Who's swing models your idea best?

Coach

Question-- if the kid is a "hitter" at the HS level why do I, as a coach have to teach him to swing like somebody else ?


Seems to me all the "good" and "great" hitters hit like THEMSELVES and this includes the HS level hitter.

Dimaggio, but I wouldn't try to model everyone's swing after his. Some kids are power hitters and if you want to teach by showing them a good power hitter's swing then you'd find a power hitter (I like Bonds' swing but he doesn't have a classic power hitter's swing.) If they're a punch hitter you might want to show them a Gwynn, Carew or Rose. The only problem with that is that a kid who is a punch hitter in HS may not turn out to be a punch hitter in the long run or even next year in HS.

In other words, I don't think there is such a thing as a typical HS hitter.

J.D. Drew



A great model for a high school player because it's simple, direct, not a lot of noise.

Carrys his center forward, swings from the center, not much hand noise, match the plane, bingo......another dinger.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Coach

Question-- if the kid is a "hitter" at the HS level why do I, as a coach have to teach him to swing like somebody else ?


Seems to me all the "good" and "great" hitters hit like THEMSELVES and this includes the HS level hitter.

That, folks, is wisdom.

Beltran. Relaxed, fluid, perfect balance, great hip action and follow through.

Not to change the subject, but TR got me thinking. Has anyone else noticed how much Marquis Grissom's swing has changed since joining the Giants? It looks like he has modeled himself after Bonds... or is it just me?

Drew has a good swing for the power hitter model. It looks like he's swinging more up than the plane of the pitch in that clip. A bit more shoulder dip than I'd like to see for HS players who don't have home run power. Otherwise, I agree with the rest of Teach's comments.

Callaway

You hit the nerve I have opened--- HS kids are not major leaguers--if they are successful why try and fix it--they will get there in time

They will progress positively, hopefully, as they go thru college and lower pro levels

Personally I thought Grissom was a better hitter early on in his career as have been many hitters in MLB--many just level off

TR you write above,

“You hit the nerve I have opened--- HS kids are not major leaguers--if they are successful why try and fix it--they will get there in time’

With a statement like that I’m sure you are hitting a lot of other people’s nerves too.

To your statement I would say, “When might be a better time than the present for a player to start improving their skills”? And what convinces you that “Time (as in age)” is the determining factor in making someone’s fundamental's better.

A lot of people might believe becoming an outstanding hitter does not happen by accident; therefore they need to start doing some things on purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Coach

Question-- if the kid is a "hitter" at the HS level why do I, as a coach have to teach him to swing like somebody else ?


Seems to me all the "good" and "great" hitters hit like THEMSELVES and this includes the HS level hitter.

Really great question. I don't think that I worded my question correctly. When you look at a kid's swing and you have worked with the "typical" high school hitter and now have him close to where he is very comfortable and you feel that you have done a good job with that players, if you could then see that same swing with regards to a pro player, who's swing would it most resemble. We don't teach kids to look like any one player. We do have a "base" that we start with after we assess that a player is having difficulties. The our intended end result or picture in my head looks very much like Glauss' swing. I think that there are parts to Griffey's swing that are also in my mind's eye as a very good looking swing for a lefty. I hope that this clears it us some. Of course, we could just video a couple of pros off of TIVO and show the video then say go swing like them. That would make practice so easy. LOL!

TRhit, you can't be serious.....Sadly, I'm sure you are.....

Oh boy....here we go again...

TR you also write,

“They will progress positively, hopefully, as they go thru college and lower pro levels”

While you say players should “Hope” they progress positively, some of us would suggest players become a little more proactive and actually do a heck of a lot more than hope.

Instead of relying on time passing and hoping, I suggest a player start working on developing the swing that will take him as far as his athletic ability will allow and start right now.

CoachB25, Your initial question is excellent. You needn’t back down an inch.

I like parts of Griffey’s swing especially his quiet setup. I like Barry’s ability to hit inside pitches fair. I also like Barry’s ability to sit back on his backside and not need to take a big stride to balance.

And while TR is handing out ammunition, I'd like to take one more shot,

TR also writes, “Question-- if the kid is a "hitter" at the HS level why do I, as a coach have to teach him to swing like somebody else ?”

How about because the coach cares enough about the kid that he wants to give the player a chance to also be a “Hitter” on the college level.

I’m sure even the densest among us recognize that you can leave a high school kid with strength, bat speed and some batting practice to his own devices and he could probably be considered a “Hitter” in high school but it doesn’t insure that he’ll be a “Hitter” in college.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
...why try and fix it--they will get there in time...

or not.

MLB hitters have differing styles, however, there are things they all do from load to ball contact.......These things should be taught to younger hitters to give them a chance to reach their hitting potential....

To have the attitude that younger hitters, for any reason, don't need to learn these things is, well, a disappointment to see or hear.....I would hope that attitude is not prevalent in very many baseball circles......If we don't help the younger players, well, we're dropping the ball.....Big time.....

I'm not a tech guru. I do the best I can with some stuff that is one step behind the times. I have some video and now some clips of pro hitters. I don't have but soon will have the ability to match them up with pro hitters. I don't think that you teach to look like any one. I do believe that most if not all very successful hitters get to certain parts of a swing at exact times. I'll leave all of you to argue that. When I saw some recent clips of Glauss, I thought, that's the swing I've always had in my head. Teacherman, I saw your comment on Drew. You and I both were able to watch him play for a long time here. It also has a "model swing" without much wasted energy. That swing is why his stock was so high at such an early age. I like Griffey because he is so fluid. He never ever looks like he is working at it. I don't like Bond's swing because I don't like the dip in the hands. I know all of the arguments but for the "typical high school hitter," I can't get them compact enough as it is then to add that, well... I do think that it benefits a hitter to see their swing along side professionals. I don't then go and say, "now lets have you be them." I believe that you can coach mechanics and help with timing issues etc. However, I don't think you can make an non-athlete athletic over night. Thus you work with their strengths and make them better. JMHO!

CADad

quote:

Drew has a good swing for the power hitter model.

Does this mean that you would use different models (power vs. puncher), based on what type of hitter they are currently? I would be inclined to teach the Drew swing to all of my batters. Maybe we are talking about different aged kids, but it seems to me that his swing model could be used by any batter... Is my thinking flawed??

Is it just me or do others expect a little different swing from LH hitters. I watched our LH 9th grade 1B hit a 330 foot HR today in his first Varsity HS game. Weight 148

He swings like J D Drew. He was born doing it. His dad and uncle and grand father could play.

So B25, I like to just run across guys that already hit like MLB players ....thats sweet