Difference between baseball and softball swing mechanics...

[Tewks]

I've explained it on here before and it's been explained to you by others on other hitting forums. It's clear you don't see the difference in what Bush does and what MLB hitters like Pujols do. As I've said before, Bush has a very good amateur swing. If a fastpitch hitter is athletic enough they can have success using amateur mechanics because of the minus 8 high tech carbon bats. Some of us are after more and are trying to teach our daughters the MLB high level swing. Afterall, many in the fastpitch community now claim the fastpitch swing should be the same as the MLB swing.

The fact is that Bush pushes her hands towards the pitcher when she lowers her back elbow. IMO Bush would be a better hitter if she got rid of her push and instead turned her hands over and whipped like this hitter does at about the 2:13 mark
YouTube - Bustos the Great

This hitter has a hand pivot point and turns into the ball, while Bush has no hand pivot point and pushes towards the ball.

The music in this video is killing me. =)

Seriously though, she can swing it. And she is big and strong. The swing at 0:48 is my favorite - and if Chris' boy did that he could be in the bigs, cause he sure is big and strong. (No last name, no game/stat info to look at to paint more of the picture about what kind of hitter/player he is. Is he in High A, AA, AAA? Is he going to big league camp? What organization?)

Something I notice is Busto comes around after the swing - her rear foot comes around. What are thoughts on the cause of this??

 

[Hitter]

I've explained it on here before and it's been explained to you by others on other hitting forums. It's clear you don't see the difference in what Bush does and what MLB hitters like Pujols do. As I've said before, Bush has a very good amateur swing. If a fastpitch hitter is athletic enough they can have success using amateur mechanics because of the minus 8 high tech carbon bats. Some of us are after more and are trying to teach our daughters the MLB high level swing. Afterall, many in the fastpitch community now claim the fastpitch swing should be the same as the MLB swing.

The fact is that Bush pushes her hands towards the pitcher when she lowers her back elbow. IMO Bush would be a better hitter if she got rid of her push and instead turned her hands over and whipped like this hitter does at about the 2:13 mark
YouTube - Bustos the Great

This hitter has a hand pivot point and turns into the ball, while Bush has no hand pivot point and pushes towards the ball.

Wellphyt

I would always rather have Bustos as a model hitter verses any MLB player as I work with girls and would rather use them as examples in lieu of making exceptions to upper body strength, balance, ham string differences, hip width, Q angle, lack of flex in the knees and grip because the girls knees do not fire like ours, width of hands from the shoulder MUST be different because of breast size or thickness in upper body and elbow must clear the hip. What many miss is her baiting of the pitchers to throw the pitch she can hit. Look at her movement in the box with her feet to reposition herself in order to hit the ball. Harding from Australia was the victim in the 2004 Gold Medal game on an outside pitch that went only 235 feet and then again on an inside pitch that went 308.5 feet. A normal hitter would never have swung at those pitches however that was the plan. I asked Harding myself in 2006 in OKC what was she laughing about after giving up the second home run? Her response and I must clean it up some, where do you throw the frigging ball the she can not hit it and my catcher can catch it? You do not teach that unless you have the mechanics of a good swing and then it can be taught. Yes there are traits in the MLB pattern that are similar and there are styles being taught by others that you could argue all day as to the merits of each facet of good, better or best. I stopped buying Ford Products in 1999 when after three transmissions and speed sensors they refused to acknowledge we had a lemon and I wanted to turn in the lease and get another Ford Product. I switched to GM and never looked back and have been satisfied.

Pick what in a swing you consider important (Ford or Chevy) and measure your students results and then determine by the data of which I consider each kid is data if and if you do not like the results try something else. I have been very happy working with Crystl and feel she has a very easy way of teaching hitting and we have a system that we think works. We have 70 girls in college, one who made it to the NPF and got pregnant within 30 days of reporting to camp and four boys who made it to the Frontier League and one with a minor league contract with the White Soxs...so I consider what we are doing as the data supports the process in my opinion.

I often wonder why many on the boards that expound their knowledge, techniques, drills do not come at least one time to a clinic and see what it is we are talking about and then ask her why she does this or that at a coaches clinic or you can arrange to take lessons at $90 dollars an hour. Interesting when you ask a father, if you could take a lesson from AP, A Rod, Barry Bonds, for $90 an hour and pick their brain and ask any question you wanted, why they would not do it? Then I ask why would you not do that, with the what I believe to be the greatest female hitter in the world? I think it is because she is a woman and the ego in men are huge. We learn from them as mothers, teachers in school, allow them to baby sit your precious daughters which most deem their gift from GOD and then when it comes to hitting only TSW knew how and only a man can teach you how to hit. When did women on a softball site, NOT a Baseball site become second class citizens or players? Why would we say the female swing is amateur mechanics at best and she would not make it in the majors or could not hit a 12 to 6 curve ball? Their next level after high school is college and then maybe the NPF if they are still in existence. While we are all arguing the elite MLB Pattern what are WE doing to help the kids and I repeat kids, not grown ups enjoy the sport of softball and have yes and have FUN doing it!

In the long run you choose what is best for your daughter or team you coach and you either get the results by what you choose or you go back to the drawing board and sketch out a new play or game plan. Male ego's are a funny thing and personally the girls are easier to work with than the boys...be honest and look at some of the postings! WOW! Now where are the girls, parents or coaches being served on this board to gain knowledge? They are like turtles and pull their heads back in until the danger is gone so they can ask a question without being made to look like a complete fool!

Yeah! I think what Crystl teaches is pretty simple and easy to teach as we are not doing brain surgery and we are not making 16 to 20 million a year playing or teaching the game. Most kids are doing it to just have fun and Lord we know how to take the fun right out of it! Just my opinion!

Thanks Howard

 

[SBFAMILY]

That is her intent . Many of Howards drills he used in China and has some funny stories on why he had to come up with new ways of teaching. She has what she calls the Elvis Move. Howard can explain, or better yet, come and talk to her and see how she trains young kids how to hit. It sure seems to work. .

 

[Chris O'Leary]

(No last name, no game/stat info to look at to paint more of the picture about what kind of hitter/player he is. Is he in High A, AA, AAA? Is he going to big league camp? What organization?)

He's a NRI and is in big league ST right now.

I have learned to not give out people's names or organizations because people tend to assume that I am lying and try to pester the crap out of my clients.

They also try to ruin my relationship with them by telling them that I have said things that I haven't (like that I take total credit for their swings, which is of course ridiculous).

Sorry, but I know your type.

 

[Tewks]

He's a NRI and is in big league ST right now.

I have learned to not give out people's names or organizations because people tend to assume that I am lying and try to pester the crap out of my clients.

They also try to ruin my relationship with them by telling them that I have said things that I haven't (like that I take total credit for their swings, which is of course ridiculous).

Sorry, but I know your type.

I'm just interested in his stats. Of course that would give me the power of deduction. Want to draw up a legal document with financial ramifications if I leak the name?

 

[Chris O'Leary]

I'm just interested in his stats. Of course that would give me the power of deduction. Want to draw up a legal document with financial ramifications if I leak the name?

Andres Torres of the Giants is the one major league level guy who I have worked with whose name I have released (to my regret).

Check out his stats.

Last year he picked up 50 points of BA and 300+ points of OPS.

What I helped him understand was the difference between what he was doing and what Pujols, Manny, and others do.

His biggest problem was a major problem with disconnection (as is typical at that level).

 

[Tewks]

Hitter -
Hitting the ball hard is fun. A good hitting working, getting in the zone, getting locked in, is fun. Swinging and swinging and swinging and not feeling good is not fun. Making outs is not fun.

Mechanics are mechanics. Bustos does something different than the other SB players. Do you have a link to her clinic schedule? Any clue how I could get her into my facility for a clinic?

 

[Hitter]

I sent you her business mangers contact information.

Thanks Howard

 

[softballphreak]

He's a NRI and is in big league ST right now.

I have learned to not give out people's names or organizations because people tend to assume that I am lying and try to pester the crap out of my clients.

They also try to ruin my relationship with them by telling them that I have said things that I haven't (like that I take total credit for their swings, which is of course ridiculous).

Sorry, but I know your type.

You are right on with the comment about what people will do to your clients. I, among others, worked with this kid for years. The first time I saw her after she started playing D-1 ball she came up to me and said, "No, you didn't teach me everything I know." Someone had told her that. Pretty ugly end to what had been a good relationship.

 

[Tewks]

I sent you her business mangers contact information.

Thanks Howard

Thank you Howard!


Chris -
The part that you don't get (don't feel), and go out of your way to discredit on your site, is that Pujols and Manny are doing more than just staying connected.