Good to be back posting. Glad to see the "To and Through the Ball" thread has lasted 3 plus years. Thought all you hitting fanatics might enjoy this!
Pujols Video Analysis
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Thanks for posting that bub! It proves my point about toe touch and the position of the front hip being a pointless check point. This is BP though. 
It also adds creedence for the hands lining up with the hip and firing together.
My son's instructor has always taught "Hands First". This is what hands first looks like to instructors that teach it. This is what the goal of "Hands First" is, to get them lined up with the back hip so that they can fire together.
My son's instructor has always taught "Hands First". This is what hands first looks like to instructors that teach it. This is what the goal of "Hands First" is, to get them lined up with the back hip so that they can fire together.
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
It also adds creedence for the hands lining up with the hip and firing together.
My son's instructor has always taught "Hands First". This is what hands first looks like to instructors that teach it. This is what the goal of "Hands First" is, to get them lined up with the back hip so that they can fire together.
Yep! The only thing most miss, is that the hands and hips fire at the same time, but the barrel is turned/fired (by the hands)rearward first, not in the direction of the ball. The rear hip moves/turns in the direction of the ball first, it has to if you want a high level swing.
floridafan & powertoallfields,
YES!!!!! AGREED!!!!!
I promised I would stay away from the "How to Adjust" thread so I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings.
Why people like to look at BP and dry swings and then think they are identical to a game swing is beyond me. Even the Pujols videos in the adjust thread is misleading as those are 4 seperate dry swings that are slightly different than one another. Compare those to the video bub (atta babe)posted; different once again. Granted the differences are small but still are there. Then look at some game film...different again.
Big difference in alot of BP swings at BP fastballs versus game swings at sliders/90mph fastballs/curveballs.
We owe alot to Ted Williams. He was one of the first MLB guys to really study the swing in his efforts to be the best ( maybe we should blame him for the message board wars on hitting...LOL). Tried to make a science out of hitting. Unfortunately, many of his BP clips are used as reference guides vs. his game swings and tend to be misleading many to thinking every swing was the same, BP or game.
I see another skirmish in the horizon
YES!!!!! AGREED!!!!!
I promised I would stay away from the "How to Adjust" thread so I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings.
Why people like to look at BP and dry swings and then think they are identical to a game swing is beyond me. Even the Pujols videos in the adjust thread is misleading as those are 4 seperate dry swings that are slightly different than one another. Compare those to the video bub (atta babe)posted; different once again. Granted the differences are small but still are there. Then look at some game film...different again.
Big difference in alot of BP swings at BP fastballs versus game swings at sliders/90mph fastballs/curveballs.
We owe alot to Ted Williams. He was one of the first MLB guys to really study the swing in his efforts to be the best ( maybe we should blame him for the message board wars on hitting...LOL). Tried to make a science out of hitting. Unfortunately, many of his BP clips are used as reference guides vs. his game swings and tend to be misleading many to thinking every swing was the same, BP or game.
I see another skirmish in the horizon
Great stuff. As someone posted this is BP. If you see him in game swings his stance is a little wider. I am not sure about his comment on the video about finishing high. The finish should he based on where the ball is. Balls down the finish will be high, but balls middle-up his finish is flat. He is the best IMO on getting his bat on plane and his throws are out and on plane.
Some one told me once that his bat speed was not as fast as some of the other elite MLB hitters, but he is so good a squaring up that he hits the ball better. Does anyone know if this is true or some wives tale.
Some one told me once that his bat speed was not as fast as some of the other elite MLB hitters, but he is so good a squaring up that he hits the ball better. Does anyone know if this is true or some wives tale.
I know he has one of the smallest strike zones in the game and that speaks to his ability to square the ball.
That video is mostly jibberish.
He says Pujols takes his hands back to start (during the coil). He does in this BP clip (0:26 and 02:12), but he doesn't in game clips. (Bonus points if you can see what is really going back)
He says Pujols drives his hands forward (at a certain point in the swing - when his shoulders are rotating forward)- he doesn't (0:56 and 2:33). (Bonus points if you can see what is really coming forward)
These cues are hazardous to young minds.
If you take your hands back during the coil - you'll bar your front arm.
If you drive your hands forward at the start of the swing, you'll lose connection and reduce your power.
He says Pujols takes his hands back to start (during the coil). He does in this BP clip (0:26 and 02:12), but he doesn't in game clips. (Bonus points if you can see what is really going back)
He says Pujols drives his hands forward (at a certain point in the swing - when his shoulders are rotating forward)- he doesn't (0:56 and 2:33). (Bonus points if you can see what is really coming forward)
These cues are hazardous to young minds.
If you take your hands back during the coil - you'll bar your front arm.
If you drive your hands forward at the start of the swing, you'll lose connection and reduce your power.
With all due respect Mr. Swat, that video and those cues have helped me develop many young hitters at all levels. Players need to take their hands back when they load their hips. It is very possible to load your hands without barring out your front arm. This is exactly why I hesitate to add to these forums. Instead of being positive and providing positive informaiton, some people decide to be arguementative and critical to people who post on here. Too many people who think they know everything about baseball with no credentials and no track record of developing players giving advice. That can be very hazardous to young minds.
The guys talks about Pujols "Cocking" his hips. What is the best way to get a hitter to do that?
My Son's hitting instructor has him start out in a "cocked hip" position and then swing at BP pitches or off of a tee.
Then he has him start out in his regular stance and move to the cocked position and then through the swing.
It's amazing the difference in the sound off the bat when he connects on a good swing that moves through that position!
Then he has him start out in his regular stance and move to the cocked position and then through the swing.
It's amazing the difference in the sound off the bat when he connects on a good swing that moves through that position!
quote:That video is mostly jibberish.
Huh??
These cues are hazardous to young minds.
What????
For my simple mind, it seemed a very good demonstration of proven rotational mechanics.
bubandbran ........... you rock!
socalscoach ...... my son's hitting Coach has been working for two years now on getting the "bottom-half" more involved. G-Man (my boy), says "you have to feel it (the cocked hip)."
Ok......This is the first time I have heard someone referring to "Cocking" the hips. How would you get them in the position and what exactly is the hip "Cocking" position?
socal...hard to describe with the written word, but i will do the best i can....a coil, a load of the legs...a slight swivel back, etc. hitting a baseball is an athletic movement, almost every athletic movement has a shift of the weight. Throwing a football, golf and tennis swings, shooting a jump shot. Hitting a baseball is no different, the weight has to shift back to then shift forward....the cocking of the hips is the weight shifting to the backside so that weight and energy can shift/transfer into the ball....i hope that helps....
I know exactly what you are talking about. I just had never heard it called cocking before.
Coach,
Don't get a linear shift in weight confused with "cocking the hips". Cocking the hips is a rotational movement, in the rear hip joint, which starts with a turn forward of the rear leg followed by a turn rearward of the rear hip. The best way to think of the turn rearward is to try and turn your belly button as far as you can toward the Catcher while still keeping the rear leg turned forward. Think of a loaded hip as one that feels like you are trying to wring out a rag in the hip joint.
Don't get a linear shift in weight confused with "cocking the hips". Cocking the hips is a rotational movement, in the rear hip joint, which starts with a turn forward of the rear leg followed by a turn rearward of the rear hip. The best way to think of the turn rearward is to try and turn your belly button as far as you can toward the Catcher while still keeping the rear leg turned forward. Think of a loaded hip as one that feels like you are trying to wring out a rag in the hip joint.
bubandbran, as I look back on my post, my comments were not appropriate. I will endeavor to be more positive when I write here.
No hard feelings Sultan. It is healthy to disagree and argue points, lets just all stay positive and productive for players that read these forums! It is not about us anymore, it is about them!
New to the site and looking forward to learning a lot.
It looks to me that Pujols has something in common with a ball striker from a different sport. IMO the comparative videos at the end could apply to baseball as well.
http://www.aroundhawaii.com/li...gers-transition.html
I'd be interested to hear what people think.
It looks to me that Pujols has something in common with a ball striker from a different sport. IMO the comparative videos at the end could apply to baseball as well.
http://www.aroundhawaii.com/li...gers-transition.html
I'd be interested to hear what people think.
From an article in GQ magazine..
Don Slaught determined though 60 frames a second video that pujols is the best at matching the plane of his swing to the plane of the ball, a total of 5 foot of the 60'6".
To do so the ball comes in at 7 -10 degree down slope and to match the plane, he adjusted with a 7 to 10 up swing that was level to the ball for 5 foot of the 60"6' it was thrown, best in baseball to do so.
I just read Slaught wrote it. :]
http://slowthegamedown.com/Med...Perfect%20Batter.pdf
Don Slaught determined though 60 frames a second video that pujols is the best at matching the plane of his swing to the plane of the ball, a total of 5 foot of the 60'6".
To do so the ball comes in at 7 -10 degree down slope and to match the plane, he adjusted with a 7 to 10 up swing that was level to the ball for 5 foot of the 60"6' it was thrown, best in baseball to do so.
I just read Slaught wrote it. :]
http://slowthegamedown.com/Med...Perfect%20Batter.pdf
