Alexander Technique

I’ve read several books on the Technique. One I stopped reading, I’ll finish it later. I’m currently reading a book by Alexander called The use of the self. About half way through it, small book 118 pages. This book should be a must read. I studied the technique many, many years ago and this time I understand it so much better. Can’t wait for my first lesson, in which they say is a must to understand the technique. I’ll get into that after the lesson.

For now here is a quote “If only you stop doing the wrong, the right thing will do itself.”

So the question what is right in the swing?

Shouldn’t the question be what are all the wrong things?

julray said:

Shouldn’t the question be what are all the wrong things?

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I think one correct thing is posture and swing plane.

Shawn said:

I think one correct thing is posture and swing plane.

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I think so too.. swing plane being relative to posture which is relative to pitch location

So the Alexander Technique teaches nothing, or non doing.

An example I can relate to, one, is when I first started playing golf. I went too tee off on the first hole, a long green, trying to hit the ball well and I hit a little dribbler to the right around 30 ft. I retrieved the ball, tee’d it up and exhaled without trying anything. The swing felt like nothing and I wasn’t trying to hit the ball hard or far as in the first swing. The ball traveled as far as humanly possible. It went a very long way right down the middle. The swing was a perfect example of non doing, not “trying” to hit the ball far or well.

I’ve had the same thing happen while hitting a baseball. Trying to hit the ball far and not getting the results, then stopping taking a breath and then just swing. Resulting in my desired outcome. The swing felt like nothing.

I’ll comment more after I finish reading books on the subject and have my lesson on Wednesday.

This has happened more times, just using the ones that stick out.

When I try doing nothing, usually results in nothing being done. Angers DW something fierce

Sounds a lot like, "Don't think, just do"...that we've been telling players for years now.

Just another way to get kids players to stay out of their own heads when attempting to do something. Overthinking something is far worse than not thinking about that something at all.

If you're going to think about anything, think about what you're going to do after being successful at whatever it is you're attempting to accomplish....after you catch the ball, what are you going to do with it...when you hit a ball into the gap, what path down the 1B line are you going to take to round the bag correctly on your way to 2nd, and then maybe even 3rd...depending on the kind of ball hit to you (LD, GB, FB, PU...) and where the runners are now and the number or outs, where will you immediately look to go with the ball as soon as you catch it?

None of the thoughts should ever be on thinking how are you going to catch or hit the ball...too many things that have to be "right" in the process to make it happen....when the only "wrong" you have to "stop doing" (or thinking about), is you missing the ball...either with the glove or the sweet spot of the bat.

Mudders

We can interfere that is for sure!

Mudders Brudder said:

Just another way to get kids players to stay out of their own heads when attempting to do something. Overthinking something is far worse than not thinking about that something at all.

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I agree,. There is some thinking or as AT says, the means whereby to achieve a end. Although, in my case I was “trying” to hit the ball (s) far. When I stopped trying the right thing did itself and I hit the balls far.

julray said:

Shouldn’t the question be what are all the wrong things?

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BTW, that was a really good question! lol