Hitting Mechanics - The Myths

[guero_gordo]

It sounds so simple, and
Yet for
Her it is like
Asking
Her knee not
To react
During a reflex
Test. Excuse caps and returns. Phone is doing it on its own. Did not mean this to look like a poem

The Haiku of offspeed pitches, intentional or not, I like it.

 

[tjintx]

Remove the pitcher to learn timing the ball. then add the pitcher back in. Remove the pitcher again then add the pitcher back in. Repeat , Repeat...
It works to learn timing the ball , the focus changes to the ball where it should be.

 

[HYP]

We gotta get em timing the ball, not the pitcher.

Get them stretching it and releasing it. Not loading, pausing and swinging. If I am stretching the system I can release it when ever I want. If I stretch it, pause and swing, it will be a timing nightmare.

 

[knightsb]

Get them stretching it and releasing it. Not loading, pausing and swinging. If I am stretching the system I can release it when ever I want. If I stretch it, pause and swing, it will be a timing nightmare.

Hyp, what and where are you stretching? Where do you feel it?

 

[HYP]

Hyp, what and where are you stretching? Where do you feel it?

The rear lower back, rear hip, up the rear obliques to the hands. That is why, IMHO, you need to resist letting the back shoulder to drop. The rear hip will suck the rear shoulder down but the resisting of the shoulder coming down creates the tightness earlier and maintains it throughout the swing.

Maybe stretch is a bad word but it gives the visual of suddenness on release.

 

[Doug Romrell]

The rear lower back, rear hip, up the rear obliques to the hands. That is why, IMHO, you need to resist letting the back shoulder to drop. The rear hip will suck the rear shoulder down but the resisting of the shoulder coming down creates the tightness earlier and maintains it throughout the swing.

Maybe stretch is a bad word but it gives the visual of suddenness on release.

I think the word "drop" is being manipulated here. While I agree with what you are describing, but I still see the shoulder "dropping." It's just a matter of how and when it happened.

 

[Eric F]

I think the word "drop" is being manipulated here. While I agree with what you are describing, but I still see the shoulder "dropping." It's just a matter of how and when it happened.

For me, the word "drop" gives the impression that it's either an active move, or it's due to a release of tension. (IMO, YMMV)

 

[Doug Romrell]

For me, the word "drop" gives the impression that it's either an active move, or it's due to a release of tension. (IMO, YMMV)

That's what I think--it's not just an active move. It can also be used to describe what happens as a result.

The context I was using it in the beginning of this thread was this.... "Don't (let) your shoulder drop. Keep your shoulders level (through your swing)."

I say this is, in fact, a MYTH.

 

[redhotcoach]

That's what I think--it's not just an active move. It can also be used to describe what happens as a result.

The context I was using it in the beginning of this thread was this.... "Don't (let) your shoulder drop. Keep your shoulders level (through your swing)."

I say this is, in fact, a MYTH.

Just tell those folks "it isn't dropping, it's getting pulled down by an awesome rear side drive!"

 

[Eric F]

That's what I think--it's not just an active move. It can also be used to describe what happens as a result.

The context I was using it in the beginning of this thread was this.... "Don't (let) your shoulder drop. Keep your shoulders level (through your swing)."

I say this is, in fact, a MYTH.

What?? We're going to talk about the original topic again??!!



It seems that a few people are saying that the hitter should actually TRY to keep the rear shoulder up. Not that the hitter should actually succeed in doing so throughout the entire swing, but the resistance of trying to keep the shoulder up, against the rotation of the hip trying to pull it down, is a good thing. IMO, to perform this properly, the instructor has to keep careful watch on how it's being executed. Without proper instruction, a hitter can easily interpret "don't let the shoulder drop" into a DBSF pattern.

I guess my point is that the cue has applications where it could be useful with certain hitters.

I certainly agree that actually keeping the shoulders level throughout the swing is a significant flaw.