"Why player development is on the decline..."

[TulsaEliteGold]

This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time. I'm sure it will stir some interesting responses. States the facts that some people don't want to listen to, but so much truth and it applies to Softball the same way as Baseball. Especially now that more softball minds are finally catching up to baseball in using measurable numbers to evaluate future potential.

Ask yourself: Why are coaches still teaching kids to hit groundballs when every college coach drools over the kid who drops bombs and has high exit speeds?

Ask yourself: Why are coaches still teaching kids to throw 5-7 different pitches in 8U-14U when the avg college pitcher only throws 3 pitches but can change the speeds and throw on all planes and locations and college coaches drool over high velocity on radar guns?

"Why player development is on the decline, and why very few realize it"
Great Quote from article-
"We preach command over velocity, yet the radar gun is the key tool scouts use to evaluate pitchers and arm strength. We teach hitting groundballs, yet we watch Joc Pederson do everything but that. Pederson recently interviewed explains his mindset at the plate as “getting the ball in the air”. Yet we praise his ability and say he’s the next great thing, for doing the opposite of what we teach our players." Read Full Article: http://baseballtoolshed.com/test-2/

[Tyler Durden]

Yes Jeff this is a fantastic article. I'm curious to hear Mark's take on the 'hitting from the ground up' approach......

[TulsaEliteGold]

I teach the ground up approach and will spend weeks and even months building the lower half to get them using their lower half most efficiently before starting to fine tune the upper half. My development of players swings starts about 90% lower half and 10% upper, then moves to 80/20, 70/30 and so on. I teach muscle efficiency using kinetic energy from the ground up and honestly the hands are just there for the ride. We maximize our power in our swing by proper use of our legs and kinetic energy generated from core torque. At first I tell most my students I could care less where the ball goes, we are going to learn to hit it at maximum velocity first, then we will start fine tuning hitting line drives with lift by adjusting our attack angle and will learn how to keep our hands back longer, keep them inside and rotate to contact.

[baseballsoftball]

Thank You! Great read.

[Mark H]

If you can get hold of one of Jim Dixon's books you might want to read it.

[rbi]

Good read no doubt…

In my neck of the woods, i am always blown away by kids who come to me to help them with their swing and have been going to the same person for years, and they have NO lower half. Its like going to get your car washed at supposedly the best wash in area and find out three years later they are using gutter water to clean your car. Feel kind of taken and angry, especially when a kid is 15/16yrs old and looking for answers….

Im also blown away by the number of coachs who tell the kids that come to me "we dont swing like that, we hit down on ball", jeez really folks!! Show me ONE efficient hitter besides a slapper, who is teaching their body to hit "down" on ball… You may think your hitting down or "top half", but all top half does is create top spin and are we not trying to create back spin, and how the hell we going to get back spin with top half approach, just doesnt work… Prime example when listening and watching the Mattingley video, great hitter who i admired a lot in his playing days… Reminds me of the story i heard about Barry Bonds years ago when he argued how he swung until someone showed him it was exactly the opposite.

Funny thing is after a season that very same coach calls me and says it was a pleasure to have so and so on my team, and end up with several of their teammates calling me asking for lesson times,, Part of me just wants to say, but wait coach I thought you wanted Suzy to hit "down on ball"...

Lower half is crucial in creating force in your swing, bat angle helps create back spin and eliminates top spin ground balls, as wells as helps to stay on plane longer, and contact point helps you remain "connected" and stronger at contact… Add a couple other key ingredients (like strength and hand eye), as well as mental approach and your on your way to an efficient or elite level swing..

Years ago, i snagged a book the Science of Hitting by Ted Williams, that old man "got it",, I still look at it from time to time to pick up little things he said. I also attribute of a lot to Steve Englishby, a man who has studied more about hitting and how to use the body more than most of us put together.