Matching bat is different between puncher type and swinger type. If you make a miss choice about it, you may be not able to have good batting results even if you have a good gift. And this theme is concerned with the theme of "swing image". For example, batters who have a image of using hip rotation and centrifugal force for swing acceleration will like head ballanced bat. Of course, that image is suitable for swinger type mechanics. So, head ballanced bat is not suitable for puncher type mechanics. In fact, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire had used middle balanced bat despite they are long hitters.
2012年3月28日水曜日
Batting Stance
In the case of general coaching, form of "top-of-swing" is regarded as an important matter. Because a position that of swing starts from there is important. This is a simple and clear rogic. However, in the case of automatic step, that position means batting stance itself. So that, batting stance is a very important theme for automatic step.
High-and-Inside-Fastball and Down-and-Outside-Breaking-Ball
High-and-Inside-Fastball = H.I.F.B
Down-and-Outside-Breaking-Ballc = D.O.B.B
I will not write about how to hit a H.I.F.B and D.O.B.B. in this section. I want to say on the importance of hitting these kind of balls.
Down-and-Outside-Breaking-Ballc = D.O.B.B
I will not write about how to hit a H.I.F.B and D.O.B.B. in this section. I want to say on the importance of hitting these kind of balls.
Flexibility
Advantage of autiomatic step is a simpleness. So that, essentially, sureness should be characteristics of automatic step. However, in riality, there are many low average power hitters who are classified as an automatic step of puncher type. Why?
2012年3月26日月曜日
Key Of Success For Puncher Type
I can say one thing from my research that there are many factors for success beside skills, physical strength, and gift.
★1 Image Of Swing
★2 Timing
★3 Flexibility
★4 Batting Stance
★5 Bat Selection and Grip Type
★6 Double Hands Follow
★7 Speed Between From Start to Contact
★8 Fastball and Slowball
★10 Strong and Weak Points of Puncher Type
★11 Bat Angle
★12 Muscle Freshness at a Batter's Box
★13 Swing Drill and Tee Batting
★14 Inside Out Swing
★15 Rhythm (Rocking Motion)
★1 Image Of Swing
★2 Timing
★3 Flexibility
★4 Batting Stance
★5 Bat Selection and Grip Type
★6 Double Hands Follow
★7 Speed Between From Start to Contact
★8 Fastball and Slowball
★10 Strong and Weak Points of Puncher Type
★11 Bat Angle
★12 Muscle Freshness at a Batter's Box
★13 Swing Drill and Tee Batting
★14 Inside Out Swing
★15 Rhythm (Rocking Motion)
2012年3月24日土曜日
Key of Success for Puncher Type 2
Theme2 Timing
Timing is important theme for automatic step. But it has a little different meaning from the other types of hitting mechanics. That is, automatic step requires "pre-release-start" as mentioned in chapter8. So now at first, let me explain again the pre-release-start simply.
In the scene of "start of hitting mechanics", lower body's muscles contract unconsciously. In other words, lower body's muscle contraction is occurred at the "moment of start".
Albert Pujols (automatic step or no step) This movie is automatic step.
Michael Young (two step)
Miguel Cabrera (leg lift step) As far as I know, He has the latest timing among famous sluggers.
By the way, above results of research tells me that timing of start (pre-release-start or post-release-start) does not concern directly in batting average. Of course it is needless to say that "late timing start" makes it easy to have a high batting average. Because it means can see a ball while long time. Miguel Cabrera is a proof of it. So to put it bluntly, pre-release-star is a weak point of automatic step. However, that week point is brought by characteristic of baseball game. That is to say, a situation that a ball comes at 90miles/hour from 60.6 feet ahead is a cause of pre-release-start. In short, pre-release-start is a result of limitation of time of baseball. For example, in the case of slow pitch soft ball, pre-release-start will not be necessary for automatic step. In other words, this weak point (pre-release-start) is not due to swing mechanics itself.
Automatic step is the ideal swing mechanics. But that ideal swing mechanics is forced to have an weak point in the baseball game. Therefore, it is difficult to say that what types of hitting styles can have the best batting result. In a sense, this is a interest of baseball because we can see various hitting styles in the baseball game.
However, there is one thing I can say that keeping a good hitting mechanics means keeping a good muscle memory. And it enables you to keep a good swing while long standing. So, of course, if you can have a high batting average with automatic step, it will be said as the ideal batting style. Jason Giambi's heyday can be said as it.
So now, what should we do to solve the problem of pre-release-start? I will write about three drills for it in this article.
1) virtual swing drill
~get used to pre-release-start~
Interestingly, automatic step hitters have not been recognizing that they are doing the pre-release-start. This fact was become clear by my hearing research in my baseball gym. Probably, MLB players also have not been recognizing it. May be, it became a kind of unconscious habit by experience.
In the case of "natural (wild)" automatic step hitters, there is no uneasiness about this problem (pre-release-start). Because they have gotten a feeling of pre-release-start unconsciously. May be, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, and Ken Griffey Jr must have gotten that sort of feeling.
On the other hand, in the case of "manufactured (by my theory)" automatic step hitters, sometimes they have a trouble with timing. In many cases, they are late for fastball because they try to start after judging strike or ball. Of course, it means post-release-start.
To sum up, automatic step hitter needs to take a following approach, that is to say, start a hitting mechanics against all pitches and if ball (not strike) comes, stop the motion at the middle of mechanics (take a pitch or check swing).
Be that as it may, as a first step, you need to get used to pre-release-start. And for this theme, movie also can be used as a tool of swing drill. Of course, that movie should be taken from back stop. Following kind of movie can be used for this drill.
Pineda's first MLB victory (0.48~)
Felix's scoreless start (1.04~)
2) short range drill
A fast ball thrown with velocity of 93miles/hour takes 0.41sec for traveling 60.6feet. And in this situation, automatic step is forced to do the pre-release-start. Namely, this problem is due to a limitation of time. So that, a situation of short range and slow ball also can express the same situation of 93miles/hour fastball in the actual baseball.
By the way, as mentioned above, automatic step needs to take a following approach that is to say, start a hitting mechanics against all pitches and if ball (not strike) comes, stop the motion at the middle of mechanics (take a pitch or check swing).
Therefore, for automatic step hitters, ability of "stop after the start" becomes very important. And that ability can be trained by the short range drill. So in the short range drill, strike/ball judgement must be judged exactly. Check swing skills is an important theme of this drill.
There are only few people who can throw a 90miles/hour fast ball. But as for only "time situation", a same situation can be expressed by using short range and slow ball. This is a meaning of the short range drill.
※) theme of short range drill
1) Improving an ability of strike/ball judgement under the situation of pre-release-start. And improving an ability of muscle reaction based on that judgement. In other words, improving a check swing skills under the situation of pre-release-start.
2) Having many experiences of hitting a ball actually under the situation of pre-release-start and getting used to it.
3) towel or rubber ball drill
In the case of pre-release-start, you must to start your hitting mechanics while you don't know what kind of pitch is thrown. So that, basically, you have no choice but waiting for a fastball, expect a case of waiting for a breaking ball as a gamble.
In this situation, adjustment to slow breaking ball after the start with fastball timing is very important. This is one of the most important theme for automatic step hitter. But in generally, it is difficult to have a chance of taking a that kind of BP. So, simulation of it in a short range BP becomes important. Towel-or-rubber-ball-drill is a simulation of adjustment to slow and fast ball after the pre-release-start.
towel or rubber ball drill
~ detail of towel or rubber ball drill ~
Timing is important theme for automatic step. But it has a little different meaning from the other types of hitting mechanics. That is, automatic step requires "pre-release-start" as mentioned in chapter8. So now at first, let me explain again the pre-release-start simply.
In the scene of "start of hitting mechanics", lower body's muscles contract unconsciously. In other words, lower body's muscle contraction is occurred at the "moment of start".
And legs push the ground by the lower body's muscle contraction. As a result, weight transfer occurs by ground reaction force.
In addition elevation of front leg occurs as a result of weight transfer like following movie and figure.
As a result of above mechanism, elevation of front leg stars from the moment-of-start. And as mentioned in chapter2, moment-of-start means the moment when you decide to start your swing.
From the above words, following fact can be said that "elevation of front leg starts from the moment when you decide to start your swing". In other words, elevation of front leg starts from the moment when you decide to accelerate your bat.
So moment-of-start can be distinguished by watching the elevation of front leg. And it makes clear that "when did that hitter try to start his swing in his consciousness". (It is more previous stage than swing starts actually like following figure.)
So now, let me write about main subject from here.
In ordinary level baseball, (in the case of automatic step) moment-of-start is set before the pitcher's release. And as a result of my research against MLB hitters, in the case of automatic step, moment-of-start is distributed among following figure's area. (blue line means that area)
 |
| moment-of-start scale |
Next movie expresses the pre-release-start. Batter's front leg starts lifting up before the pitcher's release. Of course, he is an automatic step hitter and he learned my hitting theory.
So then, let me show some cases of timing of moment-of-start. For that matter, automatic-step and two-step require the pre-release-start. On the other hand, leg-lift-step can do the post-release-start. And post-release-start is an advantage of leg-lift-step. But from the mechanical point of view, automatic step is the ideal hitting style.
Albert Pujols (automatic step or no step) This movie is automatic step.
Michael Young (two step)
Miguel Cabrera (leg lift step) As far as I know, He has the latest timing among famous sluggers.
Tod Helton (leg lift step)
Magglio Ordonez (automatic step or two step) This movie is automatic step.
Matt Holliday (leg lift step)
Automatic step is the ideal swing mechanics. But that ideal swing mechanics is forced to have an weak point in the baseball game. Therefore, it is difficult to say that what types of hitting styles can have the best batting result. In a sense, this is a interest of baseball because we can see various hitting styles in the baseball game.
However, there is one thing I can say that keeping a good hitting mechanics means keeping a good muscle memory. And it enables you to keep a good swing while long standing. So, of course, if you can have a high batting average with automatic step, it will be said as the ideal batting style. Jason Giambi's heyday can be said as it.
So now, what should we do to solve the problem of pre-release-start? I will write about three drills for it in this article.
1) virtual swing drill
~get used to pre-release-start~
Interestingly, automatic step hitters have not been recognizing that they are doing the pre-release-start. This fact was become clear by my hearing research in my baseball gym. Probably, MLB players also have not been recognizing it. May be, it became a kind of unconscious habit by experience.
In the case of "natural (wild)" automatic step hitters, there is no uneasiness about this problem (pre-release-start). Because they have gotten a feeling of pre-release-start unconsciously. May be, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, and Ken Griffey Jr must have gotten that sort of feeling.
On the other hand, in the case of "manufactured (by my theory)" automatic step hitters, sometimes they have a trouble with timing. In many cases, they are late for fastball because they try to start after judging strike or ball. Of course, it means post-release-start.
To sum up, automatic step hitter needs to take a following approach, that is to say, start a hitting mechanics against all pitches and if ball (not strike) comes, stop the motion at the middle of mechanics (take a pitch or check swing).
Be that as it may, as a first step, you need to get used to pre-release-start. And for this theme, movie also can be used as a tool of swing drill. Of course, that movie should be taken from back stop. Following kind of movie can be used for this drill.
Pineda's first MLB victory (0.48~)
Felix's scoreless start (1.04~)
Pre-release-start should become a kind of conditioned reflex (classical conditioning). Or rather, it can also be said as a kind of unconscious habit due to a custom.
2) short range drill
A fast ball thrown with velocity of 93miles/hour takes 0.41sec for traveling 60.6feet. And in this situation, automatic step is forced to do the pre-release-start. Namely, this problem is due to a limitation of time. So that, a situation of short range and slow ball also can express the same situation of 93miles/hour fastball in the actual baseball.
short range drill
※) In this movie, towel ball and rubber ball are used for safety.
By the way, as mentioned above, automatic step needs to take a following approach that is to say, start a hitting mechanics against all pitches and if ball (not strike) comes, stop the motion at the middle of mechanics (take a pitch or check swing).
Therefore, for automatic step hitters, ability of "stop after the start" becomes very important. And that ability can be trained by the short range drill. So in the short range drill, strike/ball judgement must be judged exactly. Check swing skills is an important theme of this drill.
There are only few people who can throw a 90miles/hour fast ball. But as for only "time situation", a same situation can be expressed by using short range and slow ball. This is a meaning of the short range drill.
※) theme of short range drill
1) Improving an ability of strike/ball judgement under the situation of pre-release-start. And improving an ability of muscle reaction based on that judgement. In other words, improving a check swing skills under the situation of pre-release-start.
2) Having many experiences of hitting a ball actually under the situation of pre-release-start and getting used to it.
3) towel or rubber ball drill
In the case of pre-release-start, you must to start your hitting mechanics while you don't know what kind of pitch is thrown. So that, basically, you have no choice but waiting for a fastball, expect a case of waiting for a breaking ball as a gamble.
In this situation, adjustment to slow breaking ball after the start with fastball timing is very important. This is one of the most important theme for automatic step hitter. But in generally, it is difficult to have a chance of taking a that kind of BP. So, simulation of it in a short range BP becomes important. Towel-or-rubber-ball-drill is a simulation of adjustment to slow and fast ball after the pre-release-start.
towel or rubber ball drill
~ detail of towel or rubber ball drill ~
Firstly, this drill needs to be done without telling to a batter about which ball will come . Because this drill is operated for improving an ability of "reaction" to slow and fast ball. As mentioned above, that ability is one of the most important theme for the automatic step hitter. Because pre-release-start means that to start before knowing about what type pitches will come. Of course, batter must not forecast the next pitch. So that, ball cage should be hidden by something like a board.
Secondly, towel balls must be made like above figure. That towel is tied with making a flap. As a result, towel ball becomes easy to go into a stall like a change up by parachute effect. In addition, rubber ball should be used for safety because this drill is operated in a short distance for making a situation of pre-release-start.
※) additional notes
I implemented a hearing research in above movie's drill (experiment). I asked them about feeling of the pre-release-start on alternative question form like below.
Which attitude makes you easy to hit a ball?
A) Adjusting a timing against pitcher's motion like "when pitching arm comes there, I start my hitting mechanics".
B) Trusting own intuition and trying to swing with adjusting a fast ball. (not trying to adjust against pitcher's motion)
As a result of above question, all of them chose B is better than A. As mentioned above, as for problem of the pre-release-start, it should become a kind of unconscious habit like a conditioned reflex by experience.
2012年3月22日木曜日
Key of Success for Puncher Type 1
Theme1 Image of Swing
Fitting between "swing image" and "swing mechanics" is important.
For example, "Tight", "Strong", and "Compact" fit in puncher type mechanics like below.
Mark Trumbo Justin Morneau Jorge Cantu Shin Soo Choo Sean Rodriguez
Jose Bautista Andruw Jones Reid Brignac Freddie Freeman Orlando Hudson
Jayson Werth Martin Prado Bryce Harper Joey Votto Adam Jones Jack Cust
Prince Fielder Derek Jeter Travis Hafner Jim Thome Torii Hunter
On the other hand, "Soft", Light", and "Elegant" fit in swinger type mechanics like below.
George Brett Tonny Gwynn Eddie Murray Jurio Franco Babe Ruth
Darryl Strawberry
This problem is not concerned with "skill itself". It is rather concerned with "choice". And if you makes a miss choice, you may be not able to get a good result even if you have an enough ability. Miss choice about this problem is like learning classic music after buying an electric guitar.
There are many factors for success besides indispensable ability. For example, keen nose for current baseball (what type players have gotten success) is important. It is also included into "baseball sense".
However, things can not always be explained by simple logic. Following hitters' (puncher type) swing shows different impression from above examples. But they make more good result rather than some of above examples.
Adrian Gonzalez Miguel Cabrera Bobby Abreu Evan Longria Ken Griffey Jr
Above puncher type hitters' swing can rather be expressed with following words, namely, soft, light, and elegant. But they have succeeded enough. Why?
The reason of that is explained simply like next. "A good hitting mechanics" does not mean always "a good baseball swing". Simply put, easy swing (soft and light swing) makes you easy to have a composure. And generally, as a result of having that composure, you will be able to contact and adjust against various pitch more stably. However, although it can be said as a "good baseball swing", from the point of mechanical view, it can not be said as the best swing. So above hitters swing can be said as a "game kind swing". It is one of a clever approach for baseball batting.
As a result of above reasons, it can not be concluded from theoretical view that which style can make more good result, "hard swing" or "soft swing". Hitting theory can not explain all of batting.
But there is one thing I can say that keeping a good hitting mechanics means keeping a good muscle memory. And it enables you to keep a good swing while long standing. So, of course, if you can have a high batting average with hard and strong swing, it will be said as the ideal batting style. Prince Fielder's swing shows possibility of it.
Prince fielder1 (inside) Prince Fielder2 (high fast ball)
Prince Fielder3 (slow and low breaking ball) Prince Fielder4 (opposite hitting)
Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter can be said as successful examples of this style. When they hit high and inside fast ball, they show almost same swing. High and inside fast ball is a territory of "hard and strong swing".
By the way, flexibility and timing become important theme for making a good batting result with hard and strong swing. And I will write about it in following articles.
~ summary ~
Hard and strong swing accompanied by good timing and flexibility can be said as the ideal batting style for puncher type hitter.
Fitting between "swing image" and "swing mechanics" is important.
For example, "Tight", "Strong", and "Compact" fit in puncher type mechanics like below.
Mark Trumbo Justin Morneau Jorge Cantu Shin Soo Choo Sean Rodriguez
Jose Bautista Andruw Jones Reid Brignac Freddie Freeman Orlando Hudson
Jayson Werth Martin Prado Bryce Harper Joey Votto Adam Jones Jack Cust
Prince Fielder Derek Jeter Travis Hafner Jim Thome Torii Hunter
On the other hand, "Soft", Light", and "Elegant" fit in swinger type mechanics like below.
George Brett Tonny Gwynn Eddie Murray Jurio Franco Babe Ruth
Darryl Strawberry
This problem is not concerned with "skill itself". It is rather concerned with "choice". And if you makes a miss choice, you may be not able to get a good result even if you have an enough ability. Miss choice about this problem is like learning classic music after buying an electric guitar.
There are many factors for success besides indispensable ability. For example, keen nose for current baseball (what type players have gotten success) is important. It is also included into "baseball sense".
However, things can not always be explained by simple logic. Following hitters' (puncher type) swing shows different impression from above examples. But they make more good result rather than some of above examples.
Adrian Gonzalez Miguel Cabrera Bobby Abreu Evan Longria Ken Griffey Jr
Above puncher type hitters' swing can rather be expressed with following words, namely, soft, light, and elegant. But they have succeeded enough. Why?
The reason of that is explained simply like next. "A good hitting mechanics" does not mean always "a good baseball swing". Simply put, easy swing (soft and light swing) makes you easy to have a composure. And generally, as a result of having that composure, you will be able to contact and adjust against various pitch more stably. However, although it can be said as a "good baseball swing", from the point of mechanical view, it can not be said as the best swing. So above hitters swing can be said as a "game kind swing". It is one of a clever approach for baseball batting.
As a result of above reasons, it can not be concluded from theoretical view that which style can make more good result, "hard swing" or "soft swing". Hitting theory can not explain all of batting.
But there is one thing I can say that keeping a good hitting mechanics means keeping a good muscle memory. And it enables you to keep a good swing while long standing. So, of course, if you can have a high batting average with hard and strong swing, it will be said as the ideal batting style. Prince Fielder's swing shows possibility of it.
Prince fielder1 (inside) Prince Fielder2 (high fast ball)
Prince Fielder3 (slow and low breaking ball) Prince Fielder4 (opposite hitting)
Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter can be said as successful examples of this style. When they hit high and inside fast ball, they show almost same swing. High and inside fast ball is a territory of "hard and strong swing".
By the way, flexibility and timing become important theme for making a good batting result with hard and strong swing. And I will write about it in following articles.
~ summary ~
Hard and strong swing accompanied by good timing and flexibility can be said as the ideal batting style for puncher type hitter.
2012年3月18日日曜日
Wiffle Ball
Wiffle Ball is symbolizing a future baseball. Moving fast ball has been evolved and many pitchers are using it as a main weapon. Jake Peavy's pitching style is reminded me of wiffle ball.
Jake Peavy 2010/05/08 Peavy's strong start
His fast ball can drop, turn to the left, and turn to the right. And surprisingly, some pitchers throw "rising fast ball" like following clips.
Brian Wilson (0.05~)
Craig Kimbrel (0.15~)
Jake Arrieta (0.37~)
Jair Jurrjens (0.42~)
2012年3月17日土曜日
Voice From Baseball World
~ This theory serves as a good reference. ~
Kazuhiro Kiyohara (2006) (Japanese Slugger)
~ I'm interested in this weblog. ~
Russ Canzler (2012) (Cleveland Indians 3B)
Kazuhiro Kiyohara (2006) (Japanese Slugger)
~ I'm interested in this weblog. ~
Russ Canzler (2012) (Cleveland Indians 3B)
2012年3月12日月曜日
Switch Hitter
Some switch hitters use different swing depend on which box they stand. Usually, they use swinger type mechanics in the case of left handed hitting and they use puncher type mechanics in the case of right handed hitting. Of course, the reason of it is that almost all switch hitters are "throw : right , bats : left". Following hitters are example of "separate type hitter".
Chipper Jones (left = swinger) Chipper Jones (right = puncher)
Matt Wieters (left = swinger) Matt Wieters (right = puncher)
On the other hand, following hitters use puncher type mechanics in both boxes. This type has increased while last ten years.
Asdrubal Cabrera (left = puncher) Asdrubal Cabrera (right = puncher)
Danny Espinoza (left = puncher) Danny Espinoza (right = puncher)
Nick Swisher (left = puncher) Nick Swisher (right = puncher)
Hank Conger (left = puncher) Hank Conger (right = puncher)
Old time switch hitters had used swinger type mechanics in both boxes. For example, Pete Rose, Eddie Murray, and Mickey Mantle were classified as this type.
Eddie Murray
Chipper Jones (left = swinger) Chipper Jones (right = puncher)
Matt Wieters (left = swinger) Matt Wieters (right = puncher)
On the other hand, following hitters use puncher type mechanics in both boxes. This type has increased while last ten years.
Asdrubal Cabrera (left = puncher) Asdrubal Cabrera (right = puncher)
Danny Espinoza (left = puncher) Danny Espinoza (right = puncher)
Nick Swisher (left = puncher) Nick Swisher (right = puncher)
Hank Conger (left = puncher) Hank Conger (right = puncher)
Old time switch hitters had used swinger type mechanics in both boxes. For example, Pete Rose, Eddie Murray, and Mickey Mantle were classified as this type.
Eddie Murray
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