Comments on: Baseball Hitting: Basic Hitting Mechanics

By: CoachCorral38

CoachCorral38 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

@trvlmgr13 I …
@trvlmgr13 I played in the Toronto Blue Jay org, and now am a college pitching coach at NAIA Vanguard University in Southern Cal. I’ve a high school and travel ball coach for 10 years now, and teaching the game is my passion. I’ve learned and listened and read everything I could. I have fun in what I do and tray to make sure to keep learning. Socrates said, “true knowling is knowing that we know NOTHING.” Take that approach and you’ll find yourself constantly learning something new.

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

I’ve read and …
I’ve read and watched a lot about hitting, have listened to past professional players while attending their camps, etc, and played a lot through high school and college. To this day I haven’[t stopped – I feel it’s my responsiblilty as a father and coach. Three things Ted Williams stated that really put it all in perspective: 1)Hips lead the hands, 2)match the plane of the swing to the plane of the pitch and 3)keep your hands inside the ball

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Torque is created …
Torque is created in the swing when the top half turns back slightly during the “load” – against a mostly stationary lower half. The upon launch, the hips turn before the top half creating the torque, then “pulling” the top half with it. “The big muscles of the lower half, pulling the smaller muscles of the upper half”, if you will.

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Where did you/ do …
Where did you/ do you play ball and learn from? I absolutely agree with your comment about where the elbow begins. the same could be said about the hands and bat. I don’t believe that the torque has anything to do with the where the back elbow is . Watch old videos of reggie jackson who nearly cork-screwed himself into the ground on his swings. His hands start near the bottom of his rib cage and the elbow is lower.

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Coach – Well said. …
Coach – Well said. With that attitude and approach, you would be one of the few I’ve come in contact with that I’d allow my son to be coached by. What irks me is the “this is only way” approach that many, many coaches subscribe to. Modifying your teaching approach to the individual is of utmost importance, and it seems that you are spot-on with it. Your players are lucky. good luck.

By: CoachCorral38

CoachCorral38 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

3. Elbows up, …
3. Elbows up, elbows down. I don’t care where the back elbow starts (personal style), as long as its down when the body begins to rotate into the baseball. The higher the front elbow, the more the bat reaches a “level” plane. Having to START the stance with the elbow up is the myth. However, it has been talked about that it’s required to develop a torque during the load.

By: CoachCorral38

CoachCorral38 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

2. The swing I …
2. The swing I teach is a marriage of rotational and linear approaches. I don’t subscribe to either one entirely, as the baseball swing is constantly fluid and adjusting. Rotational mechanics bring more of the body and power into play, where linear mechanics bring a more balanced and contact approach. Both swings have their merits, and both have their weak points. I feel trying to adapt the strengths of both is my goal when teaching young hitters.

By: CoachCorral38

CoachCorral38 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Hey guys, thanks …
Hey guys, thanks for all the active comment. I’d like to help clarify a few things:
1. The barrel of the bat will most always be BELOW the hands during the swing. With my young hitters, I try to get them to remember to keep their hands above the baseball, helping them to ensure flush, fat contact behind the baseball. In my video, as a result of teaching that the hands will move towards the baseball in a slightly downward plane, I kept the barrel above my hands without noticing it.

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Mo – do yourself a …
Mo – do yourself a favor and watch video (slow motion if possible) and you will absolutely see that the mechanics of the previously mentioned hitters ALL have their front elbows working UP upon launching their swing. You must think along the lines of Charlie Lau, who taught to swing DOWN to the ball. His theory would not be possible if the elbow worked up. Before you make a statement like you last one, please get more information first.

By: trvlmgr13

trvlmgr13 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:46:07 +0000

Moknows44 please …
Moknows44 please expand a little on your answer. I’m interested in hearing what you have to say. As a travel baseball coach, I’m always listening to ideas because we can always learn more. Saying that the elbow coming up is a myth is not correct if we’re talking about rotational hitting and getting the barrel of the bat on plane with the pitch. You CANNOT get the bat on plane early unless this happens.