Should we use MLB hitters as examples?

[Tewks]

If any of you can coach a hitter to be better than this, let me know. Because whoever you think is the best in the world, this is plenty good enough as a goal for any girl I've had the pleasure to coach.

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I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I am very curious. How was this young woman taught differently than a young man would have been taught?

 

[Mark H]

I'm told her swing was factory equipment.

 

[Tewks]

I'm told her swing was factory equipment.

What does that mean? No coaching?

 

[Mark H]

Yes. Just did it I'm told. No personal knowledge but I asked someone who would know.

 

[Chris O'Leary]

Yes. Just did it I'm told. No personal knowledge but I asked someone who would know.

I've worked with a number of world-class athletes and in every case they were taught to do the stupid stuff. Most of my time is spent un-doing stuff and explaining why this cue or that cue was responsible for their problems.

 

[Tewks]

Yes. Just did it I'm told. No personal knowledge but I asked someone who would know.

If she did a hitting clinic, I wonder what she would teach!

 

[Chris O'Leary]

If she did a hitting clinic, I wonder what she would teach!

The odds are that it would be linear stuff.

In my experience only people who have struggled or topped out at some level learn the truth (and even then most don't).

 

[mkral]

Serious question: How would you teach the swing differently? What is the alternative if not linear or rotational? What would you tweak or change?

Chris I said there would be similarities. I agree you have to start with a technique be it linear or rotational. What I am saying is the pitching is different, the athletes are different and there will be differences in how they do things. There will never be a cookie cutter swing that all athletes will emulate perfectly if we try to do that you may take away some god given talent that you never gave a chance to see. No human from one to the next will ever do exactly the same thing so all we can do is get them as close to what is perceived as the correct way of doing things. What is the right way? Yours? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe for some but not for others. That is my point everyone is different, simple human nature.

 

[Wellphyt]

In this case, there's a brewing argument over whether someone's players can relate to male BB players. I think that's easily solved. If they can learn that way, use it. If they can't learn that way, don't. To be honest, I look at MLB players' swings all the time but I don't think I've ever shown more than one or two of those clips to my players or students, and even then it was a select few. I would rather learn it myself then demonstrate it as a teaching tool. If I use a clip, it's to show that I'm not just making it up myself but not as the primary tool.

From my point of view, the MLB clips are there to help me understand and learn, not my players or students. Teaching them is my job and I take it seriously. If I thought I could help those kids add 50 points to their batting average by watching ballet I would.

Very well put. I do the same thing. I don't show the girls I teach MLB clips. I demonstrate the components of the swing myself. I also study and practice the most common incorrect movements that I see the girls using, so I can demonstrate the difference between they're swing and what I teach.

 

[Ken Krause]

I also study and practice the most common incorrect movements that I see the girls using, so I can demonstrate the difference between they're swing and what I teach.

Yeah, nothing makes the point faster than when they see you imitate what they do. I used that with a pitcher tonight. She laughed, but she understood.