Swing down

[_MIA_]

Every mlb hitter swings under. This should obviously be their goal. How else would you consistently get a launch angle greater than the pitch angle?

Trust the video evidence

They certainly have a goal (swing) in mind which is as you say (up through the ball at contact). What they do in their brain to get them their might be totally different (and for some it is because they have said so)

 

[julray]

Every mlb hitter swings under. This should obviously be their goal. How else would you consistently get a launch angle greater than the pitch angle?

Trust the video evidence

Easy... round bat meets round ball, if it's slighty under center.. ball goes up on a greater angle than barrel path and pitch angle

 

[FP26]

FYI
View attachment 23275

Thank you. That quote, including what you highlighted, does not state that he thinks the pros are trying to do that.

 

[MikeP]

If a player says they are trying to hit the top of the ball I am not going to say they are lying. That said what they might be trying to do and what they do are obviously (from a pure mathematical/physics perspective) different if they are not pounding the ball straight into the ground. No different than Bergman saying he tries to stay square to the plate..obviously at some point his hips open up Different hitters have different queues which (within their own brains) allow them to swing the way they want to which have been developed over many years of learning their bodies/swings and what does and doesn't work...I am not even sure what we are discussing at this point.

If you disregard some of the swing demo's where they appear to be trying to drive the ball into the ground, could hitting the top of the ball simply be a cue they use because of the sheer velocity they face? Most players swing under faster pitching, doesn't get any faster than mlb pitching.

 

[FP26]

Easy... round bat meets round ball, if it's slighty under center.. ball goes up on a greater angle than barrel path and pitch angle

Thanks again. The goal apparently is to hit the top of the ball, but they are actually hitting it "slightly under center". Now we are making progress.

 

[julray]

Thank you. That quote, including what you highlighted, does not state that he thinks the pros are trying to do that.

LOL, Ok FP, he says it optimal bat path, he says it's not a fluke or mishit.

 

[FP26]

If you disregard some of the swing demo's where they appear to be trying to drive the ball into the ground, could hitting the top of the ball simply be a cue they use because of the sheer velocity they face? Most players swing under faster pitching, doesn't get any faster than mlb pitching.

This I agree with... It's a cue. But they don't actually hit the top of the ball on purpose.

 

[julray]

Thanks again. The goal apparently is to hit the top of the ball, but they are actually hitting it "slightly under center". Now we are making progress.

If I'm on plane with the pitch and hit the top of the ball, it's going to be a hard grounder or something with a lot of top spin. Do I believe pros try to stay on top of the ball, yes. Do I believe pros want to hit the top of the ball, grounders and balls with a lot of top spin ... no. Why you consider this is making progress is beyond me, I have always believed this.

 

[FP26]

If I'm on plane with the pitch and hit the top of the ball, it's going to be a hard grounder or something with a lot of top spin. Do I believe pros try to stay on top of the ball, yes. Do I believe pros want to hit the top of the ball, grounders and balls with a lot of top spin ... no. Why you consider this is making progress is beyond me, I have always believed this.

Because Tom disagrees.

the bold above is what I have been saying for months...

 

[TDS]

Every mlb hitter swings under. This should obviously be their goal. How else would you consistently get a launch angle greater than the pitch angle?

Trust the video evidence

Or trust what the players say they are doing (from a fyb leveraged position) and let the the mistakes be homers. None of the guys who preach down to attempt to get under the ball.