Once a Putz, always a Putz!
Jan 9, 2017 2:59:55 GMT -8
Post by 1chapterahead on Jan 9, 2017 2:59:55 GMT -8
At another site I used to post at, there seems to always be this discussion/argument wrt "bat and/or hand path", and how hitters are working to get bat to ball...so I'd thought I'd see what the consensus was around here wrt it. I'll share what others are saying first about it, and then get into why I believe what I do when talking/teaching wrt it.
It seems as that some believe that "hands/knob to the ball", or to "direct the hands to the ball" is how or what MLB hitters are thinking or visualizing about when it comes to getting bat to the ball. Now what I find odd about this thought process, is that if a hitter were to actually do or think that, then they would have to actually think about how to "direct" their hands to some spot/location approx. 26" away from the actual path, and eventually contact point with the ball...to account for the length of the bat, where the "sweet spot"/barrel is on that bat, and where on the bat the hands are in relationship to that sweet spot or barrel.
IOWs, if I'm going to first "direct" my hands to the ball, I must do so in a fashion that yes, I might be trying to intersect the path of the ball at one time with them, but before I ever plan on actually launching/swinging/hitting the ball, I must move them out of the way, and find that location approx. 26" away from that path/contact point in order to then have the room to "launch/whip" the bat/barrel to the ball late in my swing.
When this was brought up at the other site, this was in essence what was indeed thought/explained was supposedly happening...even to the point that HL hitters have some sort of "Rolodex" in their head where they have stored all of these pre-launch hand locations they're going to have to "direct" their hands to depending on pitch type, and location. I don't know about you, but I find that to be way too complicated, confusing, and unnecessary if a hitter is just taught, or has the idea of taking/getting the barrel to the ball initially. This is why/where I am with my hitters.
So before getting there too quickly (why use 5 words, when you have 100 others still available? lol)....we often hear folks asking or talking about how various bats or models of bats are weighed or balanced differently, but have you ever stopped to think about why a hitter might prefer one over the other? Well I'm of the opinion, and from my own time in the cage, and in the batter's box...it's because we all have a different preference as to how we want the bat to feel in our hands, and if that's the case which I believe it is....what actual part of it are we actually trying to "feel"?
For myself, and the hitters I talk with...we are all looking to get the right "feel" of where the barrel is in relationship to our "mind's eye", so that when we are attempting to swing the bat at a moving ball, we have the "feel" of the barrel in our hands, and that's what we're trying to think about getting to the ball with force, and at exactly the right moment in time.
Now will I use various body parts (including the hands) to make adjustments along the way as I "direct" the barrel at the ball? Well certainly, but in my "mind's eye", it's one continuous singular thought/swing process of getting barrel to ball, and I'm not thinking about where the ball's going, trying to "direct" my hands to/towards it, and then trying to get them out of the way to some predetermined "Rolodex" spot in order to get them far enough away from that initial ball path, and hope I have the exact distance away correct in which to then "launch" my swing from. IMO, all of that is just adding too many parameters for a developing hitter...or any hitter for that matter....to have to go through in the quick "see ball, hit ball" theory of hitting IYKWIM.
The one coaching/training thing that seems to make sense with the kids I get, who were previously taught the "directing the hands/knob to the ball" theory of hitting...is that I simply ask them which part of the baseball bat they wish to hit the ball with. Not surprisingly, 100% of them say "with the barrel", so when I then ask them, "then why are wanting to take your hands or knob to the ball instead?"...also maybe not so surprisingly, is that that same 100% of them look back at me puzzled, and really without an answer.
Do you have one?
EDIT: While I know a bunch of you know the other site I'm referring to, and the members there that use the other swing/hitting theory or process. But let's please refrain for using names, or screen names of others, as it's not about who's posting/saying what, but rather a discussion on the various theories or processes themselves. If you believe I misstated or misrepresented something above, that's fine, please make any corrections as you understand them in your words; but please don't post, "Well that's not right, because so-and-so sad, or believes XYZ". Let's keep the discussion here, and not turn into to another "hitting war" as goes on elsewhere, that's doesn't help anyone's learning or understanding of the topics or posters that get flamed. Thanks, mud -
It seems as that some believe that "hands/knob to the ball", or to "direct the hands to the ball" is how or what MLB hitters are thinking or visualizing about when it comes to getting bat to the ball. Now what I find odd about this thought process, is that if a hitter were to actually do or think that, then they would have to actually think about how to "direct" their hands to some spot/location approx. 26" away from the actual path, and eventually contact point with the ball...to account for the length of the bat, where the "sweet spot"/barrel is on that bat, and where on the bat the hands are in relationship to that sweet spot or barrel.
IOWs, if I'm going to first "direct" my hands to the ball, I must do so in a fashion that yes, I might be trying to intersect the path of the ball at one time with them, but before I ever plan on actually launching/swinging/hitting the ball, I must move them out of the way, and find that location approx. 26" away from that path/contact point in order to then have the room to "launch/whip" the bat/barrel to the ball late in my swing.
When this was brought up at the other site, this was in essence what was indeed thought/explained was supposedly happening...even to the point that HL hitters have some sort of "Rolodex" in their head where they have stored all of these pre-launch hand locations they're going to have to "direct" their hands to depending on pitch type, and location. I don't know about you, but I find that to be way too complicated, confusing, and unnecessary if a hitter is just taught, or has the idea of taking/getting the barrel to the ball initially. This is why/where I am with my hitters.
So before getting there too quickly (why use 5 words, when you have 100 others still available? lol)....we often hear folks asking or talking about how various bats or models of bats are weighed or balanced differently, but have you ever stopped to think about why a hitter might prefer one over the other? Well I'm of the opinion, and from my own time in the cage, and in the batter's box...it's because we all have a different preference as to how we want the bat to feel in our hands, and if that's the case which I believe it is....what actual part of it are we actually trying to "feel"?
For myself, and the hitters I talk with...we are all looking to get the right "feel" of where the barrel is in relationship to our "mind's eye", so that when we are attempting to swing the bat at a moving ball, we have the "feel" of the barrel in our hands, and that's what we're trying to think about getting to the ball with force, and at exactly the right moment in time.
Now will I use various body parts (including the hands) to make adjustments along the way as I "direct" the barrel at the ball? Well certainly, but in my "mind's eye", it's one continuous singular thought/swing process of getting barrel to ball, and I'm not thinking about where the ball's going, trying to "direct" my hands to/towards it, and then trying to get them out of the way to some predetermined "Rolodex" spot in order to get them far enough away from that initial ball path, and hope I have the exact distance away correct in which to then "launch" my swing from. IMO, all of that is just adding too many parameters for a developing hitter...or any hitter for that matter....to have to go through in the quick "see ball, hit ball" theory of hitting IYKWIM.
The one coaching/training thing that seems to make sense with the kids I get, who were previously taught the "directing the hands/knob to the ball" theory of hitting...is that I simply ask them which part of the baseball bat they wish to hit the ball with. Not surprisingly, 100% of them say "with the barrel", so when I then ask them, "then why are wanting to take your hands or knob to the ball instead?"...also maybe not so surprisingly, is that that same 100% of them look back at me puzzled, and really without an answer.
Do you have one?
EDIT: While I know a bunch of you know the other site I'm referring to, and the members there that use the other swing/hitting theory or process. But let's please refrain for using names, or screen names of others, as it's not about who's posting/saying what, but rather a discussion on the various theories or processes themselves. If you believe I misstated or misrepresented something above, that's fine, please make any corrections as you understand them in your words; but please don't post, "Well that's not right, because so-and-so sad, or believes XYZ". Let's keep the discussion here, and not turn into to another "hitting war" as goes on elsewhere, that's doesn't help anyone's learning or understanding of the topics or posters that get flamed. Thanks, mud -
