Teaching the high level pattern

[erniekru]

I have spent the last 4 years watching and listening to Mike teach, and we have shared a lot of discussion about the swing during that time. IMO, it is accurate to say that this is "HLP by Mike", and is not a direct duplication of all of Rich's teachings.

For my DD, learning how to TTB around a HPP added a quickness to her swing that was not present before. While she significantly improved in her ability to respond to high-velocity pitching, it took her a little while to learn how to control her timing when facing not-so-fast pitching. Once she got that sorted out, things really started falling into place.

While my DD may not be a poster-child for Rich's HLP, she's an example of HLP concepts being implemented and adapted in a way that is unique to her. Likewise with Haley. Both Maddie and Haley have been under Mike's direction for the same mount of time (although Haley has had many more sessions with Mike), during the same time period of their lives, yet their swings look fairly different.

People are lumping "HLP by Mike" and "Rich TTB" because he posts videos of perpendicular forearm bat snaps while the bat or other snapping equipment is above the shoulders and next to the ear. He also shows videos of his batter performing these drills in the presence of Rich. It's is not a stretch to lump them together when Mike himself has lumped himself with Rich.

The argument posed by W=W and others is not that the bat isn't perp with the forearm, its not that the bat rotates around the forearm, it is ***THE BAT DOES NOT ROTATE AROUND THE FOREARM BEHIND THE HEAD*** This position of the rotation is clearly being advocated by rich and mike in his drills video that they both have posted (they wouldn't post those drill videos if they didn't believe that is what is happening).

I think if you were to look at the bonds swing and the dicarlo swing posted very recently in the thread, they clearly show the rotation happening below the chin after the initial sequence of the swing (at least it is clear to my eyes)

@Shawn and to label the above argument as a push swing if the rotation happens below the chin shows that you are *seemingly* agreeing with rotation has to happen first and in the position behind the head. I have not seen a live swing where the rotation happens first and in the position of behind the head near the ear.

 

[clemenslee1]

It's an attempt to identify, distill, and communicate the components that are common in the swings of elite hitters.

This I agree with.

 

[_MIA_]

There are like 10 200 page threads where all of this has been discussed ad naseum. Let's just let Mike present his stuff.

I would suggest anybody new to the subject search TTB on here if they are interested in what people's opinions are..(as they should be..)

 

[Borrowingminds]

People are lumping "HLP by Mike" and "Rich TTB" because he posts videos of perpendicular forearm bat snaps while the bat or other snapping equipment is above the shoulders and next to the ear. He also shows videos of his batter performing these drills in the presence of Rich. It's is not a stretch to lump them together when Mike himself has lumped himself with Rich.

The argument posed by W=W and others is not that the bat isn't perp with the forearm, its not that the bat rotates around the forearm, it is ***THE BAT DOES NOT ROTATE AROUND THE FOREARM BEHIND THE HEAD*** This position of the rotation is clearly being advocated by rich and mike in his drills video that they both have posted (they wouldn't post those drill videos if they didn't believe that is what is happening).

I think if you were to look at the bonds swing and the dicarlo swing posted very recently in the thread, they clearly show the rotation happening below the chin after the initial sequence of the swing (at least it is clear to my eyes)

@Shawn and to label the above argument as a push swing if the rotation happens below the chin shows that you are *seemingly* agreeing with rotation has to happen first and in the position behind the head. I have not seen a live swing where the rotation happens first and in the position of behind the head near the ear.

This is the kind of post I have been hoping for! I love when exact distinctions are made, as when you said "rotated [perp] behind the head."

I think this is part of the confusion, just as when we see Miggy above pulling down and across, that has a push look to it, the Bonds drill motion. There is a suddenness that is happening, and with other components/gears that I'm sure Mike will be touching on, those instaneaous feels combine into a powerful short to swing, with a perp HPP happening from the 'corner' to contact...with adjustments that can be made.

In regards to the HPP, I think most have an innate feel to use their arms to drag and push through the ball more then understanding how to TTB thus that itemized focus and distinction is needed.

 

[Work=wins]

@Borrowingminds

The problem lies within what powers the barrel. The hands? Or the core? If the core isn’t used, stretched out into foot down, one must compensate eg drag or push. Orrr use the hands and cast errr TTB. So with that being said, and seeing that the pro examples don’t match the TTB model; they prolly use the core stretch to power the swing, right? Process of elimination? It matches video right?

 

[clemenslee1]

@Borrowingminds

The problem lies within what powers the barrel. The hands? Or the core? If the core isn’t used, stretched out into foot down, one must compensate eg drag or push. Orrr use the hands and cast errr TTB. So with that being said, and seeing that the pro examples don’t match the TTB model; they prolly use the core stretch to power the swing, right? Process of elimination? It matches video right?

So, the core isn't used in HLP only the hands?

 

[TDS]

So, the core isn't used in HLP only the hands?

Of course the core is used although not in the same way.. HLP seems to focus on the back to create the bat/speed behind you.

 

[Borrowingminds]

@Borrowingminds

The problem lies within what powers the barrel. The hands? Or the core? If the core isn’t used, stretched out into foot down, one must compensate eg drag or push. Orrr use the hands and cast errr TTB. So with that being said, and seeing that the pro examples don’t match the TTB model; they prolly use the core stretch to power the swing, right? Process of elimination? It matches video right?

So I don't want to tread to deep for the more I seem to think I know, the more I realize I don't lol.

I think Mike will lead into that, but that engine needs something the power, and a turning barrel seems like a good option, otherwise that strong engine below (core, leg, hip etc just to lump it for now for whatever belief system) is gonna drag what's up top when it explodes from it's stretched/loaded position. And just the 'down to' motion isn't enough to get the barrel right, I don't think anyway. And there doesn't seem time to itemize those feels. So it seems logical to get the turn of the hands/forearms correct (which is powerful in their own right).

 

[clemenslee1]

Of course the core is used although not in the same way.. HLP seems to focus on the back to create the bat/speed behind you.

From my point of view the back is used to continue the stretch of the core etc. around and behind a forward turning lower half. So that you don't lose that stretch that you created to soon. I don't know that its really a focus of creating any speed, IMO. The lower half is slow, the upper is fast. Your have to get the lower half going first.

 

[Work=wins]

So, the core isn't used in HLP only the hands?

I would say the back via tilt and the back leg pulling. But mostly the hands though. In reality it’s drag w a cast.