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What Weight Shifting Forward!!!

Discussion in 'Softball Forum' started by Softball Guru, Apr 16, 2008.

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Apr 17, 2008 at 12:47 PM #21

bothsportsdad Full Access Member

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ROBMILL hitting guru extraordinaire!

OUT OF THE CLOSET!

lol

RobMill said: ↑

More info on the subject from Sparky Parker- Happy Reading! ROBMILL

Sparky Parker

Sparky has been coaching baseball and fastpitch on the Eastside since 1988 and has experienced high levels of success. In 1993, Sparky coached a Kirkland U-18 girls fastpitch team to a World Series Championship and followed up with a fourth place finish in 1999 and a 2nd place finish in 2001. He has continued to produce quality teams and players year after year.

Coach Parker prides himself on "always learning" and is a true student of the game. Coach Parker holds a Masters in Education and thoroughly understands the essence of hitting and the art of teaching.

I have been coaching for 22 years and have attended 100's of seminars on hitting over the years. Out of every clinic and seminar that I have been to, no one has ever once said "would you like to know how Edgar Swings, how about Barry, Arod or Jr". It wasn't until I came across Mike Epstein that I truly learned what hitting really was all about. Life is all about choices and when it comes to hitting there are choices, rotational and linear . You have a choice , look into it , educate yourself and then ...make a choice . It always amazes me when I hear instructors claiming to teach a combination of the two. If an instructor really understands the difference between the two styles they will know that the properties that make-up the rotational swing are polar opposites of a linear swing on every aspect. In fact ,the only similarity that the two styles may share would be the stride to toe-touch, after that , you are either linear or rotational. Here at ParkerTraining we teach rotational hitting 100% and believe in every ounce of the style . We are dedicated to educate anyone that wants to learn what the best hitters in the world already know! You have a choice, look into it and then decide what is right for you!

Sparky is one of only two certified Epstein hitting instructors in the State of Washington and has worked with 100's of players over the years.

Rotational v Linear

Why is there such a fuss when it comes to rotational mechanics versus linear? Well, let me tell you...there is a huge difference, and if a coach, parent or player is telling you that they are really one in the same or there is a combination of linear and rotation or anything else creative, they are simply wrong!

The hitting process is a series of linked body movements regardless of style. However, it is these same series of movements that clearly separate the two, and if you know what is actually happening in the swing you can see it as clear as the day is long.

The following is a comparison between the two styles and differences that set them apart!

Shared Movement

The Stride is the only movement that the two styles share. A soft stride to toe touch; the back to front movement that initiates the swing. After that, the two styles are as distinctly different as a lemon and an apple. You can determine which one is the lemon!

Difference #1

This is where you will see the first of several different movements that define the players hitting mechanics. After the stride and prior to launch, the rotational hitter drops the front heel, locks out the front leg, establish a tilted axis and leads with the hips pulling the upper half around the body; the big pulling the small, torque.

The linear hitter is taught to take the hands in a downward path towards the ball. Whether they are taught to throw the knob, or punch with their fist... whatever, that is irrelevant. What is relevant is the fact that the hands start before the hips, thus negating any type of torque. Granted the hips do rotate, but it is after the hands are released. Once the hands start before the hips, a hitter will never regain that lower body force and diminish a large majority of the lower body, bat speed and power. This is called separation and the body becomes unlinked. The hips are trying to play catch up and it will never happen. Linear hitters are labeled as upper body hitters because they separate from the lower body at the beginning of their swing.

Difference #2

As a rotational hitter drops their front heel, lock out the front leg and fire their hips creating the lower body torque, the tilt and slight dip of the back shoulder allow the front elbow to move cleanly up and around the body. The front elbow has to move up and around the body in order to get the barrel of the bat into the path of the pitch. Tilting, the shoulder dip and moving the front elbow up allows the hitter to lay the bat level to the pitch. The barrel will always be below the hands, always! The bat is in the path longer, they hit the ball square on the nose and the follow through and extension remain on the same plain as the pitch. Short and quick to the ball and long through it. Having a slight bend in the elbow at contact allows the arms to extend through the ball on the same plain as the pitch into the power v and then, finally the wrists roll over, well after contact is made. Power, line drives and shots over the fence are preached...Not, hit it on the ground!

A linear hitter is taught to keep the front elbow down and the shoulders square. Their hands make a path to the ball and the barrel is above the hands. The amount of time that the bat is in the path of the ball is a blink of the eye and then it is out again. Because the hands lead to the ball the front arm gets completely extended, when this happens the top hand has no place to go except over the bottom; the wrist roll into the ball or through it. The rolling of the wrist is happening just prior to contact , at contact or immediately after. Either way, the bat path gets altered to the path that it was originally on. Linear hitters are taught to hit the top half of the ball to create back spin giving the ball its loft. Line drives & grounders is heavily preached.

Up through the ball or down through the ball

Difference #3

Rotational hitters are taught to hit the ball dead center. The swing is level to the ball in a slightly upward direction. So, if the pitch is down then the bat head has to drop to the path of the incoming pitch and match the barrel level to the ball. This principle is applied to every pitch, top of the zone to the bottom. A pitch up on the letters will be a much flatter approach then one that is on the knees and everywhere in between. Rotational hitters are trained to hit he ball square on the nose and take it back through the path in which it came. Level at contact, and slightly up.

A linear hitter is taught to hit down through the incoming pitch and are relying on the back spin to create loft and flight of the ball. This approach produces groundballs galore. Hit the ball in exactly the right spot with perfect timing intersecting the path of the incoming pitch and results are more favorable. Line drives and deeper balls. The pitch on the letters and the pitch on the knees has the same downward approach path to the ball. Getting the ball in the air on low pitches relies 100% on slicing the ball and creating backspin.

Rotational Approach

Linear Approach

Last words!

Over the past several years, hitting styles have been re-defined, or should I say defined, largely due to the work of Mike Epstein and his development of the term and hitting technique, rotational mechanics. Even though the exact same principles were written some 37 years ago by Ted Williams, Mike has coined the term and took it a step further with a teachable system.

I understand that linear coaches truly believe and stand by what they are teaching, I get that. But, what I don't get is why they refuse to accept there may really be a better way of teaching. As long as I can remember, every clinic I have ever attended over the past 20 plus years were all the same. No one ever showed me, told me or explained what the best players in the game were doing! They would avoid it like the plague and would become defensive and attempt to explain it away. Well...that is no longer the case, we do know and we are teaching it!

So, if linear coaches choose to ignore and avoid the fact that professional players are using different mechanics then what they are teaching, that their philosophical approach contradicts the laws of physics, hitting the ball into the ground is a desired result, and having less than optimal power is what they aspire to teach - then what can I say...have at it.
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Apr 17, 2008 at 2:23 PM #22

Softball Guru Banned From TBR

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No Fair !!!

bothsportsdad said: ↑

ROBMILL hitting guru extraordinaire!

OUT OF THE CLOSET!

lol
Click to expand...

T.H. & R.M. teaming up against the Guru.....I got my on the both of you !!!

Help Marlinfan, Help !!!
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:53 PM #23

bothsportsdad Full Access Member

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robmil makes Lex Luther look like Mary Poppins. He eats cryptonite for breakfast everyday.

Softball Guru said: ↑

T.H. & R.M. teaming up against the Guru.....I got my on the both of you !!!

Help Marlinfan, Help !!!
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Apr 18, 2008 at 7:58 AM #24

Softball Guru Banned From TBR

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Oh By The Way !!!

DD was 2 for 3 last night with H/R,Double, shot to the C/F , and a Walk.....Barrineau uses same technique H/R can't remember what else she did , but is batting over .500 the last 3 ball games !!! Sorry I was corrected the last 4 ball games !!!

Guru

Last edited: Apr 18, 2008
Apr 18, 2008 at 10:15 AM #25

RobMill Full Access Member

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Lots of folks in this club!!
Apr 18, 2008 at 10:48 AM #26

RobMill Full Access Member

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See what I mean

Cheese

Fagala

Guru

BothSportsDad

RobMill
Apr 18, 2008 at 4:33 PM #27

Softball Guru Banned From TBR

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This Is The Way It Really Is !!!!

Woody & Sammy

Cheeze

Guru

Blue

John & Toot

Robert Todd
Apr 18, 2008 at 7:26 PM #28

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Look at the Hitter

08Bulldog said: ↑

What are high school, travel ball and college colleges that frequent this forum teaching their players- linear or rotational?
I'll start it off by saying my dd's travel ball coach is teaching the linear method; with mixed results.
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Linear and Rotational are both proven successful hitting styles. I teach both. Don't be confused, a swing no matter what the style is made up of both linear and rotational movements. These are both distinctly different styles and there are no hybrids, you either emphasize the linear movements or the rotational movements. Trying to emphasize both puts the body in a real bind and leads to a mess. Please don't go that route. Accept both styles, choose one, do alot of drills to build muscle memory, and then go hit it.

Most younger hitters are taught linear. While fly balls may not always be caught at a young age, they still only involve one play, the catch, to record an out. Ground balls on the other hand must be fielded, thrown, and caught, 3 plays to record an out. Which do you see producing more base runners at that age?

As the players get older and develop, the defense gets better. Then what? Nothing has to be changed, but you may want to change. At least be open minded, and understand the pros and cons.

I evaluate the hitter, their physical make up, size, speed, etc.

Big Johnny over here can't run very swiftly, but he is strong. He needs to learn "Rotational". He isn't going to beat out many ground balls.

Ali Sue is just a little thing, but she can fly. She needs to use her speed and keep the ball on the ground. She needs to develop "Linear"

If you are a hitter that is blessed with Size, Power, and Speed, congratulations. You can go either way, you must decide what you want to use the most.

Make a good choice and then work hard to develop within that style, but always remember "It's not the arrow or the horse, but the indian that makes the difference".
Apr 18, 2008 at 11:20 PM #29

bothsportsdad Full Access Member

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no I'm definately more of the Groucho mold...
Apr 19, 2008 at 7:02 AM #30

jfagala Full Access Member

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Thats cold....

RobMill said: ↑

Cheese

Fagala

Guru

BothSportsDad

RobMill

Click to expand...

I hate to sit still...at least make me old riding a bike or playing basketball!!!

Hmm.....wonder what position in the field Tay is going to find herself in this year in travel???

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