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Contributor, Jeff Edwards, Colorado Rockies MLB "Scouting Supervisor"!



Thursday, February 18, 2010

Good Hitters

Jeff, Nice post, thanks. So if the rear barrel of the bathead goes backwards, the chop down to the ball is definately not the way to go as we presumed all along. The way I see it is that the hand path is a shallow U with the hands only coming down in that shallow U fashion from a natural upper body rotation but with barrel going rearwards (Hips lead hands)to get on the plane of the pitch as long as possible. What makes a hitter stand out to you?...I have heard when you guys scout hitting you don't look you listen...is that true? I attached a short clip of Jordan attached going opposite field doing some cage work...hope it posts. Chuck Ramus

3 comments:

  1. Thats correct Chuck. Good hitters don't chop the barrel downward or hammer the barrel head downward. What good hitters do is get the barrel on ball plane behind them. Deep. Good hitters swing to the plate. They taylor their swings to the plate. Most young hitters and even in high level amatuer leagues and high school and college leagues taylor their swings out in front of the plate. Thats not what good hitters do. The good ones swing the barrel towards the plate so that they can hit the ball deep.
    Here lets look at Albert Pujols for an example. Look at the path of his barrel. See how the barrel goes backwards and gets on the plane of the ball deep behind him?
    http://www.builder.hittingillustrated.com/Pro/Pujolsswivela.gif

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  2. I know that some kids barr their lead arm. I have heard good and bad things on that. I believe it is long & loopy but Ted Williams and Ken Griffery Jr. seem to get away with it just fine. I don't think it looks very good either. I would think it would be more difficult to stay connected that way. What are your thoughts?

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  3. Let me try the Pujols link again.
    http://www.builder.hittingillustrated.com/Pro/Pujolsswivel.gif

    Hopefully that will work this time.

    Now as far as arm barr goes. Early lead arm bar is when a hitter uses his lead arm to push his hands back in the loading phase of the swing. This I would consider unhealthy for a good swing.

    Arm bar that happens as a result of stretch and after launch I would consider fine and not something that would hinder a good swing.

    Here is Griffey so you can gain a better understanding of what he does. Griffey doesn't take his hands back. He rides his rear leg forward and it gives the look that he is barring his lead arm. Actually isn't a arm bar because he isn't taking the hands back by pushing the arm to extension.

    http://www.builder.hittingillustrated.com/Pro/Griffeyside.gif

    I hope that makes sense.

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