Introduction to Five Tools Analysis: Hitting

[kyleb]

tdarko,

Sorry; I meant to clarify that you don't want the REAR elbow ahead of the hands. You definitely want the lead elbow out.

[Troll_Inc]

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I like this thread. Please continue.

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100% continue. I don't even know why bother with a poll.

Excellent content, way better than this site probably deserves.

Anyone who voted "no" is a tard.

[ArcticKnight]

Great Thread Kyleb -

Some of "lag", "slot" and "butt end of the bat" explanations can be supplemented with side by side profiles of a batter and a golfer, if that helps some readers. It might help for some that are more familar with golf than baseball. Also, it might reinforce the fact that the hitting principles you discuss are matters that are not unique to baseball. The "storing of power (lag)" versus casting principles are, for the most part, the same in both the batting swing and golf swing. As is "from the ground up" approach the the swing sequence, and forearm rotation.

Great thread, keep up the good work. I think this thread and the follwing ones could provide a good veneue for you to feild newbie type questions, as well as some more complex questions around different approaches to hitting and teaching hitting.

Keep it up.

PS. I support your passion for the game.

[Dudd]

About that Bonds video, is his flaw his weight transfer onto his front foot? If you compare it to the Pujols video where his front foot is firmly planted, it sure looks like Bonds is a lot more off balance at contact.

[Rubeskies]

Hey Kyle,

Great stuff.

My question has to do with "Intangibles."

You mentioned about great plate discipline (avoiding swinging at pitches in their weak zones early in the count). But what about other things that have to do with pitch recognition. As a pitcher in college and as a hitter in high school and summer leagues, I've noticed that certain hitters simply cannot identify the change-up or slider or curveball or splitter. These hitters have a really hard time against good pitchers that notice these things. Now I suppose everyone in the majors has to be decent at identifying these pitches, but my guess is that some are better than others.

For example, Bobby Abreu. When he is locked in, he often won't even flinch at a really good curveball because he recognizes it almost when it leaves the pitchers hands.

Micky Mantle was quoted as saying that he would be an average hitter today because he can't pick up the spin on a slider.

How important is this to hitting or is it one of those things like catcher's calling a good game that don't have much impact on the outcome?

Also, comparing the Bonds and the Mauer videos, Bonds looks perfectly balanced while Mauer looks a bit off balance (his front foot is all over the place). Is this just an unlucky video or does he always look that off balance? Or am I just interpreting the herky jerky motions incorrectly?

[Chris Daddy Cool]

re bonds swing: i always assumed it was more of a timing trick he used and i always heard that it doesn't *really* matter what you do with your hands before your swing as long as they were in the correct position just before and during the swing

[prohornblower]

Watch Bonds' arms...they don't do much moving. He keeps his shoulders, elbows, and hands in the same position relative to the bat until point of contact when his hands turn over obv. for the follow-through.

If you were to connect the dots and draw a box from left hand to left elbow, to left shoulder, to right shoulder, down to right elbow and to right hand...the shape sort of resembles home plate. It's like 5 rigid points, and the general rigid shape doesn't change in his swing, which is what gives him superhuman "top hand" strength. The only thing that changes is as he's pulling the bat through, his back elbow drops a bit and his front elbow rises a bit so he can get the bat down through the zone.

Watch his swing, his front leg "plants" allowing a firm rotational point for his hips and as his hips twist around his leg his rigid arms are coming through the zone and he just mashes it. I'm sure he also has very strong wrists and hands which allow him to remain firm at point of contact.

Chase Utley's got sick wrist and hand strength at contact.