C on the T

Comment by Don Ervin on January 2, 2011 at 2:49pm

Hey Johnathon,

You have a nice swing, I like your reverse hip rotational load up, I learned such a load up from Ted Williams many years ago and have studied and taught his hitting methods ever since, as everyone should be aware of is that the approach to and through the contact point is a mixture of linear and rotational movements first initiated from one's brain into one's mind on into one's body which are the three main controlling factors to one's reactions, some call it a mind thing which if not traveled through these three sequences there would be no initiation of either negative or positive body  actions, reactions, The brain teaches the mind which in turn teaches the body to act, react positively or negatively.

During your swing approach I would like for you to get into and remain within good controlled body balance through out your complete swing movement, as Ted Williams taught to execute during your initial reverse knee, hip, foot and upper body rotation load up that you take  a very short step towards the pitcher at the same time, [ Reverse rotation, load up and step at the same time] while keeping your head on top of and in between your shoulders, hips and feet then let your hips first rotate leading the way for your shoulder rotation while bringing your bat knob and hands bottom hand palm and knuckles pointed to surface, top hand palm and knuckles pointed up to sky down through and close to your belly button at this point your bat barrel should be laying back not lagging back, as you continue your knob and hand movement past your belly button Top hand palm, knuckles up, bottom hand palm, knuckles down hands inside of ball into your point of contact pull your knob back towards the catcher and at the same time [ break, flick] your top hand wrist forward, at and into point of contact, it is very important to let your top hand  generate a very quick, strong and solid movement straight to your point of contact never depend solely on your bottom hand pull to do so. During your particular front foot movement where you just lift your heel and your toe remains touching the ground make sure that during your weight shift you get your front heel pivot down quickly as you come up onto your rear toe, "NO SQUISHING THE BUG HERE," The timing here must be pin point, in unison with your swing while keeping everything, your head down on contact, your feet your hips, your belly button your swing, hands, bat barrel etc. to and through point of contact straight up the middle, every  swing you take  whether it be soft toss, tee work,[ BP] etc. keep your head down on the ball and take every thing straight  through and up the middle. watch yourself hitting in this video clip, notice where your body and feet are positioned prior to and after point of contact do you view yourself over rotating your body and over pivoting your feet etc? There is some good illustrated info. out there, video clips, books etc. The science of hitting by Ted Williams,] [Coach Joe BrockHoff, former Tulane head coach, super eight hitting,] [ Rob Ellis, become a better hitter.] and co-authored with Mike Schmidt on "The Mike Schmidt Hitting Study." [Mike Epstein, hitting,] he played for Ted Williams. Check them out. remember good controlled balance straight through and the middle, the pitcher is coming straight at you, you in turn go straight up through the middle at the pitcher.

Let me know whether or not I have been of help to you'

Good luck

Don Ervin

kom_ervin@yahoo.com

Comment by Jonathan "Chandler" Minze on January 6, 2011 at 8:24pm

Awesome advice, THANKS! Hit last night and could see the difference!

Comment by Ben Knaus on July 16, 2011 at 1:33am

Jonathan - As you get hitting tips take it all in and begin to develop your Philosophy on hitting, i know what it's like to be young and try to mold yourself off of tips! Take what works and apply it.

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