I need answers

Here's a streaming video of Barry Bonds narrated by Tony Gwynn.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/bonds/flash.htm

The one thing I noticed about his swing is how he keeps his back elbow anchored into his back hip area and pulls the bat through using his power from the front hand and arm. His hands are inside the ball throughout the swing.

Also the actual upper hitting stroke, from beginning of the stroke to bat contact is not more than 15 inches...very short and quick.

Well, WY, you've come to a good place to find out.

You are about to receive $1,000,000 worth of advice, two cents at at time.......................

WY

You have to believe in one theory or the other-- you cannot have both


Also ask yourself how your HS Coach feels about you being taught contrary to his thinking.

Every hitter has his own style and method so pick what is best for you and perfect it

Remember what is good for one hitter may not be good for another--no two talents are the same--no two bodies, reactions etc are the same

WY,
I understand your frustration. My son is going through the same thing right now. When he started taking instruction 2-3 years ago, everyone was teaching the linear swing - billing it as the new way and a more contact swing for a better avg. His new instructor, a local college coach that is making waves of success, insists that college coaches are looking for power hitters that have high slugging percentages. He insists that the power rotational swing is best. I have to agree with the new coach - I was taught a rotational swing and always had doubts when the the linear was introduced to him. His BA was good while using it, but he just didn't seem comfortable swing out of the inverted "V" - he seemed jammed up. He is hitting the ball much harder now, but we haven't seen any game results yet. I agree with TR that didn't people have different results, you have to decide which fits you best.

TR

I agree with you about every hitter being different, and only one style working. BUT...

I believe this is a different dilema, one which I personally have been through. Coach has a philosophy about hitting, and in my opinion wrong , Again my opinion. Hitting down on the ball is good for a contact hitter ie, put the ball in play...move the runner...small ball. NOW, nothing wrong with small ball, I believe there is a time and place for it. Our HS coach, simply had no faith in anyones ability to hit...easier said he was a great defensive player is college but couldn't hit...and that's how he coached. I won't go into personal story...I have to go to work, and could talk about this for days!!!!!

HS ball is important in a boy's life, but sometimes these "little generals" over coach without true knowledge. This may cause players to get overlooked and not go on to play at a higher level because of no chance.

Unfortunately, this coaches style will decide who may play, or not make the team.

Long story short, My son is playing D-I ball now, dispite having his worst year ever as a senior (he did what the coach asked)...I and he still believe that the coach is in charge and you do what is asked.

After the season ended, he took 2 months off completely to forget all the wrong habits, and is know back in stride.

To answer, WY's question...I believe in the first philosophy more than the 2nd...but you still have to produce (execute) the play. Hands back, balance and proper weight distribution, hands inside the ball, and more importantly.. have a plan at the plate! Hitting is more than just swinging at the ball. A hitters count verses a pitchers count will lead to more success than just being able to put the bat on the ball.

from all the pro players and coaches that have worked with my son the way they have been instructing is to deep your hands inside the ball, short compact swing down on the ball. Two instructors wit two different theories will cause more problems for him. The important thin is he has to do tee work every day to get the feel of whatever he is trying to do

falcon

There is no right or wrong way-- it has been proven that both methods work --the player still needs to make a decision

If he was not taking "private instruction" this question might not even be raised because the player would not have two theories in front of him.

Which method gives the player the best results? Which is he more comfortable with?


Sometimes we try to learn too much technically instead of allowing the natural talent to evolve.

Food for thought: going back to my sons HS days, 10 years ago, he had a coach who had very simple philosophy regarding my sons hitting ability--- as long as he hit and each year improved his average then why mess with success.

Because of my sons footspeed some so called " experts" thought he should switch hit--his HS coach said no way-- dont try and fix what is not broken.

Some felt my son should have been more of a pull hitter---his HS coach said that will come as he gets stronger and matures physically--don't mess with success

The old coach was very simple but very wise in many ways--baseball is really a very simple game if we allow it to be

TR

I am a big advocate of what you said. I too believe in each doing what is best for them.

Hooray for the old coach...he was right!!! Keep it simple.

Good comments!

WYplayer...hitting is a journey not a destination...you will undoubtedly be given instruction on every step of this journey, by every coach you play for, and then some. LL, select ball, HS, College etc. As TR said, you have to choose your style, Rotational or Linear...doesn't matter, and then work to master it.

It may cost you playing time due to not hitting as you learn, but don't give up once you choose. It's funny about hitting, everyone goes to someone to learn, then as they get better, some one else...usually a coach says...NO,NO do it this way. What is TRUE, is if you can hit .400 let's say, no one will ever say a thing to you.

I and many other fathers have never taken our kid to a lesson...there are certain fundamental things abour hitting, and I believe it doesn't cost $$$ to learn. It costs many hours at many different stations with many adjustments. Unfortunately, some parents have never played the game and have to invest in a person or program to start you on.

Making contact is more important than any other aspect...a player who puts the ball in play 75-80% of the time will develop into a good hitter and find his way to a spot on any team. Confidence and believing in yourself will take you far.

Good Luck!!

WY,
I read a statistic (somewhere, can't remember) that in the higher levels of baseball, 80% of ground balls are outs. Now ask yourself, which swing is going to produce more ground balls?

Stick with the first guy. Dump the second guy.

WyPlayer,

From your posts it appears you already have a pretty good hunch what you feel is best for your career in the long run.

For reinforcement, ask yourself, “Does it make sense to swing down on a ball that’s already traveling down when the most positive result you would be striving for would be a ground ball”?

“How many major league hitters swing down”?

With that in mind, if someone were still teaching hitters to swing down, I’d stay as far away from them as possible. It’s no telling what else they might want you to do.

WY - what kind of physical makeup do you have? Are you small, skinny and run fast? Then maybe linear is for you. If you have some power and the desire to hit the gaps (and more), the rotational swing will probably be more to your liking.
To me swinging down on a ball moving downward is a dicey proposition, if you're trying to hit line drives. Swinging on the plane of the pitch gives you a much bigger zone of forgiveness, as well as the opportunity to make solid contact that will results in line drives.

good luck either way you choose...

quote:

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Originally posted by FormerObserver:
Well, WY, you've come to a good place to find out.

You are about to receive $1,000,000 worth of advice, two cents at at time.......................

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Now that was funny FO...