Rotational Hitting

[Pops]

Thanks for your support

I'm going to attend all three sessions and absorb as much of the material as I am able. I went to the pre-camp seminar which was a power point presentation that featured the video swings of various major league hitters and some notable fastpitch players as well. I was particularly impressed with the fact that Mike was coached by Ted Williams when he was with the Washington Senators. I think that gives him an inside edge in regard to teaching hitting. I'm looking forward to next week.

Slapper23 I'll look forward to your assessment of the video after it's posted and I'll be interested in any feedback from everyone else as well.

Thanks for your support,

Pops

 

[Hit Dr.24]

Epstein makes up so many false movements your kids swing will be scared for life! Find a coach who can teach the swing in the proper biomechanical sequence instead of a coach who was fired by every organization he's worked for.

 

[barneysdad]

With all the information on the web, who would you suggest is closest to teaching the perfect swing for softball?

Epstein makes up so many false movements your kids swing will be scared for life! Find a coach who can teach the swing in the proper biomechanical sequence instead of a coach who was fired by every organization he's worked for.

 

[Slapper23]

Barney,

I don't think any one person has all the answers on teaching the perfect swing, but I am sure Dr. 24 has THE ONE. As you have seen, people tend to have very strong opinions on their favorite instructor. I believe the answer is to study different instructors and determine if what they are preaching is seen in the MLB swing. What can be seen also takes time to get better at. The more you learn, the more you can see in a swing. It also doesn't hurt to do the drills yourself for a better understanding of what is being taught.

What I like about Epstein are his drills. They are easy to do and get you in the ball park. "Hips lead the way" is an important first concept/movement to learn. Some of Epstein hitters tend to remain too much on their back foot, but knowing that, you can then adjust. He doesn't talk too much (last I heard) about loading. Once you learn about "scap loading" and coiling in the swing and incorporate those into the swing, now you've just made a good step improvement.

What all that being said, Epstein has a lot of good things going for it. IMO, he gets a lot of things right, but like anyone else, not everything right.

Mike

 

[barneysdad]

I too am thinking of Steve E's DVD's. What do you think of them? I have Epstien and I think it has some good areas but am looking for more.

Forgive my ignorance but, what does DD stand for?

Here is a link to free stuff from Mike Candrea and Team USA. His explanation of hitting is pretty good.

I bought Englishbey's DVD and prescribe to his site, too. Although, technical - there are some very good people on there.

If you are ever near Tucson, I would love to help your DD.

 

[Hit Dr.24]

As an excercise physiologist I would like to comment on a couple of suggestions by some. Firstly when you think of our bodys starting any type of motion it begins with our legs and feet basically from the ground up. Any athletic motion begins with our legs. Whether its swinging a bat or being on the defensive line in a football game. We start a motion with our legs. Anyone that suggests hips leading the way it is incorrect. If you take a look at or in fact talk to players like Jessica Mendoza or Lovie Jung from the olympic team I can guarantee they would look at you in disbelief when you say that your hips lead the way or tell them to swing with the hips flying open first. Our body rotates on an axis and there are horizontal and vertical planes on our body. When opening hips up we are actually working against those planes. There must be a linear force to create a rotational force It is important to keep in mind that the legs should always start any motion then the following will take place in our swing or any other athletic motion that we are involved with.The rotational hitting theory is just that,a theory.The marketing of it has made someone who didn't have a job wealthy because people buy into its mumbo jumbo!

 

[barneysdad]

Your comment suggests lineal movement or force first. Would this be the stride and then the rotation around the blocked front end. The front hip would then become the axis point to rotate around.

As an excercise physiologist I would like to comment on a couple of suggestions by some. Firstly when you think of our bodys starting any type of motion it begins with our legs and feet basically from the ground up. Any athletic motion begins with our legs. Whether its swinging a bat or being on the defensive line in a football game. We start a motion with our legs. Anyone that suggests hips leading the way it is incorrect. If you take a look at or in fact talk to players like Jessica Mendoza or Lovie Jung from the olympic team I can guarantee they would look at you in disbelief when you say that your hips lead the way or tell them to swing with the hips flying open first. Our body rotates on an axis and there are horizontal and vertical planes on our body. When opening hips up we are actually working against those planes. There must be a linear force to create a rotational force It is important to keep in mind that the legs should always start any motion then the following will take place in our swing or any other athletic motion that we are involved with.The rotational hitting theory is just that,a theory.The marketing of it has made someone who didn't have a job wealthy because people buy into its mumbo jumbo!

 

[Hit Dr.24]

When Coach Candrea talks about blocking he is refering to a linear movement into the front heel plant.That movement naturally creates a rotational angleing of the hips towards the contact zone,this angle allows the hitter to adjust with lead hand to any pitch in the strike zone.This move also leads the body into it's natural kinetic sequence.The body must then rotate around a straight spine with the shoulders and arms matching the plane of the bat at contact.

 

[Slapper23]

Dr..

Please define this "natural kinetic sequence."

Mike

 

[Hit Dr.24]

An easy way for you to understand is the same sequence as when you walk,right leg pushes off and left arm pulls.We don't try to pop our hips and pull with the same arm when we want to run faster do we?If you work in a natural motion your swing is more efficent therefor less excess movement and more power.