Right View Pro

[#14's_Dad]

Well this thread took on a life of it's own, some really good discussion but all the technical terms that are thrown around are mind boggling at times. Thanks everyone for the responses, our team just got back from USFA 10u "A" World Series in Florida about 2 weeks ago, the team placed 4th in the tournament and my DD went 6 for 9 during bracket play, she was so excited about her hitting.

We are going to continue working hard on her hitting as she really feels confident at the plate against any pitcher she faces, hopefully something will come out of this.

 

[straightleg]

Skipping the rock!!

I use RVP.
From my understanding Candera uses this term to do different things in your swing, NOT swing like this.

Palm up is one of them.

Not get your back hand ahead in the swing

Not get your back elbow ahead in the swing

Getting your arms away to clear your body

Remember him saying it line up with the stripe of your pants. That promotes line drive.

I think he means a whole lot when he says skip a rock.

This is my second post - please bash me



Straightleg

 

[Mark H]

I think he means a whole lot when he says skip a rock.

This is my second post - please bash me



Straightleg

No bashing. I understand he means particular things when he, or Don Slaught, says skip a rock. That's what Don said in Spring the day Steve and I, mostly Steve, argued the point with him. Thing is, what does the term mean to most people who don't have MC or Don Slaught standing in front of them. Throwing is forming a loop with the arm, elbow leading, to deliver energy to an object such as a rock or softball. Skipping a rock is side arm throwing with the fore arm laid over away from the body. Now if you tilt over to skip a rock, that changes the relationship of the forearm to the body for the better but the elbow still leads in a good throwing motion. I guess it was the best cue Don could come up with but I think he should have spent a lot more time looking for a better one with less chance of counter productive interpretations.

 

[straightleg]

Mark . H

When you watch the entire cd, you figure out what he means by skipping a rock. He has a series of drills, and different ways of explaining things that all add up when you put it all together.


I am not saying you did not watch the cd .

What i am saying, if you have not watched it all ,you might come up with a different thought , on what point he was trying to get across.





Straightleg

 

[Mark H]

I'm not talking about his intended meaning. I'm saying this is a cue begging to be misinterpreted since, as I said, skipping a rock is throwing and throwing is forming a loop with the arm which is bat drag.

 

[Darrick Brown]

I saw Slaught at the Gillis Academy. I was impressed with the software and many of his ideas. I am shocked to hear in the above post regarding Slaught sweating in front of all of these coaches. I thought he spoke very well and he also had very good examples. It was good to hear that the swings are the same. I have coached baseball and softball and teach the swing the same. I am big on top hand importance and extension and so was he. It was great to hear another hitting coach bash the squash the bug theory. As they said in Happy Gilmore - it's all in the hips. The hips take the foot to position. Anyways, I enjoyed Slaught. My biggest complaint would be the price of the software.

 

[Mark H]

We all owe him a debt of gratitude for getting Candrea and Enquist on tape saying the fp swing is the MLB swing. Cut through a lot of longstanding myths. It shouldn't have taken that but people will often listen to a revered expert before the evidence of their own eyes.

 

[Slapper23]

but people will often listen to a revered expert before the evidence of their own eyes.

Good point, Mark...and kinda ironic.

Mike

 

[Slapper23]

Speaking of the "dangers" of teaching the rock throwing cue, you most often hear this from from the PCR camp. Any cue can be misinterpreted if understanding is poor, but to say a cue like the rock throwing cue is "fraught with danger" is ridiculous, IMO. Anyone viewing and listening to the RVP hitting CD, as well as Yeager, will know how the cue is to be applied, and more importantly, not applied. And the student will know exactly what the movement is about with an instructor - dad or coach - standing in front of them working on the movement. And a Dad or Coach who took the time to understand what the movement is about.

Personally, I think it is a great cue and is evident in slo-mo of ML hitters. The problem is PCR advocates are so afraid of the Nyman definition of bat drag, they will not even consider it. They place great emphasis on the lead arm/hand/shoulder role in the swing. Slaught/Candrea/Yeager give the top hand/arm action a lot of importance.

Mike

 

[Darrick Brown]

Great point slapper. I think skipping a rock is a great cue as well with a top hand emphasis to avoid bat drag. It is great to see coaches placing such emphasis on top hand finally. I have always taught this. Everybody always talked about the lead hand pull but I kept telling them you should place emphasis on both. It's great feeling seeing a kid hit her first homerun by simply getting her to understand the importance of the hands.