Chapter10 Batting Tips 2

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

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)

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.

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.

Reid Brignac hits a down and outside ball 1. (side view from 0.35)

Reid Brignac hits a down and outside ball 2. (side view from 0.25)

Reid Brignac hits a high and inside ball.

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.

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.

Chapter15 Physical Training and Stretch 2

3) Method of Hip Joint Exercise 



A) Sitting knee switch


This exercise is very easy exercise, so that you can do it while watching T.V even with subtitles. And this exercise is suitable for first exercise in the morning. First, sit down and put your both hands on the floor behind the body. And bend your both knees with 90 degrees and keep it while this exercise. Next, turn your both knees left and right (open and close) along the oblique line of hip joint. And other important points are below.

1) Don't rotate upper body together with hip joint rotation because it makes you difficult to lead the hip-joint-oblique-rotation efficiently. Incidentally, for that reason, to put the hands on the floor and fix it is important.

2) Hip-joint-open and Hip-joint-close are in correlation, that is, hip-joint-open of left leg leads hip-joint-close of right leg. And to understand and feel this correlation is one of the important theme of this exercise.

3) Have a consciousness of turning your hip joint along the oblique line of hip joint, and don't turn your leg on direction of parallel with your belt line.

4) As for counting way, one round trips is counted as two times. Because in the case of one round trip is counted as one time, counting way becomes like "one, one, two, two". And if you do so, it becomes different way from some of another exercises. As a result, you often may make a mistake about counting way. Therefore, this is a basic policy on the counting way of exercise, from point of my view.

5) As one of effective way, this exercise can be done on two pattern ways. That is, one is emphasizing on range of motion and the other is emphasizing on rhythm. And, the pattern of emphasizing on range of motion should be done firstly.


B) Infielder's squat


This is very important exercise for making a good batting stance. In this exercise, both hip joints are opened like infielder's catching stance. And this exercise aims to improve the muscle-and-skeletal-function basically, that is, this exercise almost has not an effect on improvement of muscle strength. And although this exercise, namely, infielder's squat seems very simple, in fact, it has many important point.  So, let me write about these points below.

1) Tilt your spine forward. Because hip-joint-open causes pelvis-tilt-forward, and as a result of pelvis-tilt-forward, your spine also tilts forward because pelvis is a basement of spine.

2) Don't open your toe so much because knee has a function of knee-automatic-rotation. That is, knee flexion is accompanied by lower-leg-pronation slightly, and as a result, toe's degree becomes more close-in than degree of external rotation of hip joint. On the other hand, if your toe is opened as same degree as hip joint, it will make your knee easy to bend. And as a result, quadriceps-femoris-muscle come to be used mainly. As mentioned above, this is an unfavorable state.

3) Keep your head down. Because if you face front in the state of spine tilts forward, your head's axis can't agree with spine's axis. As a result, natural "S" curve of spine can't be formed. To be exact, thoracic-spine will make lordosis, and lumbar-spine will make kyphosis, namely, it means opposite "S" curve. In the case of opposite "S" curve, the lumbar-spine's kyphosis leads pelvis-tilt-back. Therefore, keeping head down is important. As for matter, too much downed head is also unfavorable.

4) Join your both hands in front of your chest. Because if you put your hands on the knee, your elbow will stick out behind your back. As a result, your thoracic-spine will not be able to keep the kyphosis. Or rather, it will make the lordosis, and it causes the lumbar-spine-kyphosis. In the end, your pelvis will tilt back, and needless to say, that means wrong alignment. Incidentally, this stretch expresses the "linkage-system1 (chapter 6 or 7)". That is, thoracic-spine-kyphosis leads scapula-upward-rotation. And scapula-upward-rotation leads shoulder-internal-rotation, and shoulder-internal-rotation leads antebrachial-region-pronation as a chain reaction. In addition, scapula-upward-rotation also leads your elbow up. In this exercise, you will be able to feel this linkage system.

5) Make the proper "S" curve of spine. This is one of the most important theme of infielder's-squat. Because the core mechanism of linkage-system1 is that, hip-joint-open leads pelvis-tilt-forward, and pelvis-tilt-forward leads "S" curve of spine to become more sharp. So, to have been able to form the proper "S" curve of spine is a proof of completion of linkage-system1. In addition, thoracic-spine-kyphosis should be kept at high position of your back. Because if thoracic-spine-kyphosis is formed at low position, it may somewhat mean lumbar-spine-kyphosis.

6) Don't make lumbar-spine-lordosis consciously. As mentioned above, if you make lumbar-spine-lordosis consciously, your spine will make a warp on overall your spine by contraction of elector-spinae-muscle. As a result, you can not form the proper "S" curve of spine, and it means default of linkage system1.

7) Don't open your both legs laterally because, exactly, to open laterally is different from hip-joint-open. That is, original hip-joint-open is formed along with oblique line of hip joint, so that you should tilt your pelvis forward along with oblique line of hip joint. That's the real hip-joint-open.

8) Keep your hip at knee level. Because if your hip is lowed under the knee level, your pelvis will become easy to tilt back. As a yardstick, your femor should be kept horizontally.

9) Don't keep your body statically so much longer, because it causes muscle strain. If worst come to worst, it even causes injury. Concretely, you should stand up after about 10 to 15 seconds, and repeat it several times.



C) Iliopsoas step


This exercise is very effective about pelvis-tilt-forward. Although this exercise has less effect on build up of iliopsoas muscle, it is very effective about improving the "function" of iliopsoas muscle. Because this exercise, namely iliopsoas-step is using the repeat of stretch and contraction of iliopsoas muscle rhythmically. So that, you can improve the flexibility and strength of iliopsoas muscle at the same time. As a result, you will get a good posture like Denzel Washington or President Obama. I means that real good posture is not accompanied by stick out of chest, it rather forms thoracic-spine-kyphosis. So now, I will write about "how to" and some important points of iliopsoas-step.

1) Lifting of leg is an automatic motion. Many people tend to lift their leg consciously, but it does not mean the state that iliopsoas muscle functions efficiently. That is, in the iliopsoas-step, lifting of leg is a result of stretch reflex of iliopsoas muscle. In detail, first, iliopsoas muscle is stretched in the stick forward motion of hip. And next, hip joint flexes as a result of stretch reflex of iliopsoas muscle, and in this scene, weight shift to the one leg causes lifting up of the other leg. Of course, this leg's lift up motion is a result of stretch reflex of iliopsoas muscle. Namely, it's a result of unconscious muscle contraction. And it should be so. By the way, many people tend to be not able to lift their leg so high in the beginner stage, because their iliopsoas muscle have not been developed yet. However, in this case, you should not lift your leg forcibly and consciously.

2) Don't emphasize the arm swing. In this exercise, body swing of backward and forward leads arm swing in the opposite direction by counteraction. However, if this arm swing is emphasized, it will become another meaning motion somewhat. More detailedly, it makes you difficult to use the core muscle efficiently, and in particular, it tend to cause a pelvis-tilt-back in the motion of backward body swing.

3) Knee flexes automatically when it is lifted. When your hip is sticked out backward, your one side leg is lifted by stretch reflex of iliopsoas muscle, and it means hip joint flexion. So, in this phase, your hamstrings is extended by hip joint flexion, especially for in the lifted leg. By the way, hamstrings has the other function, that is, this muscle causes also knee flexion. So that, lifting of leg is accompanied by knee flexion automatically. Of course, it is an automatic motion, so you should not emphasize knee flexion consciously. However, it is important that don't  keep your knee unbending trough out this exercise.

4) To land from heel side is important point, because it means putting your weight on the shinbone. As mentioned in chapter ●, power of hip joint extension is transmitted to the ground, through the shinbone. So that, in this case, you can use the power of hamstrings efficiently, and as a result, you can stick your hip forward strongly by hip joint extension. On the other hand, to put a weight on the toe causes contraction of quadriceps-femoris-muscle. Although it also can be said as for batting stance, to put a weight on the toe makes you difficult to use the power of hamstrings. Certainly it often brings you some kind of stable feeling, but it's just only mere stable feeling, that is, that stable feeling due to contraction of quadriceps-femoris-muscle does not help the acceleration of bat swing.


Be that as it may, first, to land from heel side and put your weight on the heel side is important, and next, pushing the ground strongly and sticking your hip forward strongly are important too. In addition, it is necessary that  put your weight on the landed foot as enough as possible in order to push the ground strongly. And it is also necessary that land your foot directly-under the gravity point in order to put your weight on the landed foot enough.


5) The highlight of the iliopsoas-step is the scene of sticking the hip forward by hip joint extension. And in this scene, the vertebral column should warp as large as possible. By the way, although, muscle relaxation is important theme, that importance is established on the presupposition that relaxation is a preparation of power production. Namely, relaxation and power production are two sides of the same coin, as for in the sports motion. So now, in the case of iliopsoas-step, the highest point of power production is the point of your hip is sticked forward maximally. In addition, switching from relaxation to power production smoothly is very important theme.


6) As one of the effective way, this exercise can be done on two pattern ways. That is, one is emphasizing on range of motion and the other is emphasizing on rhythm. And the pattern of emphasizing on range of motion should be done firstly. Basically, iliopsoas-step has a dancing feeling, and good rhythm means good muscle function. In addition, you will progress iliopsoas-step by repeating it, and as a result, you will be able to feel the good rhythm. And of course, development of iliopsoas muscle cause your legs to lift up until high position more than now. That is, height of lifted leg means strength of iliopsoas muscle.



D) Round Trip Swing


It is easy to understand by watching following video, that this exercise has baseball flavor motion, so that, it likely to have good effect. Of course, I have felt that good effect from this exercise. In particular, when I tried to improve my left-handed-hitting, round-trip-swing was very effective as a fundamental training. So now, let me write about "how to" and some important points of round-trip-swing.

1) At the first place, round-trip-swing starts from following figure's posture, that is, it looks like golf's address, additionally arm swing also looks like a golf swing. And of course, in the case of using your right arm, right leg is trained mainly. In particular, back swing phase is important because back swing motion leads the hip joint open of same side leg. That is, in the back swing phase, you swing up your right (or left) arm along the oblique line of right-leg-hip-joint. As a result, your right-leg-hip-joint will open, and your whole body will low down as a result of knee flexion. Incidentally, state that hand is lifted to the highest position means top position of back swing.

Next, as for in this exercise, forward swing is led by lower body's movement. That is, when you stand up from low position by right leg extension, your right leg comes back to the starting position. In other words, in your right leg, hip-joint-close occurs as a rebound motion from hip-joint-open. As a result, your hip rotates in the forward swing direction, and this hip rotation leads the arm swing. At this point, your right arm is swung down to the six o'clock position, and your right leg comes back to the state of the start position. So then, you swing your wright arm in the follow through direction, and it causes right-leg's-hip-joint-close and left-leg's-hip-joint-open. The above is the outward route, and after that, you come back to the top position as a homeward run. So, repeat this stroke from 10 to 20 times.

2) As for training-side leg, in the hip-joint-open phase, put your weight on your out edge-sole. Because it makes you easy to make the hip-joint-open. And it is effective for avoiding the strain of quadriceps-femoris-muscle. In more detail, at the maximum point of hip-joint-open, your in-edge-sole should float slightly. And as a result of above, you will come to receive your weight by outside line of your leg, and it also makes you easy to make the hip-joint-open. of course, putting the weight on out-edge-sole and outside-line is adapted to the batting stance in the state of diluted. ( As for in the batting stance, hip-joint-open is not made so much as compared with round-trip-swing, so that, above skills are diluted somewhat.) These skills make you easy to use the hamstrings and avoid the strain of quadriceps-femoris-muscle.

3) Gluteus-maximus-muscle is important. At the maximum point of hip-joint-open, your spin makes warp by the back-swing-motion. And in this point, you will receive your weight by the gluteus-maximus-muscle. Namely, at the maximum point of hip-joint-open, you should receive your weight by next part: out-edge-sole, outside-line-of-leg, gluteus-muximus-muscle. Of course, above is adapted to the batting stance in the state of diluted.

4) Taking an up-and-down-rhythm is important, At the center point between top position and finish position, your knee is extended and your head reaches the highest point, that is, this point means "up". And at the top position and finish position, your body is lowed to the lowest position, and this point means "down". Thus, this exercise is repeat of up and down. In particular, your knee should extend at the "up" point, because it enables you to relax the leg muscles. It is very important because muscle relaxation enables you to keep a good rhythm.

5) The most important aim of this exercise is improvement of interlock function of hip-joint-open and hip-joint-close. In that respect, round-trip-swing can be said as the best exercise, and that interlock function is one of the most important function for all baseball players. So that, I want to recommend you this exercise strongly.

6) Take a rhythm with heel tapping. At the down-position, your not-training-side leg is in the hip-joint-close, and standing with the toe. And from this point, you stand up at the same time as arm swing. In this scene, your not-training-side leg is stepping down to the ground, and it is stepped on the ground at the same time as you reaches the up-position. That is, this is the heel tapping and it synchronizes with the up-position. So that, you can take a rhythm with this tapping motion like tap, tap, tap, tap.

7) As for counting way, on this particular case, you may want to take a different way from another exercises. That is, top-position can be used for counting number. In other words, 1round trip is counted as 1time.


E) Rhythm Hamstrings Squat

This exercise has an effect on hamstrings and gluteus-maximus-muscle. In this exercise, you can improve the strength and flexibility at the same time, differently from weight training. Although it has more less effect on muscle building than weight training, it has more large effect on improvement the "function" than weight training. So, let me wright about "how to" and some tips of this exercise below.

1) First, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and low your body to a half sitting position with holding out your arms. Next, from above position, you stick out your hip strongly at the same time as pulling back your arms. And again, you back to the start position, and repeat this stroke from 10 to 20 times. Also as for rhythm-hamstrings-squat, rhythm is a very important theme.

2) Don't put out your knee in front of toe because in that case, your quadriceps-femoris-muscle gets strain by receiving your weight. As mentioned in chapter 6, this posture means, knee-bending-squat-down. So that, you should keep your knee from just above the toe - behind it. And if you do so, you can use your hamstrings and gluteus-maximus-muscle more efficiently.

3) To extension your knee at the up-position is important because it enables you to relax the leg muscles. In more detail, at the up-position, your heel should float slightly as a result of leg extension. And it makes you easy to relax the leg muscles because it means to be released from gravity force momentarily by slight hopping motion. Because of this, rhythm-hamstrings-squat is accompanied by little sound of footsteps, and it is a proof of good skills.

4) As for in the down phase, it should be a free fall action by gravity force. And of course, "relaxation" enables you do it. That is, after reaching the up-position, you should relax whole your body. And as a result, your body falls down by gravity force, and next, you stand up from that down-position by using the muscle reflex function. Simply, you may want to imagine your body as a basket ball.

5) As for in the up phase, you should have conscious of sticking forward your hip strongly because it means hip joint extension. On the other hand, if this exercise becomes just mere up-and-down motion, knee flexion-extension motion will be used mainly. Of course, it means that quadriceps-femoris-muscle is used mainly in this exercise. Certainly, this exercise includes up-and-down motion and back-and-forward motion. However, speaking from point of practical view, up-and-down motion is a result of back-and-forward motion. Because back-and-forward motion, that is, "sticking forward motion of the hip" means hip joint extension, and in this case, hip joint extension means standing up motion. Therefore, it can be said that up-and-down motion is a result of back-and-forward motion. By the way, this is very important point. Because in the case of up-and-down motion becomes main, quadriceps-femoris-muscle comes to be used mainly. On the other hand, in the case of back-and-forward motion becomes main, hamstrings comes to be used mainly. However and strictly speaking, it is better that sticking forward your hip obliquely upwardly slightly.

6) Put your weight on the heel side. As mentioned in chapter ●, power of hip joint extension is transmitted to the ground, through the shinbone. So that, if you do so, you can use the power of hamstrings efficiently. On the other hand, On the other hand, to put a weight on the toe causes contraction of quadriceps-femoris-muscle.


F) Squeeze Kick

This exercise focuses on hip-joint-close. As stated in following video clip, this exercise seems to have symmetrical motion. However, as mentioned below, this exercise is not the symmetrical motion. So, let me write about detail of this exercise, Namely squeeze-kick.

1) First, let me introduce the specific way of squeeze-kick. Now, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, Oops, this is as for in the case of training the right leg. So, twist your hip to the right with lifting your left leg. That means back swing, and twist back your hip and left leg to the start position. Next, after landing the left leg, kick the ground with your right leg along the direction of hip-joint-close. This is the outward route, so that, next, you go back along the same route as a homeward route, and repeat this stroke about 10 times.

2) In this exercise, your both arms are swung to the opposite direction of hip rotation by counteraction. Or rather, twisting the shoulder and hip to the opposite direction each other is a tip of squeeze-kick. And as for arms, it should be in relaxation.

3) To imagine the oblique line of hip joint is important, also as for not-training-side leg. In addition, hip-joint-close means hip-joint-extension essentially, so that, don't use your knee mainly.

4) At about timing of kick, it should be after landing of opposite leg. Because opposite leg plays a role of pivot leg for the kick. And the fixed pivot makes you easy to kick strongly, so that you should start the kick after the landing of opposite leg.

Chapter 13 Et cetera 3

5) Method of Swing Drill the"SUBURI"

From what I have heard that American players almost doesn't take a swing drill without ball. But I have read that Ted Williams repeated the swing drill under a coconut tree in Florida. On the other hand, as for in Japan, swing drill is one of the most popular practice and it is called as "suburi". For example, I have some times seen a young guy who stands alone with having a baseball bat at a parking lot in the middle of the night. In the case of Japan, almost pedestrians understand it as that "baseball player is taking suburi". Certainly, from point of social view, it can't be said as the favorable sight, but it's a proof of spread of suburi in Japan.

By the way, in the case of my baseball gym, I regard the suburi as a very important practice. And I think that suburi should be done in a game-like format. That is, the suburi that I means is different from warm-up swing that is seen in on-deck circle. Suburi has some important effects especially for young players. For example, suburi forms muscle memory and makes one's fundamental swing. So now, let me write about my method of suburi.

Method of Suburi

~ Purpose ~

1) Improvement of quality of muscle memory
2) Formation of one's fundamental swing
3) Improvement of muscle strength and flexibility

Point 1  Face Direction

Many players take a swing drill with their face that is turned to the home plate. But as mentioned in chapter 10, This face direction makes you difficult to rotate your shoulder enough and as a result, your swing should be an arm-initiative-swing. In addition, this face direction causes a too much rolling over wrist and small follow through. Therefore, your face should be turned to the pitchers direction.

Point 2  Gaze at One Point

In the case of suburi, the eyesight tends to become instable like a camera shake, because suburi has no subject to hit different from actual batting. In addition instability of eyesight often causes instability of hitting motion itself. Therefore, as for in the suburi, you should lock-on to the certain one point. Of course, that one point should be positioned in pitcher's direction from your view. A stain or flaw of wall can be uses as a lock-on subject. And to keep gazing a lock-on subject causes your swing to become stable.

Point 3  Don't Use a Mirror

Many players like looking a mirror while a suburi. But, I am sure that suburi should be done without mirror. Because, as for in the almost all sports, balance is kept by using the various sense expect looking oneself. Incidentally, various sense means sense of mass, sense of eyesight, sense of axis, sense of force flow, etc. On the other hand, in the case of heavy users of mirror, they keep their balance by almost only looking oneself in the mirror and this tendency is emphasized as time goes by. In this case, various sense (sense of mass, sense of eyesight, sense of axis, sense of force flow, etc) will deteriorate. Finally, they often show a certain tendency like that they come to don't be able to do the suburi without mirror. I actually have seen this kind of player, or rather, I also have experienced that state in my high school days. So I know well about uncomfortable feeling of it and it can be said as a result of habituate.

Be that as it may, I don't means that never look a mirror. Certainly, mirror has an effect as a device for conforming own swing, therefore, in some cases, you might want to use a mirror. But even as for in that case, to use a video camera is more effective.

Point 4  From Rocking Motion to Recoil Action 

In general, as for in the suburi, almost players don't take a recoil action, or rather, can't take a recoil action. Because their suburi is something different from actual batting, for example, they turn their face to the home plate and take a swing as the arm-initiative-swing with reduced hip rotation. In this case, recoil action can't occur. It is needless to say, conscious recoil action is meaningless. That is, recoil action is a yardstick for passing judgement on that the swing was wright or wrong. Therefore, if you couldn't take a recoil action, it should be thought as a proof of that your swing has some of problem. Anyway, in general, "finish" is thought as a end of the suburi. But not so, suburi should be regarded as that ended by completion of recoil action.

揺らぎ

Point 5  Don't Imagine the Location of Pitch

It might be thought as unexpected, but I am sure that as for in the suburi, to imagine the location of pitch in advance is almost meaningless. Because, in the case of game, we pass judgement on the course to swing just before the start of swing. And this judgement is passed by the reflexes. That is, this situation can't be expressed in the suburi without video equipment or assistant and as for that method (with video or assistant), I wrote about it in chapter 8. In conclusion, as for suburi, swing course should be decided by what course you swung naturally, because that course is the course that your muscle wanted to go. Suburi is a practice that is practiced for constructing one's own fundamental swing. Therefore, in the case of suburi, our kinetic side should be regard as the most important theme, and adjustment to the baseball game that has been played since 1846 is secondly importance. In short, as for suburi, the fastest course is the best course. And that course often passes the out of strike zone, but it's ok.

Point 6  Take Up an Enough Space

Bat swing demands a large space unexpectedly. Especially by including a enough recoil action, you will come to understand that unexpectedness. On the other hand, if you repeat suburi too many times in the narrow space like a single room, your swing will become small as a result of adaptation to width of room. So this theme is a large theme unexpectedly. Because finally, it is concerned with hitting mechanics itself. Therefore, if you have a situation that you take the suburi in a narrow space, you should use a short and enough heavy bat.

Point 7 Adjustment to Actual Batting

As mentioned above, suburi is a very effective practice. However, Even so, suburi is suburi and it is different from actual batting. So, after the suburi, you can't always have a good feeling in the actual batting including B.P. Therefore, you need to take a some kind of batting practice after the suburi and in some cases, unexpected many times swing will become necessary. It can be said as "after care" of suburi. But even so, suburi is still effective practice and primary reasons of it are next. Firstly, suburi can be done alone in a narrow space compared with other kind of batting practice. And therefore, you can repeat a countless number of swing. Secondly, even too much heavy or light weight bat that can't be used in actual batting, you can use these kind of bat in the suburi and it will become a good exercise. So then, I want to emphasize that if you don't have a knowledge about necessity of after care, you might come to question the effectivity of suburi and in fact, I have sometimes seen or heard about that case. So this knowledge is important as same as practice itself.

Point 8  Quick Swing and Misunderstanding About It

As for in the suburi, quickness should be thought as one of the most important theme. Or rather, "quick swing with empty mind" should be used as a slogan of suburi. Because suburi is the most primitive training of batting. By the way, I want to emphasize that is very important that difference of reading of quickness causes difference of actual hitting motion. Therefore, reading of quickness is very important and misunderstanding about quickness deteriorates the hitting mechanics. So, What does "misunderstanding about quickness" mean? This is in the case of that I teach my hitting method, many players try to accelerate their bat only arond the contact zone. Certainly, it may rather be thought as a proper way in general idea and at the same time, it means graduate acceleration, that is, it is somewhat swinger-type-fashioned-way. Because in the condition of only-contact-zone-acceleration, there is some space of time until the acceleration. And as a result, this space of time often brings some kind of preparation motion even it is slightly. Therefore, as for in the suburi, only-contact-zone-acceleration is swinger-type-fashioned-way. Because it is not suitable for quick and sudden power generation. So what to do for proper way? The answer is that you should have consciousness of trying to complete whole your swing as quickly as possible, that is, quickly means about "whole of swing" not about only contact zone. As a result, time-to-contact is reduced and consciousness of quick and sudden power generation will becomes more sharp.

(By the way, consciousness of trying to reach the contact point as quickly as possible is not suitable for suburi. Because suburi has no mark of contact point, and even if you make it, there is no evidence of that the mark is put on the correct position, or rather, in a strict sense, it is almost impossible to put the mark on the correct position. Because it is too scientific matter to do it manually.)

Be that as it may, in the case of suburi, you should concentrate to accelerate your bat as quickly as possible. And it is the world where is almost nothing but sense and feeling. Incidentally, that sense can be expressed by only onomatopoeia or image like a flash on the moments. Swing itself is a sensory matter.


~ Some Another Pattern of Suburi ~

1) Reaction Suburi

This drill has a effect of improving the quickness of reaction and your sense about quickness will become more sharp. Any way, this drill is concerned with quickness in every respect.
Concretely, this drill needs a partner or video(that is taken yourself as a partner) for giving the sign for swing. The sign is given by hand clap and you start your mechanics according to hand clap as quickly as possible. That is just like a quick-reaction-game. Namely, in your consciousness, you try to swing after the sign as quickly as possible. As a result, you will be able to improve your reflexes by this reaction-suburi. In addition, From my experience of teaching, it is confirmed that swing in the reaction-suburi is similar to the swing at the game more than ordinary suburi. So then, let me give some specific point bellow.

a) The hands must be clapped without back swing because that way (without back swing) is suitable for quick and sudden power generation.

b) Some kind of sound can also be used as a sign but visual sign is more better. Because as mentioned above, in the case of suburi, you need to gaze at one point while your swing. That is, the sign should be given from that  "one point" and it makes you easy to concentrate in every respect.

c) In the case of using an partner, the partner needs to understand your rhythm from rocking motion to swing. Because, if partner gives the sign in the worth timing, your swing also gets worth.

d) Reaction-suburi can adapt to almost only automatic-step and it will be understood by doing it actually. So, if you adopt leg-lift-step or two-step, you should adopt an automatic-step as for only in the reaction suburi.

2) Heavy and Light Weight Bat 


As for in the suburi, to use heavy and light weight bat is very effective exercise. Because it can improve the strongness, flexibility and quickness. Especially, suburi with heavy weight bat can be regard as most effective weight training. On the other hand, it is accompanied by risk of deterioration of hitting mechanics because too much heavy load causes muscle strain and burden, and it causes deterioration of quality of muscle memory.  To be burdened by too much heavy weight in the swing motion causes serious deterioration of quality of muscle memory rather than weight training. That is, whether good or bat, suburi's similarity to actual batting causes great effect on the hitting motion. So now, let me write about effect and important point of suburi with heavy and light bat.

a) Heavy Weight Bat (Heavy Bat Suburi)

In the case of puncher type, as for heavy training bat, a short bat is better. And if you use an usual length bat, you should set a weight on the root of bat. Because, suburi with a short and heavy bat has a effect of improving more the body trunk's muscles than the arm's muscles. In addition, short and heavy bat is suitable for puncher type's mechanics. And there are two primary reasons of it. Firstly, as mentioned above, puncher type's batting stance demands a oblique inclined bat. Therefore, arm's muscle is burdened by weight of bat head more than case of straight standing bat. So, if you repeat so many times swing in that state (oblique inclined bat), your swing will lose a flexibility as time goes by. Especially, hardening of arm's muscle is a serious problem. Head-balanced-heavy-weight bat will emphasize this tendency. Secondly, puncher type's mechanics doesn't use the suspension-inertial-force mainly for the acceleration of bat. Therefore, weight of bat head almost doesn't have effect on the acceleration of bat. That is, weight of bat head is just a literal dead weight. In other words, as for puncher type's mechanics, to use a head balanced bat has no effect. For these reasons, it can be said that heavy and short bat is suitable for the fundamental swing training of puncher type hitter.

In addition, heavy-bat-suburi should be classified into two patterns. First, one is using an extreme heavy weight bat that can't be used in actual batting. In this case, suburi is regarded as a kind of weight training and you don't need to take a same form as an actual batting. for example, to stand your bat makes you easy to relax your arm muscles. Next, the other is using a little bit heavy weight bat that you can swing it as same form as an actual batting. In this case, suburi is regarded as a kind of batting practice and you should take a same form as an actual batting.

b) Light Weight Bat (Light Bat Suburi)


As for light-bat-suburi, I want to emphasize the importance of it. That is, it is important from point of mechanical view. It means that oblique inclined bat tends to cause a muscle strain and it causes problem about muscle memory. So you need to take some sort of device for improvement of quality of muscle memory, especially, as for in the case of puncher type. Namely, light-bat-suburi has an effect of solving a weak point of the puncher type's mechanics. By the way, in the case of light-bat-suburi, a little league bat can be used as a good tool. Or rather, I want to recommend you to use a plastic stick like following figure. Herewith, you can reduce a source of muscle strain to the utmost limit.  However, light-bat-suburi should be thought as one side of heavy-and-light-bat-suburi. 


In the case of using a light weight bat, you can use a several kind of bat depends on aim and situation. For example, after using an extreme heavy weight bat, you should use an extreme light bat for keeping a balance. Similarly, after using a little bit heavy weight bat, you should use a little bit a light weight bat. Of course, it doesn't need to be kept always, but, to put a this kind of rule by yourself is important.

By the way, weight training or heavy-bat-suburi basically tends to cause a deterioration of quality of muscle memory. On the other hand, to repeat a swing without the slightest stress in your muscle causes the improvement of quality of muscle memory. And muscle memory is one of the most important factor of skills. So, light-bat-suburi is a berry effective skill up drill. Especially, after the weight training, you should take a light-bat-suburi for recovering somewhat flexibility and reminding your muscle of correct memory.

In general, many players tend to avoid using light weight bat in the practice. In a sense, that can be said as natural tendency because they hesitate to feel their game-use-bat heavily more than usual. However to feel a bat heavily doesn't mean always your weakness, sometimes it means your acute sensitivity. That is, the real problem is your substantial muscle strength, and if you have kept your muscle strength enough, to feel your bat heavily should be thought as a proof of your sensitivity, and it is important ability for adjustment to various pitch. Incidentally, light-bat-suburi also has an effect of improving that kind of sensitivity.

3) Warm-Up-suburi

Certainly, to swing quickly is important. However, it isn't always necessary. For example, in the case of warm up at the on-deck circle, it is natural that you don't swing with your maximum power. In that case, half-power-swing becomes necessary and it's the warm-up-suburi. And as for image of warm-up-suburi, it is easy to imagine because it can be seen in on-deck circle of today's MLB. By the way, warm-up-suburi doesn't only mean just to reduce your power by half. Warm-up-suburi has it's own characteristic method and it depends on characteristic mechanics of puncher type, that is, warm-up-suburi has different method between puncher type and swinger type. In fact, as for in the MLB, warm up swing in on-deck circle has changed from Ted Williams Generation to Barry Bonds Generation. And from point of my view, that change expresses the change of hitting mechanics very well. For example, in the case of swinger-type-generation, as for suburi, many hitters rotate their shoulder too much and swing their bat at letter high zone with level swing. On the other hand, in the case of today's MLB, as for suburi, many hitters doesn't rotate their shoulder so much and swing their bat comparatively downward. And this kind of swing expresses the characteristic mechanics of puncher type very well.

By the way, from point of my view, warm-up-suburi is just only a supplementary drill and too much repeating it causes deterioration of quality of muscle memory. That is, too much repeating it robs you a delicate feeling that is necessary for adjustment to various hard pitch. Namely, warm-up-suburi is just only a warming up exercise and it almost doesn't have effect of improving the skills, especially in the case of high level players. So, in the case of my baseball gym, I teach my customers to distinguish the warm-up-suburi from ordinary suburi. And at the same time, I add that you should not repeat it time and time again. So let me write about method of warm-up-suburi concretely based on above theory. Oops, of course, that method presupposes of being a puncher type.

As mentioned above, the warm-up-suburi of puncher type has two primary characteristics, one is a half or three quarter shoulder rotation and the other is a downward swing. So, what does mean these characteristics? At the first place, probably, this kind of suburi isn't spread based on certain theory, it is may be spread by accumulation of following somebody's example. However, not therefore, it has been able to express the characteristics of mechanics of puncher type very well. Firstly, downward swing means using of cross line muscles and top hand dominant swing. And secondly, half or three quarter shoulder rotation has effect of avoiding occurrence of bottom-hand-pull. In addition, as for this suburi, face direction is turned to somewhat home plate's direction for reducing the degree of rotation. Furthermore, as for only in the warm-up-suburi, single-hand-follow makes you easy to swing more smoothly And the reason is that as for in the condition of half or three quarter shoulder rotation, double-hands-follow causes your wrist to roll over too much. Therefore, as for only in the case of warm-up-suburi, I admit the single hand follow unwillingly. In the end, warm-up-suburi has many unfavorable factor. For example, face direction, single-hand-follow, conscious down ward swing, etc. And these unfavorable factors inevitably becomes necessary for avoiding more unfavorable factor in the condition of half powered swing. That is, at the first place, half powered swing is the source of all problems. However, for warming up your muscles, half powered swing becomes necessary. So, warm-up-suburi only becomes necessary when it is done as a warm up. You never should not repeat it too many times because it causes deterioration of quality of muscle memory.




6) Likes and Dislikes of Puncher Type


Needless to say, tactics of baseball still have continued the change. However, it isn't said generally that a part of that change is brought by change of hitting mechanics. For example, fake-bunt-and-hit almost can't be seen in today's MLB. Some player like Derek Jeter is likely to do the fake-bunt-and-hit, but I don't have ever seen that. Even a speedy-powerless-left-handed-hitter does almost not a fake-bunt-and-hit. On the other hand, in the case of japan, fake-bunt-and-hit is taught in a high school team as a important skill. By the way, I remember that when So Taguchi tried to Major League, he had surprised about that many American young players can't do the fake-bunt-and-hit. Incidentally, in the case of japan, swinger type hitters still command a majority among the left handed hitters. So, in this section, I will write about some examples of likes and dislikes of puncher type.

1) Fake-Bunt-and-Hit


Fake-bunt-and-hit demands a pull back motion of bat and arms, and this motion causes the stretch of bottom-hand-back-muscles. Therefore, in the case of fake-bunt-and-hit, bottom-hand-pull occurs strongly. That's why fake-bunt-and-hit is not suitable for puncher type hitter.

2) Hitting to Opposite Field


Of course, in todays MLB, there are many hitters who are good at hitting to opposite field like Derek Jeter. However, do you think that "airy" and "softish" opposite hitting like Tony Gwynn, Tony Fernendez and George Brett can't be seen in today's MLB, don't you?  As a matter of fact, as for that kind of opposite hitting, swinger type is more good at it than puncher type. The reason is that puncher type's mechanics is established based on full power generation, so, as for controlling the hand action in the condition of half power, swinger type is more good at it than puncher type. Therefore, in the case of puncher type, intentional opposite hitting has not so much effect of improving the bating result. Unexpectedly, to hit naturally brings flexible adjustment instinctively by reflexes like Vladimir Guerrero.

By the way, swinger type's opposite hitting seems skillfully more than puncher type's it. It may be that to control the hand action with half power gives me that skillful atmosphere. Of course, they are skillful actually, but their swing gives me more skillful impression than their batting result. On the other hand, some high average hitters of puncher type often give me impression like a constant hitting machine. They doesn't give me so much skillful impression, but in the end, they produce the good result more than my impression. What I want say is that a "temperament" of average hitter also has changed as a result of change of hitting mechanics. Certainly I have the same impression between Tony Gwynn and Joe Mauer and it is natural that these two hitters are classified as swinger type equally. On the other hand, in today's MLB, many right handed hitter produce high batting average like Miguel Cabrera, Michael Young and Vladimir Gurrero. This also can be said that is a result of change of hitting mechanics because in the case of right hand hitter, top hand equates dominant arm. Be that as it may, although there is an exception, to adjust to various pitch by reflexes in the condition of hard hitting is the characteristic style of puncher type average hitter. And you should not think of trying to hit so much skillfully with lightish swing because it's not suitable for mechanics of puncher type.


Naturally, puncher type mechanics has a high quality ability of adjustment to various pitch. On the other hand, basically, puncher type mechanics is not suitable for controlling a ball at will because it is established based on full power generation. And to know about this sort of character makes you easy to produce a good result.


3) Fungo

It is easy to imagine that fungo swing is a difficult skill for puncher type hitter because fungo swing has pull back motion of hands to a greater or lesser degree. In addition, in many cases, fungo hitter is demanded to control a ball left and right at will. That is, fungo hitter is demanded an extremely swinger-like swing. So if you try to improve your fungo skills, your original hitting mechanics will rather get worth. Therefore, you should take a some kind of step for revising your swing after fungo swing.

By the way, for that matter, fungo swing has two types that depends on that which hands is used for toss up. Of course, a case that uses bottom hand for toss up is suitable for puncher type because it has more less pull back motion than a case of using top hand.

4) Pepper Game


In the case of pepper game, a hitter is demanded to control a ball with less power swing. Needless to say, it's not suitable for puncher type and as for pepper game, and it is important that to take a some kind of step for revising your swing after pepper game.  And as for in the case of pepper game, how to do the pepper game is rather next important theme because after all, pepper game has not so much effect of improving you hitting mechanics at least as for puncher type. Of course, it also can be said regarding a fungo.


5) Some Kind of Drills


Some hitting drills have unfavorable factor for puncher type mechanics. For example, a drill that accompanies walking, a drill that emphasizes some lower body's motion, and a drill that needs to use a some kind of long and head balanced stick are not suitable for puncher type hitter and the reasons are written in above articles from the beginning to here. And for that matter, regardless which type (puncher or swinger) mechanics you adopt, I never recommend certain kind of drills that emphasizes a partial body motion and I believe that to swing as same form as actual batting is the best hitting drill.


6) A Popcorn Machine


As mentioned in chapter 8, as for in the case of automatic-step, some kind of pitching machine can't be used. Because pitching machine basically makes you difficult to do the pre-release-start. So special heater pitching machine is not suitable for batting practice of automatic-step-hitter. In particular, a certain machine that launches a ball suddenly from ring (looks like batting doughnut) is especially not suitable for automatic-step because it (I call it as popcorn machine) doesn't permit us to do the pre-release-start. So in the case of too much fast to hit with automatic-step, you should change your step motion and adjust that pitching machine. Of course, it does not mean that automatic-step can't adjust to fast ball, it just only mean that a fast ball that is launched from certain kind of pitching machine makes you hard to hit it with automatic-step. And trying to fast ball is very effective practice for improving your reflexes. So even if you can't hit it with automatic-step, you should try to it positively with using some another step. Because, regardless what kind of hitting style you take, trying to fast ball improves your quickness, eye-body coordination, reflexes against fast pitch, dynamic vision, and another various ability. And if you don't have this sort of knowledge, you will come to have doubts about validity of automatic-step in spite of it's ideality. Therefore, this sort of knowledge becomes important.