Swing experiment

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Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
I know that he is one of the greats, but wouldn't this be more of a case for athletic ability over mechanics? Would anyone on this forum put this swing up as one to emulate?
If they saw that swing without the 44 on the back you would hear comments like, "he might be able to get away with that now but that swing won't play at the higher levels!"
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,591
113
Chehalis, Wa
Fair enough. I see the same barrel depth/whip in both swings but the hand path is different due to pitch location 🤷‍♂️

Are you saying the swing is the same, from toe touch to contact? I agree with that, same swing, just moving out/striding more in one clip and less in the other. I wasn't trying to say his "swing" was different.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Are you saying the swing is the same, for toe touch to contact? I agree with that, same swing, just moving out/striding more in one clip and less in the other. I wasn't trying to say his "swing" was different.
Obviously the views are much different so it is hard to compare exactly, but yes, pretty much.
 
Nov 16, 2017
406
63
I have the swing posted above so I think that came out of my vault. Here is just one example of a much shorter move out and stride. This clip is a little jerky and pans a little,.

giphy.gif


BTW Aaron said in his book to keep the stride short. Like I said earlier the move out, weight shift or/and stride changes the most in everyone's swings. I have enough clips of hitters over their careers that shows this to be true.

Ok, I will be the one who is honest here. Really hate how disconnected he gets. But... this looks like a change up to me(maybe). Something was causing him to adjust big time!!! But that is what makes great hitters great hitters. You can teach perfect mechanics to players, and those players can murder balls off a machine, but when you put in a live pitcher whose main goal is to try to trick you then there is an element of raw God given talent is able to go "out of bounds" from a mechanical sense and still create greatness.

How many backwards, scooped, while being fouled shots did Michael Jordan hit. A bunch. None of those are in a fundamentals basketball book. Great players adjust and can do it in ways regular players can't. This is never an excuse for bad mechanics but...... when great players are seen getting away with what is universally considered bad mechanics then what you are dealing with is a great player. I don't teach my son to drive to the hoop and plow into 2 7 footers hang in the air and throw the ball over his head backwards, and I wouldn't teach the swing above here either.
 
Nov 16, 2017
406
63
So after watching many videos of HA I have come to a conclusion about his swing that is just well... different. He massively roles over after impact. It doesn't affect his approach or contact but his role over afterward makes it look like some weird things are going on. It is like looking at the Trout video where there is basically no extension. It just looks odd but that is because we sometimes put too much emphasis on what happens after impact.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,591
113
Chehalis, Wa
Most recent swing. I was trying to focus on the big muscles doing all the work and trying to relax the upperbody. I was also trying to TTB without muscling up, just let it happen.

I'm not standing up on the front leg, head staying down better. I think I can do better, better posture and swing plane. Maintaining better hip hinge, I forgot to focus on this in the swing. I was pre-occupied with focusing on the big muscles and trying to relax the upperbody.

giphy.gif


The front foot is staying closed better.
 

TDS

Mar 11, 2010
2,926
113
Most recent swing. I was trying to focus on the big muscles doing all the work and trying to relax the upperbody. I was also trying to TTB without muscling up, just let it happen.

I'm not standing up on the front leg, head staying down better. I think I can do better, better posture and swing plane. Maintaining better hip hinge, I forgot to focus on this in the swing. I was pre-occupied with focusing on the big muscles and trying to relax the upperbody.

giphy.gif


The front foot is staying closed better.

Looks good Shawn !!
 

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