Keep your eyes on the ball?

[SBFAMILY]

FFS, Dr. Bill Harrison of Slow the Game Down.com suggested putting the white rag inside the tee so the hitter could practice keeping the head down during contact after they had tracked the ball. He suggested this during one of his vision training seminars, which I am sure you have attended.

He has worked with several MLB teams and players on vision training.

When you reach her status as a hitter or an instructor you may one day understand her. Her head was down during contact in that video and the ball went 305 feet on a baited inside pitch against Team Australia in the Gold Medal game.

Then she did her look up, homerun swagger, as she knew it was gone and admired her work. Based on your statement you encourage your hitters to admire their work. What about getting out of the box as quickly as you can verses looking for where the ball was hit. Most coaches at first base are telling their players to run through or take a turn or advance or maybe we do not need them either.

Have you tried the Nike Strobe glasses or have you used the 150 MPH tennis ball machine?

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Eyes follow the ball ....

 

[PEPPERS]

Tracking the ball to contact is one thing, having players keep their head down after contact is another thing.

Where did I say head down after contact??????????????

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

What about getting out of the box as quickly as you can verses looking for where the ball was hit. Most coaches at first base are telling their players to run through or take a turn or advance or maybe we do not need them either.

Feedback to a hitter to become a runner, prior to finishing the task at hand (hitting), can build an ugly swing over time. What happens is young hitters hear the feedback to ***RUN!*** ... and over time they begin to sense contact with the ball and begin running as contact is felt ... leading to a swing that was curbed prematurely and not completed.

You see this happen at young ages ... where putting the ball in play, and hoping to outrun an errant throw or errant fielding job, can be effective.

The practice can lead to bad habits that won't scale.

I want my hitters to complete job 1 (hitting), before working on job 2 (running). I want my hitters to hear the base coach screaming to ***RUN!***, as it is an indication that they've done the job correctly ... they first completed job 1.

This, IMO, is important in building chauffeurs (i.e., drivers) of the ball.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Where did I say head down after contact??????????????

You recommended seeing a tape placed on a tee after contact. When I see people teach "keep the head down", that is what I see them teaching.

 

[SBFAMILY]

FFS, have you ever used the Nike Strobe glasses?

Have you ever used the 150 MPH tennis ball machine? They also provided vision training to do this.

Have you ever attended a vision training seminar by Dr. Bill Harrison?

Have you ever videotaped how long hitters admire their hit and do not get out of the box?

Do you think most hitters are being taught just to hit the ball without powering through the ball by most people that teach hitting?

The head coming up after contact is not the issue, what did you do up to contact I think was the focus. Where you able to track the ball just by not moving the head at all or just moving the eyes?

Are you stronger with the head down during contact and how would you be able to prove it to a student you are working with?

Would you say seeing the ball on a golf tee is just a little different than tracking a ball that may be coming from the sun light to a shaded area the hitter is in? Do you think a hitter hearing the crowd cheer or boo is different than, let’s say Tiger Woods, scolding the photographer for clicking a camera while he is teeing off as to focus is harder since the ball is not on a tee?

These are just questions not trying to be a smart A!!!!. There are many things involved with hitting , besides swinging the bat that many hitting instructors overlook. Grip is one that you and I agree on.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

SBF, some of your posts suggest you make guesses on the fly.

For example, you post this …..

FFS, Dr. Bill Harrison of Slow the Game Down.com suggested putting the white rag inside the tee so the hitter could practice keeping the head down during contact after they had tracked the ball. He suggested this during one of his vision training seminars, which I am sure you have attended.

And then you post this …

Have you ever attended a vision training seminar by Dr. Bill Harrison?

Gives me the impression that are guessing as you go along.

As for the “stronger positions” viewpoint, we’ve seen that argument fail before. That was the argument for a pure vertical rear forearm … yet it isn’t what we see in game videos of the best hitters. Good theory ... just not what is done. It was more a case of guessing and not seeking confirmation via the Hanson Principle.

Now you wish to talk about camera clicks and crowd noise. Just seems to be a bit all over the map.

It’s really simple. No need to confuse the topic.

Hitters should attempt to be tracking the ball as early as the pitcher’s release … no later.

Hitters should attempt to track the ball as deep into the hitting zone as possible.

Hitters should not attempt to keep their head down.

You can attempt to confuse the topic with discussions of crowd noise, etc., ... but that's why these threads tend to get so diluted.

 

[SBFAMILY]

Interesting that you never answer a ? and deflect it. You always bring up golf on other sites. I know you are active in politics so I guess you enjoy the back and forth with no direct answers! I'm in Portland again next year, so Perhaps I should just stop watch and learn. I admit I'm not an expert, so I attend as many training sessons Like Dr Harrisons to learn what others have for ideas.

 

[CycloneSoftball22]

FFS, have you ever used the Nike Strobe glasses?

I would be curious to know if anyone on here has used these for training. How did they work? Are they worth the $$$ ?

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Interesting that you never answer a ? and deflect it. You always bring up golf on other sites. I know you are active in politics so I guess you enjoy the back and forth with no direct answers! I'm in Portland again next year, so Perhaps I should just stop watch and learn. I admit I'm not an expert, so I attend as many training sessons Like Dr Harrisons to learn what others have for ideas.

Now you know that I'm involved in politics? If you are trying to make me laugh then you're doing a fine job.

Please do stop by when you are in the Portland area. Give me a shout ahead of time and I'll do my best to put some time aside. Looking forward to meeting you.