Rose olored Glasses and The Elephant in the Room

[Howe]

IMHO, there is no "Maybe", it should be "Definitely". And on top of that, it is many more than just "both".
To your other point, I believe Rich would call it learning to swing by committee.

For me, the hand pivot point, the rear hip pivot point, and the syncing of the two with a corner, are the absolutes that I want my grands to master. Richards explanations of how to do that is very detailed. But if I come across other sources that explain those ideas in terms that make it even easier to execute, then I'm using those explanations also.

As far as who uses the aliases Grandpa, and Project, I don't have a clue.

I can tell you that I use fairweatherfan at BBD though.

Except for the few posts at HI, I'm more of a lurker here, and at BBD.

9yo before (Still Epstein):


10yo PTAF's drill:


The PTAF's drill really burned him up. LOL

First dry swing after learning the PTAF's drill (still 10yo):


I should have left then, but I wouldn't listen...

 

[Howe]

Let's take a look:

All three swings were started IDENTICALLY.....then adjusted.

Just like Cabrera.....

 

[Eric F]

If we understand what the HLBB swing pattern is, and can teach it to our DD's sooner in their softball journey, wouldn't they be better off no matter how long or short their journey is? It seems to me that using the justification that college is as far as they can go, so they don't need a HLBB swing, is short-changing their potential in the limited time they have. I'm more inclined to help my DD get the best skills she can get to get the most success out of her game. My DD is still very young, and her swing today is better than a large majority of the girls of her age in her league, but she wants more, so I'm going to help her get more. The better we can make her swing and hitting skill at this age is only going to help her for the rest of her time playing the game - whether it's two or ten more years. Giving my DD an advantage at the plate with great swing mechanics isn't ever going to hurt her game. (IMO, YMMV)

 

[Howe]

He's so brilliant that he made my point completely. He showed what happened to the young hitters swing, when he continued to pile on the non-sense.

This was the first thing worked on when the light finally went on again:


Hey! did you know? Rich says a college coach flew him in one weekend. That was last year, Pronk and Steven met him there. Was he flown in again this year? I know Pronk and Steven didn't go, they were busy working with me!!!! LOL

 

[Howe]

Scap circling? The pinch? LOL

Did you see what he looked like when he was 9yo, before we jumped in?



You all getting the point? My fault, I feel for it. So why am I here???

 

[Cannonball]

Howe you have to be credited for posting video of your child. You've always done so in your journey.

 

[Howe]

Howe you have to be credited for posting video of your child. You've always done so in your journey.

Thanks Coach. I followed the rules like I was supposed to. Though I don't blame folks for not posting, if you know what I mean.

Those vid's are held onto like an insurance policy. While your there, you get praise for trying things and making vid's, but when you leave or if you disagree.... Do you know what I'm talking about?

Anyway, I always disagreed that the swing on the right is high level. Notice how the swingers rear elbow on the right is lowering, while the hitters on the left is still going up. Would this be considered bleed? OH MY!

 

[Cannonball]

Howe, when I posted that we differ on some ideas, I'm not so sure that they are major. I know you have a problem with my ideas on connection. However, in my "connection," it is a dynamic relationship and the hands are doing something. Other than the tip and rip, I've never really coached hands and I've often mentioned that. Still, I was looking at some video of my daughter the other night from age 16 and though I've never coached it, much of what you are pointing out with the Miggy clips, she is attempting. She is was not as efficient and that is demonstrated. Still, that knob relationship that Donny talked about, imo, could be seen. Again, not as efficient. I have already discussed this but I've talked a lot about "controlling the middle." What does that mean? Well, different for each hitter. Some young one I coach have hip slide, spinning, ... The ruler model often shown on this and other sites is the ultimate goal and so I have to use various cues to try to get that result. I do agree with a lot of statements here about hitting being coached out of some hitters. I recall my first camp where I didn't think that I had to coach the back elbow. IMO then, I thought that I would "coach out" some natural reactions. With that tenant, I soon realized that bad bat drag and leading elbow was prominent with a lot of the youth. Still, with the better hitters, they could figure out what to do. I know I'm rambling. I often think that one of the best things to do with hitters is to give them a bucket of balls and let them toss the ball up while filming it. Hitters figure out a lot doing this. Ok, I've rambled enough.

 

[Perfect Circle]

pstein, how do you know about any swings. Seeing them on TV and with the coverage softball gets even a high levels does not include enough opportunities to know what is out there. You admit that you have not attended games as well. Please, take some time to go and watch some of these teams in person. You'll have a great time and see the level you are critical of.

You point out that the MLB high level swing is not out of normal comprehension and yet, you also say that up to 85% of MLB Players don't have that swing. Interesting take on that when the best can't do it with the exception of 15%. Again, 85% of the players in MLB can't do it and yet you/others can.

Here is how I do it.... Lotz of the best in the world on here... !!!

 

[Howe]

You're right coach. There should be "more of doing less" and there should be "less of doing more". The 9yo or even 10yo swing should have been it. From there, we should have just hit, hit, hit.