Hitting Questions?

[tom.guerry]

Thanks Mike !

I do think Lotief is the most knowlegeable swing/overhand throw coach I have come across in fastpitch.

Candrea and Enquist are very good.

The key in my opinion is to be able to teach the throw and swing together as they all point out with the similarity of the motion/rhythm,etc.

Along these lines the Nyman throw model is good, especially as supplemented with Hodge's arm action detail (BIOMECHANICBASEBALL, explaining how back arm and front leg synch to control timing of coil) and Wolforth's emphasis on lead arm and double bow-arch-bow of spine and scap unloading.

Unfortunately Nyman could not figure out the MLB swing pattern that resembles overhand throw, so he ended up confusing it with the PCR swing, similar to what Candrea nd Enquist call the "gate swing".

This is good stuff by C&E fron Slaught/rightview:

http://www.georgiascout.net/REFERENCE LIBRARY.htm

There is a HUGE opportunity in fastpitch in improving the defensive game with better throwing and by teaching throwing and swinging together.

Maybe this is something Candrea will focus on in his new capacity.

 

[Slapper23]

Tom, what is interesting is to see what you have talked about for years, - that is, teaching overhand throwing and hitting together, due to the similarity in sequences and synching of movements - is exactly what Candrea/Slaught/Enquist are talking about. Geez, how did you know that, Tom? I mean, with no real students and all... (sorry for the smoke screen reference...hard to resist.)

Like I said, keep up the great work. You have definitely helped me and my HS hitters, that's for sure.

Mike

 

[BoardMember]

As a HS softball coach I am teaching the ML swing to my players.

Clips Please.........

 

[tom.guerry]

content please.

 

[BoardMember]

content please.

Do you really want links to ALL of my posts????

BTW, I've been meaning to ask you how "early handle torque" equates to throwing........

 

[Mark H]

On here and baseball fever no one has offered more content, more specific help than Boardmember. His posts come from the point of view of someone who actually teaches and produces great hitters. You may have missed many of them on baseball fever Tom since you were banned there but he has been very helpful to many.

 

[Slapper23]

Hi John, good to hear from you again. I see you still have your good sense of humor.

I will agree that Boardmember has offered a lot of helpful hitting advice to people. I don't always agree with everything he posts, even though as you say Mark, he works with hitters. That in itself means nothing, IMO. Is the information good? Does it help your hitters succeed? Is it what the best ML hitters do?

I know some people who work with hitters, and the kids and their parents are happy with it. But I do not agree at all with what is being taught. Oftentimes what they are teaching are not high level swings. Does it produce more contact than they had before? Maybe so. And with the hot bats now in use they may get some "pop" from these great mechanics being taught. Of course, when higher level pitching comes along, these same hitters wilt.

Tom has produced more content and help on the net the past 10 years than anyone I know. But it differs from PCR-based instruction - by quite a lot. So the abuse comes his way. Really ridiculous, IMO. I think Tom is the most knowledgebale hitting guy I have come across on the net over these past 10 years. I know he is well thought of by a high level D1 fastpitch coach, who I personally know. There is good reason for that.

John, hope things are going well for you,
Mike

 

[CoachB25]

I've never been categorized as one who post "content." I understand that. I do work with hitters and Mike, I think that is central to the issue. You've been to college courses yourself where you've walked out and noted that the instructor is so far removed from reality that they'd never last in a classroom. (An assumption on my part of course.)

Here is one more attempt at some "content" that I've posted several times but which is repeatly ignored. Probably due to my name being on most poster's "ignore list."

.... there is no such thing as "trying" PCR.

... there is no such thing as a "PCR Swing," BY DEFINITION ,that can be anything other than what is observed in a MLB Swing.



Any description of what constitutes a high level swing in any philosophy is broken down, perhaps in a "nontraditional way" and then suggestions are made by by those that subscribe to the believe that all MLB Swings contain the elements of POSTURE, CONNECTION AND ROTATION.

If I posted my child's swing, regardless of how good or bad it is, she would be judged by those elements and then a plan would be devised to have her do her best to try to build the elements of proper POSTURE, CONNECTION AND ROTATION into her swing. (I believe to argue with this position for any anti-PCR advocates is to also argue that those elements ARE NOT CONTAINED IN THE MLB SWING!)

I'm not 100% certain anyone would look at my child and even like her swing. Still, we're doing our best to do the drills etc. to build those elements. Is there any difference between what we are doing and anyone else?

Nymann stated that 99% of those that think that they understand the underlying tenants of PCR don't. Would any of you suggest that a person that has an Epstein video coaches EXACTLY what Epstein teaches and so every one of their swings is exactly his philosophy. That's ridiculous and you know it. Again, if anyone wanted to understand this concept or any concept totally either by methodology or instruction one can not get that through internet relationships and be 100% certain that they "understand."

I understand that this post or more importantly THE POINT will be ignored again. Why change. Heck with the truth! BTW, I've read books, the internet resource and have my opinions on how to use advanced software for the creation of plans for our farm barn and house. I don't need any hands on experience first. I intend to build it.

 

[Slapper23]

Darrell,

You're a good guy and I know you are frustrated by the back and forth. I am, too. I respect your opinion, but I have a different opinion.

In regard to "there is no such thing as "trying" PCR, I get what you are saying. There is Posture, Connection, and Rotation in every high level swing. But anyone who has been paying attention to hitting instruction on the net knows the "PCR" tag is associated with Setpro/Nyman/Englishbey philosophy/instruction. So when I talk about "PCR-based" instruction, everyone who has been at this hitting stuff knows what I am talking about.

And I am well aware of Nyman opinion that "99% of those that think they know the underlying tenants of PCR don't." That is a most wonderful smoke screen and gimmick, IMO. So for anyone who disagrees with Nyman, he simply says "you don't get it." How nice. Englishbey does the same thing - if you disagree, you don't get it, you don't understand. Again, how convenient. Well, I think I do get it. I studied the teaching of both guys extensively, and I disagreed - so of course, I don't or didn't get it. I was friends with Englishbey, but I did not agree with his program.

There are other people who "don't get it", who even had Englishbey in for instruction. HiddenGem is the most famous of those.

So, not to argue with you Darrell, because that is not my intent. Just trying to clear up some misconceptions for others.

Mike

 

[CoachB25]

Mike,

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Perhaps my experience is different than others. I don't know. As I say in my class, "I know what I know but I know what I know. Some people know what they know but they don't know what they know. You know?" I talk to SE about once a week. Even the phrase PCR is seldom, if ever used. Instead, it almost always goes to a reference to a drill in his video section that might help with this or that. In my dealings with Steve, he's never approached our discussions as a "technique" that is steadfast other than how one looks at and interprets how Posture, Connection or Rotation can be improved. That's what I like so much about it. I'd venture to say that a person could take Epstein's philosophy as a "base" and then reference SE's stuff that would assist in improvement BASED upon what one sees in video of the best. Again, Mike, this is my experience. All the points I tried to make are what I believe and so, wasn't an attempt at any snow job ...

Take care,

Darrell