Hitting software....

If that is the same software that Chameleon used to show a side by side of his son, it can be useful in showing the changes that may have taken place in a batter's swing from time to time.

As Chameleon noted, a slight change in the swing can cause results to vary greatly.

If the Home Run Derby that Tejada won is ever available for viewing, take note of Manny and the other Dominican players showing proper arm swing to Tejada.

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......a slight change in the swing can cause results to vary greatly.

I believe this is greatly overrated.......

Mantle and Ruth had long strides.....Pujols sometimes had a stride and sometimes had no stride....

Mantle, Williams and Ruth had flat follow-throughs.......Bonds and Pujols had higher follow-throughs.......

Aaron and Clemente stood on their front legs to hit many times......And, they mostly ignored any posture adjustment in hitting low pitches.........

They were all great hitters......So, if you're gonna do a side-by-side comparison, which MLB hitter do you use?....

The stride is not the most important facet of the swing as in the examples you mentioned.

The key in all their best swings is proper use of the triceps in extending their arms into the swing.

There was a clip of one Met left handed hitter who laced a home run down the left field line while bailing and just swinging to protect the plate with two strikes. He had little body behind the swing but by extending his arms into the swing, he generated enough bat speed for an opposite field homer.(330 feet at least) Might have been Delgado.

I would say that the best comparisons would be themselves. Compare hot streak swings against slump swings.

I would say this is an example of body and hands very involved in the swing.........

The two areas a hitter needs torque, IMO.....

The "go" is very late in this swing...And, there is no hands connection to the shoulder, IMO....Shoulders are by-passed......

Many Coaches/instructors would tell this hitter not to drop the hands.....

Nice example of hands not connecting to the shoulder.......

Another.......Would you tell Hank not to drop his hands?



Have Hank attack the low pitch more like this?



So, which hitter do we take an amateur and do a side-by-side comparison with as a teaching tool?

Notice his weight is moving towards the right side.

In a side by side on a pitch he hits to center or right, you may notice that the only similarity will be the arm extension.

The basic tenets are there. He maintains the 'shoulder tilt' on the plane of the swing along with a good follow through.

In today's game, I would promote the aspects of Delgado and Dunn. Less stride, faster swing execution.

For me it is fine to study what MLB hitters do but too many instructors forget that youth players are not strong enough ,physically, to do some of the things that MLB players do in the batters box. MLB hitters can overcome mistakes just with their physical makeup.

I think good instructors work with the attributers of the player and I also firmly believe that hitters are born not made--we can just refine them. You cannot clone hitters

As an example how instructors use ICHIRO as a example but he is an excellent hitter/ Would you teach what he does?


JMO

I would teach how he uses proper arm extension in his swing.

Ichiro may be the best example of how it isn't so important what one does to get in position to swing as long as his swing is effective.

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Originally posted by TRhit:
For me it is fine to study what MLB hitters do but too many instructors forget that youth players are not strong enough ,physically, to do some of the things that MLB players do in the batters box. MLB hitters can overcome mistakes just with their physical makeup.

I think good instructors work with the attributers of the player and I also firmly believe that hitters are born not made--we can just refine them. You cannot clone hitters

As an example how instructors use ICHIRO as a example but he is an excellent hitter/ Would you teach what he does?


JMO

TR,

I think you are exactly right. Trying to clone hitters is the biggest mistake instructors make. Some people just can't perform the same movements as other hitters physically and some can, but they won't be as successful as they would be in a way that is comfortable to them. There are some constants as far as torque in the hips and hands, but even that can be accomplished in different ways. Results are what matter most!

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There are some constants as far as torque in the hips and hands,.....

I agree.....Get this right however you do it........

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Results are what matter most!

The result should be consistently squaring up the barrel of the bat on the ball and with power.......

Not just every now and then, but consistently....

Not to offend anyone but I often question the benefit of putting junior next to any MLB player. I think a greater aspect of that software is putting junior next to junior. Having dates when you have worked on aspects of the swing, then, showing either a progression or heaven forbid a regression enable a coach/parent to better serve the needs of a player. We use RVP and so, it saves a clip with the date. I have to record in a journal what we're working on so that we can make comparisons. Like most that would tell the truth, I've also had to take a step back and reteach because either my dd didn't get it or I just sucked trying to explain it. I also like the benefit of having the ability from this software to be able to email clips to others or post on sites such as this. I have posted clips of my daugher on a private site but would never post one on a public site. There are too many people out there that would be less than kind in their comments and would then repost them at every opportunity.

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Posted January 26, 2008 10:12 AM
I have come to the conclusion that MLB hitters do have differences in body movement in their swings......They are not, all, identical in ways they get to the ball......They do not, all, have the same body movements as many claim........

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Posted January 26, 2008 11:59 AM
I would say this is an example of body and hands very involved in the swing.........

The two areas a hitter needs torque, IMO.....

The "go" is very late in this swing...And, there is no hands connection to the shoulder, IMO....Shoulders are by-passed......

If the first quote is correct....then how can you make any judgemnts on any players swing?

What makes you able to judge anytihng if you don't have somethin to compare it to?

How do you know late is really late ?

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If the first quote is correct....then how can you make any judgemnts on any players swing?

Because, if a hitter gets the torque right, it doesn't matter how he does the rest....Aaron moved alot differently than Pujols.....Mantle and Williams moved differently than Bonds....They're all great hitters.......

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How do you know late is really late ?

How would you know if it isn't?...The way I know is, because I can create the "go" with hand torque in my swing......The bat moves early on, but the "go" is later.....I can feel it.....

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What makes you able to judge anytihng if you don't have somethin to compare it to?

I'm only looking for torque in the right places......The rest does not concern me.......I'm not comparing elbows, knee angles, back foot action and the other such stuff......

With the garbage around the internet you guys are correct, you should'nt attempt to do a side by side comparison or teach the ML swing.

No one understands the ML swing or how to teach "it". Because they have no clue of what is involved in "it".

Oh sure you might read bits and pieces from time to time, but most of the discussions don't even scratch the surface.