1) Face direction
Face direction, especially, at the point of contact, is often misunderstood among many players. That is, they often take a posture of contact with their face turn toward a point of contact. But, in the real batting, they turn their face toward the direction of pitcher. To turn your face toward home plate makes your shoulder difficult to rotate. As a result, it causes an arm-initiative-swing. Farther result, it also causes a too much lolling over wrist, a small follow through, and a single-hand-follow, as mentioned above.
Therefore, you should turn your face toward the direction of pitcher when you swing a bat. And this face direction makes your shoulder easy to rotate and makes you easy to see the orbit of a ball. If your face is turned toward a point of contact, you will be able to see the ball "itself" very well, but you will not be able to see the orbit of a ball. To hit a ball requires to see the orbit of ball because hitting is a work that is made up of forecast. Therefore, you should turn your face toward the direction of pitcher. That is a proper face direction.
2) Recoil action
A perfect recoil action by Brett Harper.
It is often said that "keep the stability after the swing", and this advice means to stop after the swing. In fact, I often see the scene that young players practice the drill for making stop after their swing. But that theory is not right.
So now let you watch this video. (2011/04/07 Jackson's 13 strikeouts) In this video, almost all players take some action after the swing. Especially, double-hands-follow hitters tend to move briskly.
As mentioned above, muscle has a nature that to contract after being stretched. Therefore, if you twist your body right, next, your body should make a reverse twist toward left. So twisting your body reverse after the swing is a proper and correct motion and I named that motion as a Recoil action. A brisk recoil action is a proof of good swing that is accompanied by good muscle condition.
A good recoil action by Brett Harper
Especially, in the game, recoil action often shows various face. It depends on time and occasion. Expressive recoil action means much flexibility like Prince Fielder. (Alex Cabrera's recoil action 0.23~)
By the way, recoil action has a little difference between a case of "swing and miss" and a case of "contact". Following clips are express that difference.
Recoil action by brett harper (a case of contact)
Recoil action by Brett Harper (a case of swing and miss) (This is a perfect recoil action.)
In general, recoil action after a contact tends to be accompanied by opening a front leg, but recoil action after a swing and miss tends to be accompanied by keeping a front keg close. This difference comes from difference in degrees of hip rotation. That is, in the case of contact, a hitter needs to push back the impact of contact. In that case, impact force transmits to the ground through the medium of back leg. As a result, ground reaction force of impact force is generated and this ground reaction force push the back hip forward. Further result, ground reaction force makes a hip rotate more over in the follow through. Therefore, a case of contact causes hip rotation more larger than a case of swing and miss. Of course, whether have need of running or not, causes difference of recoil action.
By the way, in general, in the case of contact, recoil action tends to be accompanied by opening a front leg. But some hitters keep their front leg close even in the case of contact. As for this problem, I don't know which is better yet.
An intelligible case of opening front leg Franklin Gutierrez, Derek Jeter, Sean Rodriguez
An intelligible case of keeping front leg close Adrian Beltre, Andruw Jones,
May be, about this degree will be the best. Mark Trumbo, Tori Hunter, Jose Guillen
So then, what mechanism does recoil action have specifically? First, as mentioned above, follow through is taken upward by the momentum of the top hand shoulder inward rotation. And at the same time, back-leg hip joint makes extension and it causes a wrap of abdomen. As a result, opposite-cross-line is stretched by a follow through. In addition, the upper body tilts toward the home plate by counteraction of follow through.
Next, now recoil action begins, hands go back along the opposite cross line with reverse wrist roll. And back leg is lifted and stepped out forward by stretch reflex of muscles on the opposite cross line. Well, recoil action is caused mainly by stretch reflex of muscles on the opposite cross line. In addition, in this scene, upper body tilts toward the home plate. Therefore, whole body comes near to falling toward home plate by putting a back-foot in the air because it means lack of one side basement. As a result, a back leg is stepped toward home plate for supporting the whole body.
Taken together, recoil action is constructed by "reverse swing" and stepping toward the home plate. So then, by the watching this video(Brett Harper) based on these two points("reverse swing" and stepping toward the home plate), you will be able to confirm what is the proper recoil action.
By the way, Frederich Cepeda (Cuba) is an expert of recoil action. So that's kind of you, let me show his good swing below.
(1.58~) Right-handed swing
(0.23~) Left-handed swing
A perfect recoil action by Brett Harper.
It is often said that "keep the stability after the swing", and this advice means to stop after the swing. In fact, I often see the scene that young players practice the drill for making stop after their swing. But that theory is not right.
So now let you watch this video. (2011/04/07 Jackson's 13 strikeouts) In this video, almost all players take some action after the swing. Especially, double-hands-follow hitters tend to move briskly.
As mentioned above, muscle has a nature that to contract after being stretched. Therefore, if you twist your body right, next, your body should make a reverse twist toward left. So twisting your body reverse after the swing is a proper and correct motion and I named that motion as a Recoil action. A brisk recoil action is a proof of good swing that is accompanied by good muscle condition.
A good recoil action by Brett Harper
Especially, in the game, recoil action often shows various face. It depends on time and occasion. Expressive recoil action means much flexibility like Prince Fielder. (Alex Cabrera's recoil action 0.23~)
By the way, recoil action has a little difference between a case of "swing and miss" and a case of "contact". Following clips are express that difference.
Recoil action by brett harper (a case of contact)
Recoil action by Brett Harper (a case of swing and miss) (This is a perfect recoil action.)
In general, recoil action after a contact tends to be accompanied by opening a front leg, but recoil action after a swing and miss tends to be accompanied by keeping a front keg close. This difference comes from difference in degrees of hip rotation. That is, in the case of contact, a hitter needs to push back the impact of contact. In that case, impact force transmits to the ground through the medium of back leg. As a result, ground reaction force of impact force is generated and this ground reaction force push the back hip forward. Further result, ground reaction force makes a hip rotate more over in the follow through. Therefore, a case of contact causes hip rotation more larger than a case of swing and miss. Of course, whether have need of running or not, causes difference of recoil action.
By the way, in general, in the case of contact, recoil action tends to be accompanied by opening a front leg. But some hitters keep their front leg close even in the case of contact. As for this problem, I don't know which is better yet.
An intelligible case of opening front leg Franklin Gutierrez, Derek Jeter, Sean Rodriguez
An intelligible case of keeping front leg close Adrian Beltre, Andruw Jones,
May be, about this degree will be the best. Mark Trumbo, Tori Hunter, Jose Guillen
So then, what mechanism does recoil action have specifically? First, as mentioned above, follow through is taken upward by the momentum of the top hand shoulder inward rotation. And at the same time, back-leg hip joint makes extension and it causes a wrap of abdomen. As a result, opposite-cross-line is stretched by a follow through. In addition, the upper body tilts toward the home plate by counteraction of follow through.
Next, now recoil action begins, hands go back along the opposite cross line with reverse wrist roll. And back leg is lifted and stepped out forward by stretch reflex of muscles on the opposite cross line. Well, recoil action is caused mainly by stretch reflex of muscles on the opposite cross line. In addition, in this scene, upper body tilts toward the home plate. Therefore, whole body comes near to falling toward home plate by putting a back-foot in the air because it means lack of one side basement. As a result, a back leg is stepped toward home plate for supporting the whole body.
Taken together, recoil action is constructed by "reverse swing" and stepping toward the home plate. So then, by the watching this video(Brett Harper) based on these two points("reverse swing" and stepping toward the home plate), you will be able to confirm what is the proper recoil action.
By the way, Frederich Cepeda (Cuba) is an expert of recoil action. So that's kind of you, let me show his good swing below.
(1.58~) Right-handed swing
(0.23~) Left-handed swing
3) About stay back
Of course, stay back is important technique. However, it should be distinguish between necessary stay back and unnecessary stay back. Necessary stay back means don't sway forward against a ball. Namely, it means that keep the balance not to be broken by pitch.
On the other hand, unnecessary stay back means that is to keep a weight on the back-leg throughout the swing. In other words, originally, stay back means about correlation against a pitch, not about weight shift in the body.
At the first place, for accelerating a bat at high speed, you need to use your whole body flexibility and dynamically. So it is clear that negative image concerning the body movement just only brings opposite effect. At the same as almost all sports, weight shift and weight transfer is important theme for the good performance. In short, dynamic weight transfer causes dynamic swing. However, batting requires you to adjust against moving enemy, unlike the golf. Therefore "stay back" becomes important theme, as simple as that. So, just from a kinematic point of view, the word "stay back" doesn't have any meaning for good swing.
So now, let me show a video that expresses the good weight shift very well. In this video(~0.34), Guerreo's back-foot comes off from ground just before the contact. (2011/07/06 Vlad's solo blast)
5) Hitch as a trap
Some sluggers take a hitch while their stride motion. Basically, regardless of the hitting mechanics, hitch should be an automatic motion. That is a presupposition of this issue. If you are an user of hitch, you can generate more larger power. But, if you are not an user of hitch, you will generate large power equal in user of hitch. That's how it is with hitch. At all events, it is the most important point that you must never take a hitch as a conscious movement.
So then, let's watch following videos after understanding such theory. Hitters of following videos are good user of hitch, especially Prince Fielder's hitch is excellence.
Prince Fielder1, Prince Fielder2, Prince Fielder3, Freddie Freeman1
Freddie Freeman2, Ivan Rodriguez1, Ivan Rodriguez2
In the first place, hitch is a result of body trunk and lower body's movement. As for automatic step, it means that is stride motion after the start-of-hitting-mechanics. On the other hand, as for leg-lift-step, it also means that is lift up motion before the start-of-hitting-mechanics in addition to stride motion after the start-of-hitting-mechanics. Therefore, hitch of leg-lift-step is different from automatic-step's hitch. For example, Ryan Zimmerman and Alex Rodriguez express the feature of leg-lift-step's hitch very well.
Be that as it may, hitch is an automatic motion that is caused by body trunk and lower body's movement. And it occurs when various requirements are satisfied. So what is requirements? Let me describe that below.
1) proper grip
In the first place, hitch has a proper and original form. And it is caused by proper grip. If your grip is positioned wrong place, you shouldn't be able to make a proper hitch. Namely, to move toward certain direction, it is necessary that to set on the certain angle and place.
A proper hitch (Ryan Howard) His hand action and start position (batting stance) expresses an original form of hitch very well.
This video (Prince Fielder) also shows a good hitch. (side view from 0.53)
2) keep muscle relax
In the stride motion, to be moved your hands by counteraction of lower body's movement, arm's muscle requires to be kept in relax. And to do that, your hands should be set on proper position. although, it isn't good that making relax extremely, you should not make your muscles strain. Regardless of this theme, muscle strain is disagreeable phenomenon for implementing the good swing that has enough flexibility.
Be that as it may, as for this issue, it is most important that is to say "DON'T TAKE A HITCH". A mean of this phrase will be understood by you who read this chapter. In short, hitch is an automatic motion. In fact, I have ever seen that some players misunderstand about hitch even in MLB. Probably, it was an effect of Barry Bonds. Hitch is, so to speak, a kind of "trap" that is seasoned with flavor of gorgeous long hitter. In fact, although these hitters does almost not use a hitch, their swing is enough gorgeous. ( Mark Trumbo, Adrian Beltre, Reid Brignac, Ken Griffey Jr )
自然に起きるヒッチは良いがわざとするヒッチはだめ
6) Hit hard
"Hit hard" isn't just a mere mental issue. It's rather a term of physical technique. That is, it's a factor that influences the hitting mechanics directly. As mentioned chapter2, if you try to generate a big power with your arms quickly, your lower body generates a power earlier more than upper body. And this lower body's power causes hitting mechanics from start to finish, namely that's a source of power. In addition, that lower body's power is concerned with your consciousness that how much power you want to generate. As an experiment, if you try to move your bat from launch position to contact while a long time just like a slow motion video, your lower body doesn't generate power at all. Namely, by trying to move quickly, our body bring about various automatic movements. And these automatic movements are core factor of hitting mechanics. Therefore, "hit hard" is an important consciousness for existence of proper hitting mechanics. In other words, "hit hard" is representational term, not abstract term. That is, when hitter says that "I just thought of hitting hard" in the interview, he talk about his hitting mechanics, not about his mind. And it is not that he doesn't pose a tough guy with short and manly phrase. In the first place, hitting mechanics requires us an only simple consciousness like "hit hard" or "contact". In short, "I just thought of hitting hard" is a honest phrase of sluggers.
By the way, the word "hit hard" has another side that express the characteristic mechanics of puncher type. That is, to generate a big power suddenly from quiet state is a characteristic of puncher type, and it required us to have a consciousness of "hit hard". Because, If you try to swing lightly without preparation motion (road, stride, linear translational motion,etc.. ), your swing will be "real light swing". IN other words, you will not be able to accelerate your bat enough. "Swinging lightly makes head spead easy to rise at the contact point" is a theory that adapts to a case of swinger type. Enough preparation motion enable us to implement the theory of "Swinging lightly makes head spead easy to rise at the contact point". For example, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, George Brett, and Darryl Strawberry express that theory with their swing very well.
By the way, it seems that "swinging lightly" is suitable for saving energy more than "hit hard". Namely, it seems that swinger type has efficient mechanics more than puncher type. But not so. Implement of "swinging lightly" theory requires the enough preparation motion. And it means that whole body's dynamic movement. Therefore, in the final analysis, "swinging lightly" also requires much energy consumption.
On the other hands, mechanics of puncher type does basically not need a preparation motion. Therefore, in the scene of before the "start-of-hitting-mechanics", puncher type can implement the saving energy extremely. That's why, it requires "hit hard" in the swing.
Be that as it may, in the final analysis, no matter which mechanics you chose, you have need to consume a large energy for long hitting.
As mentioned above, "hit hard" is important factor that can best be said as "essence of mechanics". Because, to try to generate a large power quickly and suddenly from quiet state for acceleration of bat causes lower body to generate a power at the moment of "start-of-hitting-mechanics". And this lower body's power causes the whole linkage mechanism as mentioned as chapter2.
Of course, you don't always have to swing with 100~120 percent power. However, at least 80~90 percent power is required for complete a good mechanics. In other words, as for puncher type, it is impossible that making a proper swing and muscle memory with half powered swing practice. In addition, it is better to don't think of trying to swing lightly and skillfully like Ichiro or Tony Gwynn. Because that attitude isn't suitable for puncher type's mechanics.
7) high ball, inside high ball, outside low ball.
Adjustment against various pitch locations can be done skillfully by a reflex reaction, not by technical method. For example, if you are healthy, you will be able to give full play to your reflex ability. Similarly, if you are keeping your fundamental swing in a good state, you should be able to adjust to various pitch locations naturally and automatically by reflex reaction. Namely, to hit various pitch locations skillfully has no method basically. It's just a result of good reflex reaction due to good fundamental swing that means swing of hitting down the meddle. Therefore, following description is just the "observations of automatic reflex action". In other words, I don't write about "how to hit various pitch locations". However, knowledge about hitting mechanics will help your improvement of that.
1) Inside ball (especially, high and inside fast ball)
In the puncher type, shoulder adduction is used for top hand acceleration as a main engine of swing. And shoulder adduction draws circular orbit on coronal plane. Then, at the same time, Bottom hand plays a role of compass arm. Therefore, for hitting a near body pitch like high and inside ball, compass arm becomes short by bottom hand elbow flexion. As a result, both arms makes pentagon shape at the point of contact. Of course, this elbow flexion is automatic motion by reflex. This video (Prince Fielder side view ~0.45) expresses pentagon that for hitting the inside ball very well.
2) Down and outside ball
This is easy to understand by using metaphor of compass arm. That is, for hitting a far side ball, bottom hand elbow as a compass arm has to been extended for making a large circular orbit. Of course, this elbow flexion is also automatic motion by reflex.
High ball (Eric Chavez)
Of course, stay back is important technique. However, it should be distinguish between necessary stay back and unnecessary stay back. Necessary stay back means don't sway forward against a ball. Namely, it means that keep the balance not to be broken by pitch.
On the other hand, unnecessary stay back means that is to keep a weight on the back-leg throughout the swing. In other words, originally, stay back means about correlation against a pitch, not about weight shift in the body.
At the first place, for accelerating a bat at high speed, you need to use your whole body flexibility and dynamically. So it is clear that negative image concerning the body movement just only brings opposite effect. At the same as almost all sports, weight shift and weight transfer is important theme for the good performance. In short, dynamic weight transfer causes dynamic swing. However, batting requires you to adjust against moving enemy, unlike the golf. Therefore "stay back" becomes important theme, as simple as that. So, just from a kinematic point of view, the word "stay back" doesn't have any meaning for good swing.
So now, let me show a video that expresses the good weight shift very well. In this video(~0.34), Guerreo's back-foot comes off from ground just before the contact. (2011/07/06 Vlad's solo blast)
His back-foot comes off from ground slightly, but his head is kept behind his hip. That is, weight transfer can coexist with stay back. (Alex Cabrera)
By the way, it is important that negative and inhibitory conscious concerning body movement makes your muscle easy to harden and strain. As a result, it robs flexibility from your swing. Therefore, you shouldn't have conscious like that. Stay back should be thought as a matter that influences a correlation against a pitch, not about body movement. In other words, stay back doesn't mean "don't move", but just "wait".
However, there is an important point that I don't want you to misunderstand. That is, in the puncher-type-mechanics, weight transfer occurs automatically as mentioned as chapter2. So you don't have to do the weight transfer movement as a conscious movement. Namely, it's just an automatic movement, and I just want to say that we should not suppress the natural movement by conscious due to theory or thinking.
4) weight transfer and weight shift
On the presupposition that weight transfer is a result of automatic movement, it is important that to put your weight on the landed front leg. By the way, I find it apt to cause misunderstanding that puncher type doesn't mean back-leg-dominante-swing. It just has a small liner translational motion as simple as that. And small liner translational motion does always not mean small weight transfer. Namely, you should be able to change the pivot foot without change the place of foot. In other words, weight transfer is different from linear translational motion.
So then, let me wright about weight transfer in the swing. First, landed front leg receives the body weight with flexion of hip joint and knee. Next, front leg makes extension by stretch reflex of muscles around the front leg. And this leg extension means to push the ground. As a result, upper body tilts toward the catcher side by ground reaction force that is caused by extension of front leg. In this scene, back-foot tends to come off from ground slightly. Of course, it is proper state of swing as mentioned above. But, at the same time, it shouldn't be too much because back-foot should be landed and have to receive the impact force of contact. This state is easy to be understood when you imagine that you push a wall with your hands. In this case, you should receive the wall-reaction-force with your leg and it makes you easy to transmit your power to the wall. As a proof of it, in an ice link, you can almost not transmit your power to the wall. That is, you should land your back foot by follow through, otherwise you can't receive an impact force of contact with your leg, and farther result, you can't push out a ball strongly enough.
As mentioned above, to put the weight on the front leg does always not mean swaying forward. On the contrary, it causes to sway back your upper body by ground reaction force due to extension of front leg. And the other hand, back-leg may come off from ground, if just a little. However, in the follow through, back-leg should land the ground for receiving the impact force of contact.
In addition, to put a weight on the front leg is important for the follow through. Because stable front leg can play a role of a basement for receiving power of upper body's rotation. Therefore, if you can construct the front-leg-basement, your body should twist largely between upper body and lower body. And as a result, your recoil action becomes more brisk.
On the other hand, if you can't put your weight on the landed front leg and can't construct front-leg-basement, your power of upper body's rotation will be released from front-leg-basement that is collapsed by upper body's rotation. Of course it means power outflow and power loss. So then, let me shows these examples below.
Example of "can construct stable front-leg-basement".
Prince Fielder, Mark Trumbo, Jose Guillen, Reid Brignac, Sean Rodriguez
Example of "front-leg-basement is collapsed before finish".
Mark Teixeira, Corey Hart, Juan Uribe
By the way, what should we do for constructing a front-leg-basement? Of course, as for puncher type, weight transfer and linear translational motion are automatic movement. In your consciousness, you just have to keep your axis on the center line throughout your swing. If one does that, weight transfer and linear translational motion occur automatically. That is, even a young child swings without thinking, weight transfer and linear translational motion occur automatically. Be that as it may, you shouldn't have consciousness about weight transfer and linear translational motion while your swing.
So then, for implement of constructing a front-leg-basement as a result of pursuit of more perfect balance, concretely, what should we do? The answer is in the batting stance as a starting-position. (As for the automatic-step, starting-position is same as batting stance.) Now, let me write some points of batting stance for constructing a front-leg-basement.
1) Don't make your shoulder level.
At the first place, a bat is positioned on the catcher side, therefore, shoulder tends to tilt toward catcher. And as a result of shoulder's tilting toward catcher, body balance is also learned toward catcher. Farther result, your weight is shifted on the back leg and that state will be kept throughout your swing. Namely, this is the state that front-leg-basement can't be constructed. Corey Hart has this problem.(0.43~) By twisting upper body along a hip joint line of back leg, you can tilt the back shoulder upward.
2) Don't tilt upper body toward catcher.
Many hitters tilt their upper body toward catcher in their batting stance and that is seldom thought as wrong batting stance. But, in fact, that batting stance is wrong because upper body tilts afresh by counteraction of linear translational motion (stride). As a result, you can't put your weight enough on your front leg. That is, this batting stance also causes unnecessary stay back.
3) Take a moderate crouching batting stance.
Of cours you shouldn't defined crouching batting stance, but you need to tilt your upper body toward the home plate moderately. As a yard stick, your front shoulder and front knee and front too should be positioned in a straight line. (Matt Kemp has a good balance.)
If you stand your upper body straightly when viewed from a pitcher, your body balance tends to tilt toward back. As a result, to speak of extremes, your body rotation is accompanied by tilt back of upper body. Farther result, your body rotation becomes like opening door that has a hinge on the back-leg. Therefore, your body rotation has a pivot on your back-leg. That is, this batting stance also causes unnecessary stay back. Jason Werth and Chris Young has this problem.
Be that as it may, as for this problem, it is important that try to improve by improving a batting stance. And you shouldn't have consciousness about weight transfer and linear translational motion while your swing. In your consciousness, you just have to keep your axis on the center line throughout your swing.
However, there is an important point that I don't want you to misunderstand. That is, in the puncher-type-mechanics, weight transfer occurs automatically as mentioned as chapter2. So you don't have to do the weight transfer movement as a conscious movement. Namely, it's just an automatic movement, and I just want to say that we should not suppress the natural movement by conscious due to theory or thinking.
4) weight transfer and weight shift
On the presupposition that weight transfer is a result of automatic movement, it is important that to put your weight on the landed front leg. By the way, I find it apt to cause misunderstanding that puncher type doesn't mean back-leg-dominante-swing. It just has a small liner translational motion as simple as that. And small liner translational motion does always not mean small weight transfer. Namely, you should be able to change the pivot foot without change the place of foot. In other words, weight transfer is different from linear translational motion.
So then, let me wright about weight transfer in the swing. First, landed front leg receives the body weight with flexion of hip joint and knee. Next, front leg makes extension by stretch reflex of muscles around the front leg. And this leg extension means to push the ground. As a result, upper body tilts toward the catcher side by ground reaction force that is caused by extension of front leg. In this scene, back-foot tends to come off from ground slightly. Of course, it is proper state of swing as mentioned above. But, at the same time, it shouldn't be too much because back-foot should be landed and have to receive the impact force of contact. This state is easy to be understood when you imagine that you push a wall with your hands. In this case, you should receive the wall-reaction-force with your leg and it makes you easy to transmit your power to the wall. As a proof of it, in an ice link, you can almost not transmit your power to the wall. That is, you should land your back foot by follow through, otherwise you can't receive an impact force of contact with your leg, and farther result, you can't push out a ball strongly enough.
As mentioned above, to put the weight on the front leg does always not mean swaying forward. On the contrary, it causes to sway back your upper body by ground reaction force due to extension of front leg. And the other hand, back-leg may come off from ground, if just a little. However, in the follow through, back-leg should land the ground for receiving the impact force of contact.
In addition, to put a weight on the front leg is important for the follow through. Because stable front leg can play a role of a basement for receiving power of upper body's rotation. Therefore, if you can construct the front-leg-basement, your body should twist largely between upper body and lower body. And as a result, your recoil action becomes more brisk.
On the other hand, if you can't put your weight on the landed front leg and can't construct front-leg-basement, your power of upper body's rotation will be released from front-leg-basement that is collapsed by upper body's rotation. Of course it means power outflow and power loss. So then, let me shows these examples below.
Example of "can construct stable front-leg-basement".
Prince Fielder, Mark Trumbo, Jose Guillen, Reid Brignac, Sean Rodriguez
Example of "front-leg-basement is collapsed before finish".
Mark Teixeira, Corey Hart, Juan Uribe
By the way, what should we do for constructing a front-leg-basement? Of course, as for puncher type, weight transfer and linear translational motion are automatic movement. In your consciousness, you just have to keep your axis on the center line throughout your swing. If one does that, weight transfer and linear translational motion occur automatically. That is, even a young child swings without thinking, weight transfer and linear translational motion occur automatically. Be that as it may, you shouldn't have consciousness about weight transfer and linear translational motion while your swing.
So then, for implement of constructing a front-leg-basement as a result of pursuit of more perfect balance, concretely, what should we do? The answer is in the batting stance as a starting-position. (As for the automatic-step, starting-position is same as batting stance.) Now, let me write some points of batting stance for constructing a front-leg-basement.
1) Don't make your shoulder level.
At the first place, a bat is positioned on the catcher side, therefore, shoulder tends to tilt toward catcher. And as a result of shoulder's tilting toward catcher, body balance is also learned toward catcher. Farther result, your weight is shifted on the back leg and that state will be kept throughout your swing. Namely, this is the state that front-leg-basement can't be constructed. Corey Hart has this problem.(0.43~) By twisting upper body along a hip joint line of back leg, you can tilt the back shoulder upward.
2) Don't tilt upper body toward catcher.
Many hitters tilt their upper body toward catcher in their batting stance and that is seldom thought as wrong batting stance. But, in fact, that batting stance is wrong because upper body tilts afresh by counteraction of linear translational motion (stride). As a result, you can't put your weight enough on your front leg. That is, this batting stance also causes unnecessary stay back.
3) Take a moderate crouching batting stance.
Of cours you shouldn't defined crouching batting stance, but you need to tilt your upper body toward the home plate moderately. As a yard stick, your front shoulder and front knee and front too should be positioned in a straight line. (Matt Kemp has a good balance.)
If you stand your upper body straightly when viewed from a pitcher, your body balance tends to tilt toward back. As a result, to speak of extremes, your body rotation is accompanied by tilt back of upper body. Farther result, your body rotation becomes like opening door that has a hinge on the back-leg. Therefore, your body rotation has a pivot on your back-leg. That is, this batting stance also causes unnecessary stay back. Jason Werth and Chris Young has this problem.
Be that as it may, as for this problem, it is important that try to improve by improving a batting stance. And you shouldn't have consciousness about weight transfer and linear translational motion while your swing. In your consciousness, you just have to keep your axis on the center line throughout your swing.
5) Hitch as a trap
Some sluggers take a hitch while their stride motion. Basically, regardless of the hitting mechanics, hitch should be an automatic motion. That is a presupposition of this issue. If you are an user of hitch, you can generate more larger power. But, if you are not an user of hitch, you will generate large power equal in user of hitch. That's how it is with hitch. At all events, it is the most important point that you must never take a hitch as a conscious movement.
So then, let's watch following videos after understanding such theory. Hitters of following videos are good user of hitch, especially Prince Fielder's hitch is excellence.
Prince Fielder1, Prince Fielder2, Prince Fielder3, Freddie Freeman1
Freddie Freeman2, Ivan Rodriguez1, Ivan Rodriguez2
In the first place, hitch is a result of body trunk and lower body's movement. As for automatic step, it means that is stride motion after the start-of-hitting-mechanics. On the other hand, as for leg-lift-step, it also means that is lift up motion before the start-of-hitting-mechanics in addition to stride motion after the start-of-hitting-mechanics. Therefore, hitch of leg-lift-step is different from automatic-step's hitch. For example, Ryan Zimmerman and Alex Rodriguez express the feature of leg-lift-step's hitch very well.
Be that as it may, hitch is an automatic motion that is caused by body trunk and lower body's movement. And it occurs when various requirements are satisfied. So what is requirements? Let me describe that below.
1) proper grip
In the first place, hitch has a proper and original form. And it is caused by proper grip. If your grip is positioned wrong place, you shouldn't be able to make a proper hitch. Namely, to move toward certain direction, it is necessary that to set on the certain angle and place.
A proper hitch (Ryan Howard) His hand action and start position (batting stance) expresses an original form of hitch very well.
This video (Prince Fielder) also shows a good hitch. (side view from 0.53)
2) keep muscle relax
In the stride motion, to be moved your hands by counteraction of lower body's movement, arm's muscle requires to be kept in relax. And to do that, your hands should be set on proper position. although, it isn't good that making relax extremely, you should not make your muscles strain. Regardless of this theme, muscle strain is disagreeable phenomenon for implementing the good swing that has enough flexibility.
Be that as it may, as for this issue, it is most important that is to say "DON'T TAKE A HITCH". A mean of this phrase will be understood by you who read this chapter. In short, hitch is an automatic motion. In fact, I have ever seen that some players misunderstand about hitch even in MLB. Probably, it was an effect of Barry Bonds. Hitch is, so to speak, a kind of "trap" that is seasoned with flavor of gorgeous long hitter. In fact, although these hitters does almost not use a hitch, their swing is enough gorgeous. ( Mark Trumbo, Adrian Beltre, Reid Brignac, Ken Griffey Jr )
自然に起きるヒッチは良いがわざとするヒッチはだめ
Special Pattern of hitch by Barry Bonds.
6) Hit hard
"Hit hard" isn't just a mere mental issue. It's rather a term of physical technique. That is, it's a factor that influences the hitting mechanics directly. As mentioned chapter2, if you try to generate a big power with your arms quickly, your lower body generates a power earlier more than upper body. And this lower body's power causes hitting mechanics from start to finish, namely that's a source of power. In addition, that lower body's power is concerned with your consciousness that how much power you want to generate. As an experiment, if you try to move your bat from launch position to contact while a long time just like a slow motion video, your lower body doesn't generate power at all. Namely, by trying to move quickly, our body bring about various automatic movements. And these automatic movements are core factor of hitting mechanics. Therefore, "hit hard" is an important consciousness for existence of proper hitting mechanics. In other words, "hit hard" is representational term, not abstract term. That is, when hitter says that "I just thought of hitting hard" in the interview, he talk about his hitting mechanics, not about his mind. And it is not that he doesn't pose a tough guy with short and manly phrase. In the first place, hitting mechanics requires us an only simple consciousness like "hit hard" or "contact". In short, "I just thought of hitting hard" is a honest phrase of sluggers.
By the way, the word "hit hard" has another side that express the characteristic mechanics of puncher type. That is, to generate a big power suddenly from quiet state is a characteristic of puncher type, and it required us to have a consciousness of "hit hard". Because, If you try to swing lightly without preparation motion (road, stride, linear translational motion,etc.. ), your swing will be "real light swing". IN other words, you will not be able to accelerate your bat enough. "Swinging lightly makes head spead easy to rise at the contact point" is a theory that adapts to a case of swinger type. Enough preparation motion enable us to implement the theory of "Swinging lightly makes head spead easy to rise at the contact point". For example, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, George Brett, and Darryl Strawberry express that theory with their swing very well.
By the way, it seems that "swinging lightly" is suitable for saving energy more than "hit hard". Namely, it seems that swinger type has efficient mechanics more than puncher type. But not so. Implement of "swinging lightly" theory requires the enough preparation motion. And it means that whole body's dynamic movement. Therefore, in the final analysis, "swinging lightly" also requires much energy consumption.
On the other hands, mechanics of puncher type does basically not need a preparation motion. Therefore, in the scene of before the "start-of-hitting-mechanics", puncher type can implement the saving energy extremely. That's why, it requires "hit hard" in the swing.
Be that as it may, in the final analysis, no matter which mechanics you chose, you have need to consume a large energy for long hitting.
As mentioned above, "hit hard" is important factor that can best be said as "essence of mechanics". Because, to try to generate a large power quickly and suddenly from quiet state for acceleration of bat causes lower body to generate a power at the moment of "start-of-hitting-mechanics". And this lower body's power causes the whole linkage mechanism as mentioned as chapter2.
Of course, you don't always have to swing with 100~120 percent power. However, at least 80~90 percent power is required for complete a good mechanics. In other words, as for puncher type, it is impossible that making a proper swing and muscle memory with half powered swing practice. In addition, it is better to don't think of trying to swing lightly and skillfully like Ichiro or Tony Gwynn. Because that attitude isn't suitable for puncher type's mechanics.
7) high ball, inside high ball, outside low ball.
Adjustment against various pitch locations can be done skillfully by a reflex reaction, not by technical method. For example, if you are healthy, you will be able to give full play to your reflex ability. Similarly, if you are keeping your fundamental swing in a good state, you should be able to adjust to various pitch locations naturally and automatically by reflex reaction. Namely, to hit various pitch locations skillfully has no method basically. It's just a result of good reflex reaction due to good fundamental swing that means swing of hitting down the meddle. Therefore, following description is just the "observations of automatic reflex action". In other words, I don't write about "how to hit various pitch locations". However, knowledge about hitting mechanics will help your improvement of that.
1) Inside ball (especially, high and inside fast ball)
In the puncher type, shoulder adduction is used for top hand acceleration as a main engine of swing. And shoulder adduction draws circular orbit on coronal plane. Then, at the same time, Bottom hand plays a role of compass arm. Therefore, for hitting a near body pitch like high and inside ball, compass arm becomes short by bottom hand elbow flexion. As a result, both arms makes pentagon shape at the point of contact. Of course, this elbow flexion is automatic motion by reflex. This video (Prince Fielder side view ~0.45) expresses pentagon that for hitting the inside ball very well.
Inside (middle) high ball (Jose Reyes)
Examples of pentagon (Jose Reyes, Ryan Howard, Jason Giambi)
2) Down and outside ball
This is easy to understand by using metaphor of compass arm. That is, for hitting a far side ball, bottom hand elbow as a compass arm has to been extended for making a large circular orbit. Of course, this elbow flexion is also automatic motion by reflex.
Down and outside ball (Jose Reyes)
In addition, in the case of hitting a down and outside ball, degrees of hip rotation tends to be lowered more than case of hitting a high and inside ball. Probably, long extended arm causes speed of hip rotation to become slow. Following videos express that difference very well.
3) Right down the middle ball (ド真ん中）
Of course, swing of hitting a down the middle ball means one's fundamental swing. In a sense, the swing that takes a course that you can accelerate your bat the most is your best and fundamental swing. To speak of extremes, that swing may go throughout the letter high. Because it is the most important that repeating your original swing that your body request. Adjusting to baseball game that began since 1846 is next matter.
Down the middle (Jose Reyes)
4) High ball
Adjustment to the high ball is interesting theme for puncher type mechanics. However, I just means that is interest from only a mechanics point of view. On the other hand, from a player's point of view, it is just a result of reflex reaction as same as the other cases. Namely, in the case of high ball hitting, swing mechanics show interesting reaction without player's intention.
By the way, in the first place, swing of puncher type begins with down ward hand action as mentioned above. Then, if so, it makes you difficult to hit a high ball because your bat is swung down already. However, in this case, your swing mechanics adjust a high ball with a particular motion by reflex reaction. And the reason of why I think it is interest is that almost all hitters show the same reaction under the unconsciousness. So, in the first, let me show some examples of that below.
Adjustment to the high ball is interesting theme for puncher type mechanics. However, I just means that is interest from only a mechanics point of view. On the other hand, from a player's point of view, it is just a result of reflex reaction as same as the other cases. Namely, in the case of high ball hitting, swing mechanics show interesting reaction without player's intention.
By the way, in the first place, swing of puncher type begins with down ward hand action as mentioned above. Then, if so, it makes you difficult to hit a high ball because your bat is swung down already. However, in this case, your swing mechanics adjust a high ball with a particular motion by reflex reaction. And the reason of why I think it is interest is that almost all hitters show the same reaction under the unconsciousness. So, in the first, let me show some examples of that below.
High ball (Eric Chavez)
Andruw Jones
Barry Bonds
First, they make top hand elbow flex at the beginning of swing. As a result, their bat rotates with grip's up ward rotation and bat head's down ward rotation. Farther result, their bat is put on the transverse plane at the beginning of swing without swinging down. Hence, they can make the bat angle for hitting a high ball.
Incidentally, this elbow flexion occurs at the same time as top hand shoulder adduction. Consequently, armpit's shut down and elbow flexion occur simultaneously on the top hand. So, when puncher type hitter's hit a high ball, this motion is always seen.
However, and of course, this motion is an unconscious-automatic-reflex-reaction-movement. So, you never must not do that (elbow flexion) consciously even in the some kind of swing drill.
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