats your boat, go on a voyage. BTW, that Englishbey guy was a former #1 draft pick.



Blue,
Out of all the posts of yours that I have read. I don't remember anything ever been said that I would choose to remember, enough said.

Old School I have a question.
There are several people around my neck of the woods that teach what I perceive you are teaching.
My question is, Do you teach the "barrel above the hands at contact" to the younger kids because of their lack of strength?

That seems to be the argument for a more downhill swing by those I've talked to.

Can younger (12& under kids) get too loopy / lose the barrel?
Yes, I believe so.

So a cue to keep the barrel up might be good, just not thru contact. Of course, just my opinion.
There is a release / a whip of the barrel into contact that would show on video the barrel below the hands.

Just one more question.
When your hitters arrive at contact based on your words to keep the barrel above the hands, in what position is their lead arm / elbow?
Near their lead hip?
Below the ball?

I still dont get what barrel up means . I sorta get what on the plane of the ball means, but I wouldnt put money on my definition.

quote:

Old School I have a question.
There are several people around my neck of the woods that teach what I perceive you are teaching.
My question is, Do you teach the "barrel above the hands at contact" to the younger kids because of their lack of strength?

That seems to be the argument for a more downhill swing by those I've talked to.

Can younger (12& under kids) get too loopy / lose the barrel?
Yes, I believe so.

So a cue to keep the barrel up might be good, just not thru contact. Of course, just my opinion.
There is a release / a whip of the barrel into contact that would show on video the barrel below the hands.

Just one more question.
When your hitters arrive at contact based on your words to keep the barrel above the hands, in what position is their lead arm / elbow?
Near their lead hip?

LClifton ,

Finally, someone with a concept. Yes, I believe that most young hitters will have a tendancy to drop the barrel before contact. Thus dropping the hands and try to flip the ball, also in the process most end up pushing their hips up and forward, instead of staying behind the ball and driving it. I feel that metal bats allow them to get away with this.

I agree with you, when you say the barrel doess not "stay up" thru extension. If it did all that a player would ever hit would be a ground balls. This is where we try to help young hitters gain a concept of hitting against a strong frontside, and elevating the ball with extension and your belly button more or less.

After contact with the "barrel up"..... the player has to have the ability to gain extension and get his back shoulder thru the ball, not spinning off the ball after contact. Thus,as this thread started, with the hitter in the video.

As far as lead arm and elbow. We make sure that the hands work across the chest, as long as there is not any casting, or chicken-winging involved with the lead arm......I consider the lead hand the guide hand and top hand the drive hand.....
To me it is more important, for the back elbow to stay as close to the back hip and barrel close to the back shoulder as possible until contact.

quote:

Mike Epstein calls it weather vaneing. You just keep the front elbow at ball heighth throughout the swing and finish. 2 strikes would be the time to swing at this pitch if it's a borderline strike. Actually, a very easy pitch to go oppo for a line drive over the infielders. Wade Boggs was very good at this skill.

powertoallfields.

Now that better explains what you mean.
Michael Young makes a living of that pitch.
We are both in agreement that the barrel will defiantly be up on this pitch.

quote:

BTW, that Englishbey guy was a former #1 draft pick.

yeah.. .and couldn't hit in the minors to save his life... or his career... just because someone played doesn't mean they can teach... or that they know what they are talking about...

i gotta kid that was never drafted out of H.S. barley got a JUCO offer and is a starting OF in the Major Leagues....

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yeah.. .and couldn't hit in the minors to save his life... or his career... just because someone played doesn't mean they can teach... or that they know what they are talking about...

i gotta kid that was never drafted out of H.S. barley got a JUCO offer and is a starting OF in the Major Leagues....

Very nice Diablo. If you look around baseball, it seems that the best coaches and managers are not the ones with the storied playing careers.

There are thousands of stories of stud athletes and high draft picks with natural abilities that could not or did not make it to or, in the bigs. Here is the intangable that comes into play. If your a top pick, you figure they have the skillset. It has to be the head or heart that hurts their chances in the end. Coachability.

We have a player in the exact same circumstances on a scholarship at UTSA. Except, he even had a bad first year at JUCO, went to Temple his Sophmore year and turned it around, and into, multiple offers at great D1 programs. You never know, when the light will "go on/off".

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:
Finally, someone with a concept. Yes, I believe that most young hitters will have a tendancy to drop the barrel before contact. Thus dropping the hands and try to flip the ball, also in the process most end up pushing their hips up and forward, instead of staying behind the ball and driving it. I feel that metal bats allow them to get away with this.

I agree with you, when you say the barrel doess not "stay up" thru extension. If it did all that a player would ever hit would be a ground balls. This is where we try to help young hitters gain a concept of hitting against a strong frontside, and elevating the ball with extension and your belly button more or less.

After contact with the "barrel up"..... the player has to have the ability to gain extension and get his back shoulder thru the ball, not spinning off the ball after contact. Thus,as this thread started, with the hitter in the video.

As far as lead arm and elbow. We make sure that the hands work across the chest, as long as there is not any casting, or chicken-winging involved with the lead arm......I consider the lead hand the guide hand and top hand the drive hand.....
To me it is more important, for the back elbow to stay as close to the back hip and barrel close to the back shoulder as possible until contact.

Old School, in the following pic/video, please use it to describe where you consider "barrel up."




Are you saying that the barrel is on an upward path matching swing plane? Are you saying that the barrel is lifted by the wrist prior to contact and so would be, for the sake of description, trying to get parallel to the ground? I'd never argue that the bat is on an upward movement matching pitch plane. If Ted Williams thought it was certain, I'd say that he had a good grasp on this concept since video supports it.

When you say that the hands work across the chest. Are you then suggesting that the hands get ahead of shoulder rotation and so, disconnect? Naturally, certain pitches are conducive to disconnection. Low and away comes to mind. However, even in this scenerio, the hands will stay connected for a couple of frames. When you mention the argument of metal v wood, no one in their right mind would argue against the notion that it is harder to hit with metal. However, I don't understand the point in the argument and barrel drop when aluminum bats are now -3. Same weight distribution or slighly lighter than wood. Concerning "extension," are you suggesting that it occurs before, during or after contact? Well, not much "concept" here but that'll give you something to do.

Diablo con Huevos, I am unfamiliar with where you were drafted. Please enlighten. Understand that I referenced where S.E. was drafted only in response to his condmenation of S.E. and insinuating that S.E. might not have done anything. While I'm being somewhat silly, I'd love it if my players were drafted #1 in the MLB draft. See how silly I am. I think your post was very revealing in other ways. I'm thinking you've had a conversation with S.E.. Right?

Finally, isn't it great to see LClifton participating?

quote:

Diablo con Huevos, I am unfamiliar with where you were drafted. Please enlighten. Understand that I referenced where S.E. was drafted only in response to his condmenation of S.E. and insinuating that S.E. might not have done anything. While I'm being somewhat silly, I'd love it if my players were drafted #1 in the MLB draft. See how silly I am. I think your post was very revealing in other ways. I'm thinking you've had a conversation with S.E.. Right?

Coach- Re-read. I never said I was drafted... you said SE was drafted #1 - meaning like he should know what he is talking about... i was saying that he never amounted to much relative to where he was drafted... just like brien taylor didn't either...

my point was that a player i had a handful of years ago, we struggled to get him into a JUCO.. (even though he had outstanding high school #'s) then he performed well there... a couple years later early round draft pick and spent a few years in minors and has been a starter in MLB for last couple of years.... would that make this player a better hitting instructor because he had a better career than SE? My opinion? No.

It is just funny how people throw out"well he must know what he is talking about because he played here or here... IMO, not so... it is who is a "student" of what they want to learn about and takes it seriously to learn.....

And no, I have never met nor had a conversation with SE... couldn't pick him out of a lineup....

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Coach- Re-read. I never said I was drafted...

Coach doesn't need to re-read.......He reads just fine.....

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Old School, in the following pic/video, please use it to describe where you consider "barrel up."

The barrel will not be up "at contact" in either of these. Pitch location is down and away and mid thigh on the other. Since the top pic is only still. I'm not able to see the barrel up in the approach. In the video, the hitter manages to keep the barrel up for about the first five seconds, before he has to drop it on the ball because of location being below the belt.

quote:

Are you saying that the barrel is on an upward path matching swing plane? Are you saying that the barrel is lifted by the wrist prior to contact and so would be, for the sake of description, trying to get parallel to the ground? I'd never argue that the bat is on an upward movement matching pitch plane. If Ted Williams thought it was certain, I'd say that he had a good grasp on this concept since video supports it.

Coach, How's this explanation. Lose the bat....Take the barrel out of the equation completly. Use your top hand only. Lead hand under opposite armpit. Now have someone stand in front of you and toss you a ball. The toss has to be close to your body roughly 18-24", and needs to be belt to letters. Try to keep connection with your back elbow and back hip as long as possible as you catch the ball.... Now,
How would you catch the ball?..... With your hand open as you rotate iinto your swing? Or, the bottem of your top hand?

quote:

When you say that the hands work across the chest. Are you then suggesting that the hands get ahead of shoulder rotation and so, disconnect? Naturally, certain pitches are conducive to disconnection. Low and away comes to mind. However, even in this scenerio, the hands will stay connected for a couple of frames. When you mention the argument of metal v wood, no one in their right mind would argue against the notion that it is harder to hit with metal. However, I don't understand the point in the argument and barrel drop when aluminum bats are now -3. Same weight distribution or slighly lighter than wood. Concerning "extension," are you suggesting that it occurs before, during or after contact? Well, not much "concept" here but that'll give you something to do.

Coach, all these leading questions.... You sure your not attorney, also? LOL

Why? would we teach the hands getting ahead of the shoulder rotation. My earlier post stated casting robs a hitter of connection and power, and pretty much ends the at bat before it ever begins.

quote:

When you mention the argument of metal v wood, no one in their right mind would argue against the notion that it is harder to hit with metal. However, I don't understand the point in the argument and barrel drop when aluminum bats are now -3. Same weight distribution or slighly lighter than wood.

I hope you do mean, Wood is harder to hit with than metal!!!
Barrel drop means nothing, it's the size of the sweet spot. Two balls wide with wood. Heck, it may be ten balls wide with some of these hot new aluminium bats.

Took about ten minutes, keep flailing away. What happened to the chum and all the other sharks?????????? Looks like their circle is around you more than me.

If I didn't say it and I and I thought I did, yes wood is harder. Please forgive the slip. Silly me! ?Wood is also my favorite to hit with. I'm an old guy. I love the feel and every once in the while that sting give you a great wake up call.

Don't lose the REAL POINT of my post. Having you define to not only me but to others your position. What Bluedog often does is ask questions. A lot of people say he doesn't give answers. If you think about the questions, then maybe he does give answers. Think about that!

Diablo con Huevos, I know you didn't say you were drafted. My point was that S.E. was criticized but has played at a higher level. In my opinion, that does put him a role that I've never achieved and was poorly attempting to make that point. I do agree that some of the best coaches I've ever seen were those that weren't "great" at their given sport. I watched Whitey Herzog run the Cardinals and understood his limited success in baseball. Yet, great coach and motivator. I could point out countless other examples. I might mention that for some, when they have had those high expectations and then have not had the success the fires of competition turn into a search for the reasons for failure. I've seen some people become great evaluators of talent, great instructors, ... simply because they themselves didn't live up to a higher billing.

quote:

It is just funny how people throw out"well he must know what he is talking about because he played here or here... IMO, not so... it is who is a "student" of what they want to learn about and takes it seriously to learn.....

quote:

Don't lose the REAL POINT of my post. Having you define to not only me but to others your position. What Bluedog often does is ask questions. A lot of people say he doesn't give answers. If you think about the questions, then maybe he does give answers. Think about that!

Diablo con Huevos, I know you didn't say you were drafted. My point was that S.E. was criticized but has played at a higher level. In my opinion, that does put him a role that I've never achieved and was poorly attempting to make that point. I do agree that some of the best coaches I've ever seen were those that weren't "great" at their given sport. I watched Whitey Herzog run the Cardinals and understood his limited success in baseball. Yet, great coach and motivator. I could point out countless other examples. I might mention that for some, when they have had those high expectations and then have not had the success the fires of competition turn into a search for the reasons for failure. I've seen some people become great evaluators of talent, great instructors, ... simply because they themselves didn't live up to a higher billing.

There you go. Spoken very well, from all sides.

Ok, so let's take this video. I'll have to "curb" some of my thoughts on this swing BUT I'll point out a few thoughts. First, we have to look at it and realize that a very important part of the swing is missing. I went to a clinic this weekend and they had a good discussion between "style" and "substance" in the swing process. I think that the difference in a typical hs player is easily seperated. I'm not as sure with a MLB Player. I think that they have incorporated "style" to the point that it is ingrained and thus necessary to muscle memory. If you look at this clip, then a portion of the swing where I believe connection begins is missing. Look at the shoulder angle and the bat angle. Very important. Look at the tilt. Again, very important. I think that many coaches miss out on the point that "tilt" is part of a bigger core response to pitch and pitch adjustment. One thing that also stands out to me is that Casey's knee is just coming rigid at poc. If fact, it might just be late of poc. If you look at poc also take a look at what is happening on that backside. That's enough for now.

Old School maybe this set of pictures will help;
Pictures 1-7 barrel up. Picture 8, contact, barrel released into contact. Certainly not an "up" fastball.
In your scenario with no bat, I believe if I'm understanding you correctly the hitter would hit the ball with the bottom of the bottom hand.

The problem is is, as I see it, many kids will take that to the next extreme and continue to move down hill thru contact. In effect never getting to a palm up palm down postion at contact, rather they arrive at contact with a bottom palm facing the batter and top hand palm facing the pitcher.
In milliseconds the bat barrel goes from below the hands (at contact) to back above the hands after contact. I hope I'm grasping what you have been saying.

Old school, I realize you have been talking all along about a fastball up in the zone.

But,

In this clip of Edmonds I see a high pitch and the barrel and hands are at the very least even / level.


As I said earlier, I think the barrel above the hands is a good cue to keep hitters from looping.
It also could serve to keep the wrists cocked until the barrel is released into the ball.

AND THEN,,, at contact,,, the barrel is released into contact---at which time the barrel is.......?

LClifton, I just went to a hitting clinic. Some of the stuff was... However, some of the stuff was very good. One thing was a portion of a presentation on matching planes AND the palm up-palm down position on the different planes of a pitch from low to high. It was amazing video which I'm sure most have on RVP. I don't know if most are aware but RVP will be coming out and might already have released video of many of these hitters from behind the hitter. This will also include the pitcher and pitch. There is a concept that S.E. is currently talking about on his site that I wish I could discuss here BUT can't. However, you see it very plain in this swing of Edmonds. BTW, this whole palm up, palm down position is most efficient if connection can be maintained. Naturally, we all know that adjustment have to be made.

CoachB25,
I'm not much on the video. However, here's a link of a few swings by Steve Detwiller in the CWS. In his first and third ab's if you can manage to stop the video at contact points you can clearly see what I mean about the barrel being up, top hand up at contact, and backspinning the baseball. In the second ab, the ball was down, thus he had to drop the barrel on the pitch. Very good connection, leverage and extension in all three of his ab's.


http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?cat...oId=3461192&n8pe6c=1

quote:

Old School maybe this set of pictures will help;
Pictures 1-7 barrel up. Picture 8, contact, barrel released into contact. Certainly not an "up" fastball.

I agree with your sequence, barrel up in the first 7 frames. At contact the barrel has slightly dipped, however his top hand is still in a good position of power. If location would have been a little higher, I feel this would have been a perfect example.

quote:

In your scenario with no bat, I believe if I'm understanding you correctly the hitter would hit the ball with the bottom of the bottom hand.

LClifton

The drill was for the top hand, not bottem hand. As it was described for the pitch up. You would catch the ball with the top hand, all be it, a little before contact. Thus reinforcing hand position at contact. Palm will be slightly up, just enough to catch the ball, on the high pitch. It is a Dave Hudgins drill. Good drill for both lower and upper end mechanics.


IMO. As far as Edmonds/Giambi swing. It's an uphill swing. Tough to teach young hitters, drop the hands and hit the bottem of the ball, some will develop the ability, but as I stated in a previous post, I feel that the swing leads to more strikeouts over the long haul. I would rather they "weather vane it", as powertoallfields puts it. Like Michael Young. Who's to say which is right. Were both talking two future Hall of Famers more than likely.

We have kids in our program that will put this swing "uphill" on high pitches. With some success. However, they tend to be very streaky at best. Not the consistancy level that I like to see in young hitters

I originally made that Kent clip, and here is a rear view if it aids the discussion... Actually a front clip too. I need to get back through the thread and see what OldSchool is suggesting.

Pronk, Thanks for the behind the batter clip.

Jeez, What a gutterball. Never got off the plate and slowly runs to the middle. I might have been able to hit that pitch. LOL.

Old school,
I think I know what you are saying.
One of the problems with explanations thru the written word is that one gets an idea in their head about what the person means and it could be way off.

As you described the drill with no bat, I get the image that the top hand, in order to catch the ball would be moving in a manner that is pretty much downhill (sort of a wood chopping movement) and the top hand palm is facing the pitcher.

So,if the other areas you suggested are in place, i.e, staying behind the ball, hitting against a firm front side, etc. then I could see the benefit of your cue "barrel up". In other words I'm pretty certain I see what you mean.

You don't use one of those swing things with two blue bars that run "downhill" do you?

This is what we strive for.

quote:

As you described the drill with no bat, I get the image that the top hand, in order to catch the ball would be moving in a manner that is pretty much downhill (sort of a wood chopping movement) and the top hand palm is facing the pitcher.

I teach kids to take the "power V" to the ball while trying to aim the knob of the bat at the ball until the top hand fires and takes the sweet spot to the ball. I use the knob of the bat like a site is used on a rifle. IOW, if there was a lazer pointer in the knob of the bat, it would be pointing to expected contact position (with slight adjustments) from beginning of rotation until the top hand fires.

quote:

You don't use one of those swing things with two blue bars that run "downhill" do you?

No, We do not use the Griffey "swing trainer"

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:

quote:

You don't use one of those swing things with two blue bars that run "downhill" do you?

No, We do not use the Griffey "swing trainer"

Cool...
Then one more question. In the still photos of Jeff Kent,,which picture # would he be catching the ball with his top hand (based on your earlier drill description)?

quote:

This is what we strive for.

I agree, However most of these pitches are down in the zone, or appear to have a downward run. With the exception of pic 6. It appears that the top hand catch drill would work with this particular pitch location.

Can anyone convert the original clip from youtube to something that can be viewed here.?

quote:

In the two above pics of Kent, Neither pitch would you be able to perform the top hand catch drill with. Both pitches appear to be down in the zone, knee and mid-thigh. Although, in the second one, it would be close if the pitch was up a few inches.

Aren't all of these clips and pictures of the same pitch??? Fastball belt high, correct?

It's hard to say from my computer, it's old and slow. Pics 1-4 and 6 look like a softball player. I can only see the ball on pics 1-6 and 7. The ball looks to be down on all the baseball swings and up on the softball pics for the most part. Like I said the pics are small and my computer is old.

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Originally posted by Cutter Dad:
My first post on definitely the most helpful site for youth baseball on the web. Son is a 14 year old freshman (5'9", 135 lbs) who will be trying out for the HS team in Feb (JV and Varsity only, no Freshman team). He's played LL and travel for the past 3 years and will likely pitch, but also loves to hit.

I've posted some recent bp swings on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_KRtJSMb58

His first 2 swings I had him keep simple to get his timing down. The next 2 I asked him to get a little more weight shift and stretch. He was more consistent squaring the ball up with a simple approach. My main question is, since he likely will never be a big power guy, will he be more successful at the HS level keeping things simple and hitting more line drives, or should we keep working on generating more pop? Any other comments on the mechanics would be appreciated.

Cutter,

Your Son's swing looks pretty good to me. He appears to be hitting the ball a little too far out in front in this video, but the pitches also appear to be up and maybe in which would require that contact position. I'd like to see a few pitches down in the zone to see what he does with those.

As far as working on power, I say, absolutely! For him to get any looks for College, he will have to have some pop in his bat.

Never let anyone tell you he can't hit Home Runs at his size. My Son was the same exact size at his age and could hit the ball 370' with the right pitch and Pitcher. As long as his grip and forearm strength is there to handle the swing, it's more than possible.

Different swings take different timing, so that may be why he struggled a bit when he tried to get more stretch. Keep working on hands back/stride out at the same time. Front elbow behind the center of the body at go while hiding hands from Pitcher's view.

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:
It's hard to say from my computer, it's old and slow. Pics 1-4 and 6 look like a softball player. I can only see the ball on pics 1-6 and 7. The ball looks to be down on all the baseball swings and up on the softball pics for the most part. Like I said the pics are small and my computer is old.

I think LClifton is talking about the still pics on page three. Kent isn't in any of the 7 pics above.

Cutter,

One other thing. It looks like he gets his back hip loaded much better with the big leg kick. I would keep the leg kick, but keep it nearer to a lift knee, pull back slightly, then stride to original spot. No more than 6 inches off the ground, it will make timing easier.

Thanks to all for the comments, even the slightly tangental ones and thanks to Power for getting the thread back on track. The main points we'll work on over the winter include better front foot pickup, rhythmic/fluid hands to launch position, more stretch/load, and keeping the torso and point of contact slightly back. Just to better define my other question - Are the basic swing mechanics taught similarly for contact and power hitters, or do you tailor instruction according to the type of hitter?

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Are the basic swing mechanics taught similarly for contact and power hitters, or do you tailor instruction according to the type of hitter?

I teach all to hit with power. Like I said earlier, if a player gets to be a Junior or Senior in High School and doesn't have the power to hit the ball out of the park, then they should level out the swing and use the bat more like a tennis racket such as Wade Boggs or Pete Rose. Nothing wrong with being a base-hitter if that's what you can do consistently, but for a College or Pro scout to notice you, you had better have some serious wheels or excel defensively.

quote:

Cool...
Then one more question. In the still photos of Jeff Kent,,which picture # would he be catching the ball with his top hand (based on your earlier drill description)?

LClifton,

From the 8 frames of Kent on page 3. He would actually try to catch the ball anywhere from frame 6-7. the top hand will gain extension thru point of contact after catching the ball, thus forcing the back shoulder thru.. Sorry for the confusion earlier with the pics.

A swing with a combination back hand , fore hand tennis swing would be a power swing with the greatest bat speed.

Most of the swings here are long to the zone. I have to say that even though contact was made the swings are not optimal.

Tennis swings, golf swings and baseball swings all should allow and use that last bit of accelleration produced by the torque of the utensil.

quote:

A swing with a combination back hand , fore hand tennis swing would be a power swing with the greatest bat speed.

Most of the swings here are long to the zone. I have to say that even though contact was made the swings are not optimal.

Tennis swings, golf swings and baseball swings all should allow and use that last bit of accelleration produced by the torque of the utensil.

Quincy........Very well put. General rule of thumb, for any young hitter, learn how to create batspeed with the ability to hit the ball hard, anywhere in the zone on a consistant basis.