My Two Cents

[lhowser]

"how to's", camera and software recommendations could be posted.

Great idea.

For starters my most important discovery is the Casio EXF100 camera. A regular digital camera that happens to shoot very clear video in super slo motion. 240 frames per second compared to the standard 30 frames per second. It can be found for under $250 and allows you to see slow motion video including blurless bats and arms when pitching. AWESOME!

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I am in. I can record most of those things right onto my MacBook. I also use my digital camera for video and I use the Flip. The Flip's software is nice.

 

[Bishop]

What? The flip has software? Crap now I gotta find the box and see if it's still in there. I've been using a flip and Windows Live Movie Maker for editing.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Bishop, it downloaded the first time you plugged it in. Doesn't the home screen come on?

 

[Ken Krause]

I use the Kodak Playsport, which I actually first read about on this forum. It costs about $149 normally, but right now it's on sale at BestBuy online for $129. The nice thing about it for a coach is that it's also waterproof so you don't have to worry about it if you get caught out in the rain. It shoots 60 fps in HD and excellent quality stills. Search for Kodak Playsport on the forum to see a sample video. You can use it to shoot stills as well.

It also comes with ArcSoft software which makes it really easy to edit. You can turn video into slow motion, trim it and otherwise manipulate it -- even if you're a technology Luddite.

I like the idea of a thread on how to use video. If someone else wants to start it I will contribute on the Playsport.

 

[Bishop]

Bishop, it downloaded the first time you plugged it in. Doesn't the home screen come on?

I don't remember it popping up, but then any screen that pops up like that gets closed on the assumption it's instructions. Everyone knows thats just some other guys opinon. No need for that. Doh.

 

[Chris O'Leary]

I am not necessarily disagreeing with either of you on this but... I would like to see some emperical data, a study showing that the "baseball upper cut swing" actually produces consistent results - on base hits. From watching hundreds of games a year I don't see it. Generally that swing results in a pop up out to the outfield. Even from the big muscular girls. Much rather see hard hit line drives. Maybe the kids are just not performing the swing correctly as they are being taught.

Given that every pitch, including a riseball, is falling slightly to significantly through the Point Of Contact, the way to hit line drives is with a slight uppercut (which is the baseball uppercut swing).

 

[Wellphyt]

I am not necessarily disagreeing with either of you on this but... I would like to see some emperical data, a study showing that the "baseball upper cut swing" actually produces consistent results - on base hits. From watching hundreds of games a year I don't see it. Generally that swing results in a pop up out to the outfield. Even from the big muscular girls. Much rather see hard hit line drives. Maybe the kids are just not performing the swing correctly as they are being taught.

The biggest cause of pop ups that I see in FP is the downward swing. Jake Epstein does an excellent tutorial on why this is the case. It's very difficult to square up a ball that is dropping when you swing down. I absolutely agree that a true upper cut swing is bad and will result in easy fly balls. I see this a lot with girls who have a golf type swing where they hit off of their front foot.

The baseball swing is really not an upper cut at all. It's a shallow "U". Some compare the barrel path to the "Nike Swoosh". The goal when performed correctly is to swing level to the ball. IOW, match the swing plane with the plane of the pitch. Done correctly the result should be mostly line drives. If the batter is early they will typically top the ball and hit a hard grounder with top spin. If they are a little late they will typically undercut the ball and hit a fly ball with back spin. Perfectly timed pitches are typically line drives.

 

[Chris O'Leary]

The baseball swing is really not an upper cut at all. It's a shallow "U". Some compare the barrel path to the "Nike Swoosh". The goal when performed correctly is to swing level to the ball. IOW, match the swing plane with the plane of the pitch. Done correctly the result should be mostly line drives. If the batter is early they will typically top the ball and hit a hard grounder with top spin. If they are a little late they will typically undercut the ball and hit a fly ball with back spin. Perfectly timed pitches are typically line drives.

This is an uppercut.

I don't know why people have such a problem with the idea that a good swing is an uppercut.

For pitches up in the strike zone, it's a shallow uppercut. For pitches down in the strike zone, or breaking balls, it's a significant uppercut.

 

[lhowser]

It is an uppercut. Nearly every really hard hit ball on the Model Swings link is at least a slight uppercut.

I don't know why people have such a problem with the idea that a good swing is an uppercut.

Because most seem too associate a beginners swing where they drop their hands to ball level, cast, and try to swing up as a typical uppercut. Of course that has noting in common with a good swing.
I just watched a two part training video by one of the top coaches in college softball teach hitting drills. here is what I observed...

He instructed his college player through example to swing down on the ball ("short to and long through") at a very steep direct line angle from about the ear hole stright to a belt high ball on a tee. She repeated this action in 1/2 speed to point of contact with a dry cut. She then was instructed to take a real cut. On this swing she proceeded to take the front elbow forward and slightly up. Sloted the back elbow. Dropped the barrel on plane while keeping the hands above the ball and above the barrel. Ripped a line drive with a slight uppercut. Coach said - "Nice rip". It was...it just had nothing in common with the chopping dry 1/2 speed demo cut.