Hinsdale Central, was shut out by an average pitcher from Benet, on 2 hit's. Home run hitter's do not win many game's for team's.
Good hitters don't always make great hitting coaches. I've been going to Perconte's for 6 years now and Jack has helped out a ton. I think it is important that the player gets along with the instructor also. Perconte was a good hitter, triple A batting champ, but also has a great knowledge for the game.
eastbaseball7, are you saying Perconte wasn't a good hitter? I thought he was a very good hitter! 
nl Fan
I agree with you, there are a lot of Hitting Instructors out there that are bad, and just want your money. But there are a select few that are good, and who would probably do it for free if they could. If you or your child was not happy after a lesson, it may not have been the instructors fault. Athletes have to want to learn, they have to be coachable. If the kid does not have the drive and determination, you are right, don't waste your time or money ... because you darn well aren't going to get anything out of it.
Everybody wants to point a finger instead of looking in the mirror.
I agree with you, there are a lot of Hitting Instructors out there that are bad, and just want your money. But there are a select few that are good, and who would probably do it for free if they could. If you or your child was not happy after a lesson, it may not have been the instructors fault. Athletes have to want to learn, they have to be coachable. If the kid does not have the drive and determination, you are right, don't waste your time or money ... because you darn well aren't going to get anything out of it.
Everybody wants to point a finger instead of looking in the mirror.
I would love to know if these good hitter's take lessons.?
Benson JCA
Powers BENET
Dispensa ST.RITA
Bookford GBW
Cerven minooka
Johanns Naperville
Weston L.T.
Courtwright lincoln Community hs.
Benson JCA
Powers BENET
Dispensa ST.RITA
Bookford GBW
Cerven minooka
Johanns Naperville
Weston L.T.
Courtwright lincoln Community hs.
Dispensa and Powers hit at Strikes.
To me, a good instructer is somebody that was a combination great hitter/ pitcher,and who played a high level of the game. Thats not to say guys who didnt play up can not be good. With experience comes knowledge and I think longer you play the game or coach the game the more you learn from the Coaches you play for. Jack Perconte would be a guy I would feel real comfortable sending a kid to. He was given many different philosophies from many different coaches and used what worked for him. There are alot of guys out there with great credentials, my advise is to use the good ones but don't stay with the same guy all the time. Get as much knowledge from as many different creditable people as you can. Much of being a good teacher is making the player beleive that what your telling him works. There are a whole bunch of different ways of getting it done. Being confident and beleiving in what your doing at the plate or on the mound is a big a part of game as any. Get your lessons and your Reps, what about the guys that played 20 yrs ago, Lessons? This isnt a lesson basher message, I have done a few, I beleive in giving some of the info back, just get blown away with the way people talk about whos the best. Am I the only guy who thinks this way? To the last guy , I beleive Powers is a strike guy, Weston is a Sam Sorci guy, Tommy Cervin I know has worked with John Cangelosi, The kid Courtright I beleive is better known for the leather and the speed and i couldnt tell you who he works with. Despensa is a strikes guy.
Bookford and Johanns take lesson's at Strikes.
Does anybody have an opinion regarding Dick Canan -- I think he gives lessons at Line Drive when it is open.
How many instructor's have Dispensa,Powers,Bookford,Benson,Johanns worked with? and when did they start?
Duecedoc; did you pitch and hit in college?
NL fan,
I hit a bunch of fungos in college. Them days ended for me when they introduced the deuce. Pitched in the Big 8 -12
I hit a bunch of fungos in college. Them days ended for me when they introduced the deuce. Pitched in the Big 8 -12
NL fan , I see where you are coming from, I wasnt saying I hit / pitched in college, just saying whatever the instructer you are looking for I think you A- should have done it a a high level, B- can teach it at a high level. Pleanty of good players and instructers out there just find one that makes you happy and better.
I think Pat Whaley of strikes is the best at teaching the HOME RUN SWING!!!
I believe Wente is the best hitting instructor in the country let alone Illinois, though he is a stroke
chris hall out of playball usa is really good
I want to support all of the great hitting instructors out there. Wente must be the best bang for the buck..his lessons are free!
Wente is free? I thought he was at the Ballyard? I know he's a hell of a good guy and good baseball man too.
Wente is one of the all time good baseball men in the Chicago area. I was unaware he was @ the Ballyard.
Bill Zanon at PlayBall USA is an excellent hitting instructor. My son has worked with Bill for the last few years and has helped him tremendously. Wouldnt take him to anyone else.
Jack Perconte is one of the top hitting instructor's in the state! Jim Hall lockport, is very good too, look at his team every year leading the state in team batting avg!
Jack is excellent, highly recommended and you can't go wrong.
Is over 9,700 view's a record? Never seen a topic with so many view's.
Tony Tichy is outstanding, he is a true hitting technician. He has worked out of Gurnee and North Shore Baseball Academy. This guy knows every technical aspect of the swing. I have to rank him with the very best in Chicagoland!
i'd have to agree with upandin. Tichy is an excellent hitting coach and a great guy to be around. He knows so much about hitting. He is also the coach of a very good Niles North team
Jim Donovan is the man!!
mom of baseball player: Let's go for 10M!
I am not sure it is possible to ever name "the" man. There are, however, a number of very good ones. Jack Perconte, Steve Hayward, Tony Tichy, and Phil Apostle, just to name a FEW. I know there are a number of other tremendous hitting instructors out there. Find the guy that is "the" guy for you--and stick with it!
I restarted this thread way back when the first one was wiped out. I hope that it continues to serve a purpose and help players and parents get connected to someone who can help them get better. It was never intended to find out who the best was but to let people what's out there for them. From the looks of things there are a lot of great options.
One side topic about this. I've noticed a few high school coaches named. Who do people consider the better high school hitting coaches? In other words, guys not charging $ but as a general result of coaching their HS team produce good hitters.
One side topic about this. I've noticed a few high school coaches named. Who do people consider the better high school hitting coaches? In other words, guys not charging $ but as a general result of coaching their HS team produce good hitters.
Well said K13
Thanks deuce! And, il2008, of course I am partial, but Pete Drevlin (currently the assistant/hitting coach at New Trier and formerly at Hersey) is outstanding!
IS there a web site for Playball USA?
Ron Cacini at Play Ball USA in Des Plaines, IL. This guy will get you to the next level.
Play Ball USA - http://www.playballdirect.com
Chris Hall out of Playball Usa
Cubs and Astos, need to see some hitting instructor's!!
I would like to wish a HAPPY 39th BIRTHDAY to one of the best, Steve Hayward. See you soon.
Try Frozen Ropes. Their video sysrem combined with their philosophy of hitting is worthwhile.
Happy Birthday to Steve!!!! 
You don’t look a day over 35…. 
OMBA…That’s Right.
"Gear yourself to hit the ball away and let the inside pitches take care of themselves." ~ Charlie Lau
You don’t look a day over 35…. OMBA…That’s Right. "Gear yourself to hit the ball away and let the inside pitches take care of themselves." ~ Charlie Lau