Shep
Just thought I would be the first to re-introduce this topic to board.
Shep
Shep
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Make it easy NUMBER ONE. Too many coaches complicate things. Athletic base, shoulder width or a little wider. Back elbow down and relaxed, bat in the crease of the fingers, knocking knuckles with a little turn if a stronger grip is needed. As the pitcher breaks you load your hands and weight and get the stride foot down, about 60-40, 70-30. Hands must be back, bat 45 degree angle roughly but NOT wrapped around the head. Foot lands parallel, not open toward pitcher. Hands are back, FOOT is DOWN, now see the ball, Shoot the hip to start, knob to the ball, hands palm up palm down on contact, NOT ROLLING, and hit the ball. Load, Land, Shoot, Crush It. Don't make it too difficult.
Good stuff COACHBLU25.
Keep it simple if you only desire to play amateur levels, totally agree.
Back to the NY prospect who posted clip in other thread.
How close is CT ? Much closer than AL I'm sure.
Shep
Keep it simple if you only desire to play amateur levels, totally agree.
Back to the NY prospect who posted clip in other thread.
How close is CT ? Much closer than AL I'm sure.
Shep
Shep, you are correct as CT is a much closer than AL.
p.s. you have a PM.
p.s. you have a PM.
How much more difficult should it be for a professional hitter ? The clinics, tapes, websites etc. all pretty much preach the same thing. I'm sure its much more difficult in the Bigs/Minors but most of that is based on speed and pitch recognition, which there are many
types of pitches breaking. I do notice many pros a lot wider. Your input is appreciated.
types of pitches breaking. I do notice many pros a lot wider. Your input is appreciated.
Clips I watch of MLB hitters are 95% rotational. Foot open at least 45 degrees (many much more) and weight at close to 50/50. Hands in (not throw the knob). You are watching different tapes/DVD's than I am. I do agree that this can be made more complicated than necessary for young hitters.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by swingbuster:
check the shifts 50- 50 ?
Also check the lead foot (parallel?) Boggs maybe. SB...thanks for the great clips.
check the shifts 50- 50 ?
Also check the lead foot (parallel?) Boggs maybe. SB...thanks for the great clips.
List Your Tapes and explain 95% rotational.
On all these you see the hands are back and the stride is down BEFORE they start the swing. If you can't get a player to understand this it doesn't matter the level, they'll struggle.
On all these you see the hands are back and the stride is down BEFORE they start the swing. If you can't get a player to understand this it doesn't matter the level, they'll struggle.
quote:Originally posted by COACHBLU25:
On all these you see the hands are back and the stride is down BEFORE they start the swing.
Agree with this 100%...
I question weight dist and parallel front foot. Why do you teach contrary to what you see? (see SB clips) What I've been watching include Epstein/Mankin/***** etc. I don't agree with everything all the time but they sure aren't teaching "throw the knob" at the ball. Also, I'm not saying you are wrong....there is more than one way to hit... just ask Ichiro.
Hey COACHBLU25,
The main difference I can readily think of is the ability of the player to internalize the proper mechanics vs externalize. Any player can "see" why mechanics are good as in externalize. Can that player also take these visual cues and make it an internal part of how baseball related movements are performed? That is the difficult question. Here are some more questions to ponder> Can the player make the necessary mechanical adjustments in order to make it at the next level? Is the player coachable or stubborn? Is the player educable? Will player actually listen or is player acting in order to gain favor with instructor? That last question may sound extreme but will show quickly on field. Would rather see a player fail doing the right mechanics than succeed doing the wrong mechanics. Might sound confusing but would rather see player crawling before walking and eventually running. Sometimes takes time to undo something that took years to learn as in the example of a swing or pitching windup/delivery. Just food for thought for the serious coaches and players as well as fathers.
Let me try and explain from this angle> Muscle memory of doing the baseball related movements correctly is what I mean by internalize but also means to internalize the right way. This idea can be difficult for a player that has learned to react and use incorrect mechanics in baseball related movements because he has internalized also but incorrectly. Thats what I meant earlier in AM post when I said sometimes training devices are needed to correct bad muscle memories. I like to call these devices, "OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS DEVICES" LOL All joking aside, it is sometimes difficult to undo bad mechanics, especially as in pitching and hitting mechanics because it is so easy for the player to revert back to old habits in incorrect practices when the heat is on and the game becomes intense as in the case of hitting or pitching in live game situation.
The sooner the prospect catches the mechanical flaws, the easier it is to correct and re-train thought processes involved in muscle memory. The player will then be ready and have internalized the correct movements.
Perfect practice makes perfect, not practice makes perfect. A player can practice the wrong mechanics and actually make it more difficult to correct. Unfortunately, many players think because they are successful at lower levels they will be successful at higher levels without using proper mechanics and get rude awakening. Try to prevent that from happening with all I come into contact with by sharing the secrets of the successful former player, me
Sincerely,
Shep
The main difference I can readily think of is the ability of the player to internalize the proper mechanics vs externalize. Any player can "see" why mechanics are good as in externalize. Can that player also take these visual cues and make it an internal part of how baseball related movements are performed? That is the difficult question. Here are some more questions to ponder> Can the player make the necessary mechanical adjustments in order to make it at the next level? Is the player coachable or stubborn? Is the player educable? Will player actually listen or is player acting in order to gain favor with instructor? That last question may sound extreme but will show quickly on field. Would rather see a player fail doing the right mechanics than succeed doing the wrong mechanics. Might sound confusing but would rather see player crawling before walking and eventually running. Sometimes takes time to undo something that took years to learn as in the example of a swing or pitching windup/delivery. Just food for thought for the serious coaches and players as well as fathers.
Let me try and explain from this angle> Muscle memory of doing the baseball related movements correctly is what I mean by internalize but also means to internalize the right way. This idea can be difficult for a player that has learned to react and use incorrect mechanics in baseball related movements because he has internalized also but incorrectly. Thats what I meant earlier in AM post when I said sometimes training devices are needed to correct bad muscle memories. I like to call these devices, "OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS DEVICES" LOL All joking aside, it is sometimes difficult to undo bad mechanics, especially as in pitching and hitting mechanics because it is so easy for the player to revert back to old habits in incorrect practices when the heat is on and the game becomes intense as in the case of hitting or pitching in live game situation.
The sooner the prospect catches the mechanical flaws, the easier it is to correct and re-train thought processes involved in muscle memory. The player will then be ready and have internalized the correct movements.
Perfect practice makes perfect, not practice makes perfect. A player can practice the wrong mechanics and actually make it more difficult to correct. Unfortunately, many players think because they are successful at lower levels they will be successful at higher levels without using proper mechanics and get rude awakening. Try to prevent that from happening with all I come into contact with by sharing the secrets of the successful former player, me
Sincerely,
Shep
PM back at cha' NY Dad
Swingbuster has several really helpful devices in fact at his sight that can help in the regard of correcting incorrect mechanics which forces the hitter for example to do it right the first time. Highly recommend swing's products. Shep
http://www.swingbuster.com
Swingbuster has several really helpful devices in fact at his sight that can help in the regard of correcting incorrect mechanics which forces the hitter for example to do it right the first time. Highly recommend swing's products. Shep
http://www.swingbuster.com
NY DAD, the school I mentioned in PM below>
That URL for the school I mentioned in N. GA is as follows: http://athletics.covenant.edu/?module=displaystory&story_id=176&format=html
As I mentioned, the Coach is former MLB LHP and Covenant College is lucky to have him and Shep learned a tremendous amount of pitching knowledge from him when I helped him out as associate. Highly recommend players to go there.
Sincerely,
Shep
That URL for the school I mentioned in N. GA is as follows: http://athletics.covenant.edu/?module=displaystory&story_id=176&format=html
As I mentioned, the Coach is former MLB LHP and Covenant College is lucky to have him and Shep learned a tremendous amount of pitching knowledge from him when I helped him out as associate. Highly recommend players to go there.
Sincerely,
Shep
Shepster,
Explain your info to a ballplayer and his head is spinning. I keep it simple. The front foot lands parallel and will open after contact somewhat.
Many hitters open too early which takes away some of there power and may shift the weight to the front too much. I personally do not like the Epstein method but follow Hudgens, Mallee,
Narron's style of hitting. As you said there are several styles. I did but a ROTATIONAL DVD and it taught premature wrist rolling. It was on its way back in an hour. We have to teach what works and what we believe in. I see results and thats what I get paid to do.
Explain your info to a ballplayer and his head is spinning. I keep it simple. The front foot lands parallel and will open after contact somewhat.
Many hitters open too early which takes away some of there power and may shift the weight to the front too much. I personally do not like the Epstein method but follow Hudgens, Mallee,
Narron's style of hitting. As you said there are several styles. I did but a ROTATIONAL DVD and it taught premature wrist rolling. It was on its way back in an hour. We have to teach what works and what we believe in. I see results and thats what I get paid to do.
If you notice on the swingbuster demo,
the players foot lands, hands are back, then the swing starts. He does open slightly on the swing and I'm comfortable with that. The one thing to get in any hitters head is to get that stride foot down BEFORE the swing starts. Not enough coaches teach or preach this enough. Weak ground balls, check the foot first.
the players foot lands, hands are back, then the swing starts. He does open slightly on the swing and I'm comfortable with that. The one thing to get in any hitters head is to get that stride foot down BEFORE the swing starts. Not enough coaches teach or preach this enough. Weak ground balls, check the foot first.
If you study many clips you will notice spatial relationships at points in time. These images help many people while others will argue their usefulness.
I watched a great Johnny Miller seg the other night. For Miller , he knew his position at impact and no matter how he took the club away( in his mind) he felt like he could arrive back to that point of impact. That would not work for me personally but it defined Miller. Obviously he was doing many other things correctly and his stellar career was short. Got the yips putting they say
One place in time I see in baseball is the rear elbow being at the top of the load cycle when the front side touches down. This indicates that the shoulders have turned back in a connected position just as the true swing or hip rotation begins. It is a simple concept but rarely seen in youth ball.
You must start somewhere in the teaching process and this is useful in our hands. There are other key points in the swing that can require focus too.
THese key points will be provided almost immediately
I watched a great Johnny Miller seg the other night. For Miller , he knew his position at impact and no matter how he took the club away( in his mind) he felt like he could arrive back to that point of impact. That would not work for me personally but it defined Miller. Obviously he was doing many other things correctly and his stellar career was short. Got the yips putting they say
One place in time I see in baseball is the rear elbow being at the top of the load cycle when the front side touches down. This indicates that the shoulders have turned back in a connected position just as the true swing or hip rotation begins. It is a simple concept but rarely seen in youth ball.
You must start somewhere in the teaching process and this is useful in our hands. There are other key points in the swing that can require focus too.
THese key points will be provided almost immediately
COACHBLU25,
On the original board (now closed) you wrote:
______________
The upper body and the hands are not acting as one unit. What we call “Hands and body are better together.” This young man extends his hands toward the ump and then begins the swing. In turn, this lengthens or straightens the right arm. In my opinion, this could make his swing “longer.” I believe that this alters his swing plane. What would I then recommend to change it? I’d suggest that this young man change his spine angle and do what we call “getting the eyes over the plate.” I’d also recommend that this young man trigger by keeping his hands and upper body as one unit and slightly rotating his shoulders inward loading. In doing all of this then, the tell tale sign of the adjustment is that this young man’s swing plane should improve and his balance would be significantly better at finish. Note, in the video, he really rolls over that front foot and is not balanced.
__________
I realize your post was directed at Linear but wanted to make a few comments regarding your assessment of son's swing.
Do forgive me if i butcher the terminology here:
Was my understanding that reaching back (not shoulder turn) as you stride/step is referred to as scapula loading which creates torque in generating batspeed. This is something i notice most all MLB hitters do. Re lenghtening of lead arm and long swing comment. Take a look at the following Griffey and Bonds clips and note lead arm / hand position at toe touch which appears very similar to son's at toe touch.
Griffey: http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/images/Baseball_Clips_1-t0015.jpg
Bonds:
http://www.hitting-mechanics.org/HMOFTP/bonds10alr.gif
Again it is my understanding that most major league hitters will launch hands from just off rear shoulder. Re front foot rolling, don't really know the cause/effect and consequence of this yet (still learning) but do take note how Bonds' front foot rolls pretty good in the clip.
I am just a dad trying to study MLB hitters as well as seek the opinions of the hitting gurus on these boards to best help develop my sons swing. However, it gets pretty confusing when coaches talk about having a long swing and/or bat wrap (barrell position).
I only say this because we have heard these comments from a few college coaches and just don't understand where this comes from when in fact most MLB hitters have what these coaches consider to be flaws. Are they saying that MLB hitters have it all wrong or that only MLB hitters can succeed with such flaws. I just don't get it.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all that contributed their comments/opinions as we head back to the cage to work on swing plane/finish. Will post another clip after we get some more work in. Thank you.
On the original board (now closed) you wrote:
______________
The upper body and the hands are not acting as one unit. What we call “Hands and body are better together.” This young man extends his hands toward the ump and then begins the swing. In turn, this lengthens or straightens the right arm. In my opinion, this could make his swing “longer.” I believe that this alters his swing plane. What would I then recommend to change it? I’d suggest that this young man change his spine angle and do what we call “getting the eyes over the plate.” I’d also recommend that this young man trigger by keeping his hands and upper body as one unit and slightly rotating his shoulders inward loading. In doing all of this then, the tell tale sign of the adjustment is that this young man’s swing plane should improve and his balance would be significantly better at finish. Note, in the video, he really rolls over that front foot and is not balanced.
__________
I realize your post was directed at Linear but wanted to make a few comments regarding your assessment of son's swing.
Do forgive me if i butcher the terminology here:
Was my understanding that reaching back (not shoulder turn) as you stride/step is referred to as scapula loading which creates torque in generating batspeed. This is something i notice most all MLB hitters do. Re lenghtening of lead arm and long swing comment. Take a look at the following Griffey and Bonds clips and note lead arm / hand position at toe touch which appears very similar to son's at toe touch.
Griffey: http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/images/Baseball_Clips_1-t0015.jpg
Bonds:
http://www.hitting-mechanics.org/HMOFTP/bonds10alr.gif
Again it is my understanding that most major league hitters will launch hands from just off rear shoulder. Re front foot rolling, don't really know the cause/effect and consequence of this yet (still learning) but do take note how Bonds' front foot rolls pretty good in the clip.
I am just a dad trying to study MLB hitters as well as seek the opinions of the hitting gurus on these boards to best help develop my sons swing. However, it gets pretty confusing when coaches talk about having a long swing and/or bat wrap (barrell position).
I only say this because we have heard these comments from a few college coaches and just don't understand where this comes from when in fact most MLB hitters have what these coaches consider to be flaws. Are they saying that MLB hitters have it all wrong or that only MLB hitters can succeed with such flaws. I just don't get it.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all that contributed their comments/opinions as we head back to the cage to work on swing plane/finish. Will post another clip after we get some more work in. Thank you.
quote:Shepster,
Explain your info to a ballplayer and his head is spinning.
CoachBLU25,
Definitely know what you mean about the "majority" of HS players and limited cognitive ability or probably better described as lack of focus, too spread out in teenage interests. I too Coached HS Varsity team in 1991 and found it very difficult to teach at that level because my standards were so high. Did manage to get team to State HS playoffs for the first time in five years but did not return the next year, signed Elementary 5th grade teaching contract and scouted to stay connected which has worked out even though I believe I have reached pinnacle and ready for something much more complicated
Do what you can CoachBLU and I will try to help where I can without complicating too much because Shep does understand, believe me
Like my good friend in the burbs of Chicago, beenthere done that w/ McDonald's Happy Meal and all the trimmings. 
Sincerely,
Shep
Everyone needs to remember that "dumbing someone up" with technical garble is great when you have a difficult/arrogant parent that does not think you know anything. Unfortunately, a lot of us get caught up in that same strategy with all players/parents and the problem with that is the majority of hitters need it to be kept simple. I respect everyone's opinions on this board. I do agree with Coach Blu that sometimes we hitting coaches can make it too technical. Shepster, I think you have a great knowledge base and are very valuable on this forum, so I wish you wouldn't get so defensive when someone asks it to be simplified. The key to teaching (and you should know being an elem. teacher) is that you have to change your teachings with every kid. Be specific with some kids and explain how it all happens and be as generic as possible with others and keep it simple.
One of the greatest coaches I have ever had the privelige to work with is Denny Dixon here in North Texas. The guy is a master of keeping it simple and "tricking" a kid into doing what he wants done. It is amazing to watch. Unfortunately without being in person, we have trouble keeping it simple on the web.
One of the greatest coaches I have ever had the privelige to work with is Denny Dixon here in North Texas. The guy is a master of keeping it simple and "tricking" a kid into doing what he wants done. It is amazing to watch. Unfortunately without being in person, we have trouble keeping it simple on the web.
Great Post CoachA and I totally agree w/ content of your post.
Will work on suggestions in future responses and will also try not to be so advanced at times when it is not appropriate
Thanks CoachA,
Shep
Will work on suggestions in future responses and will also try not to be so advanced at times when it is not appropriate
Thanks CoachA,
Shep
