Do the best do it differently, or just better?

[bbrages]

I have seen a few people say that the elite hitters do {fill in the blank} differently than everyone else. Do you think this is true? Or do the elite hitters swing in basically the same way as everyone else (minor leaguers, struggling major leaguers, etc.), but they just execute a bit better. Just a bit more confident, a bit more consistent at reading the pitch and more consistent at making good swings.

What do you think?

[Chris O'Leary]

I have seen a few people say that the elite hitters do {fill in the blank} differently than everyone else. Do you think this is true? Or do the elite hitters swing in basically the same way as everyone else (minor leaguers, struggling major leaguers, etc.), but they just execute a bit better. Just a bit more confident, a bit more consistent at reading the pitch and more consistent at making good swings.

What do you think?

Most guys who can't make it in the major leagues either have a flaw in their swing (e.g. a leaky back elbow or a push), have some problem with their approach (e.g. lack of patience), or both.

The best hitters have The swing but execute that swing more consistently.

[shake-n-bake]

I think your poll needs a 3rd option - "Both" By doing "it" ("it" being a fairly loose term) better they are (generally speaking) doing it differently.

[JJA]

I think your poll needs a 3rd option - "Both" By doing "it" ("it" being a fairly loose term) better they are (generally speaking) doing it differently.

Yeah, it really isn't an "either/or" proposition. Elite swing mechanics maximize the ability a player has, but it is not a sufficient condition to make it to the big leagues. A player with average mechanics but elite mechanics may not go as far as a talented player with only good mechanics, my opinion only.

In golf, there are gobs of players with swings, even 12 year olds, that are theoretically better than many of the pros. It's pretty well known in the golf world that Phil Mickelson does not have an elite swing, yet the guy is one of the best players in history. Butch Harmon says that Adam Scott has a better swing than Tiger Woods (he taught both guys) but who except golf aficionados have heard of Adam Scott? Great swings of course help but are not everything. I believe the same holds for baseball.

[tg643]

Don't overlook the mental aspects to success. For many players the difference between career minor leaguer and the majors is what's going on between their ears. Tiger Woods has become an incredible example in golf. Players feared him on Sunday and he won. Now Woods fears his own game and loses.

[scorekeeper]

…The best hitters have The swing but execute that swing more consistently.

It’s the same thing with pitchers. Consistency means it can be counted on without having to think about it.

[JCincy]

The best do it better. They may or may not do it the same way.

natural ability + proper technique = success.

[Chris O'Leary]

Yeah, it really isn't an "either/or" proposition. Elite swing mechanics maximize the ability a player has, but it is not a sufficient condition to make it to the big leagues. A player with average mechanics but elite mechanics may not go as far as a talented player with only good mechanics, my opinion only.

In golf, there are gobs of players with swings, even 12 year olds, that are theoretically better than many of the pros. It's pretty well known in the golf world that Phil Mickelson does not have an elite swing, yet the guy is one of the best players in history. Butch Harmon says that Adam Scott has a better swing than Tiger Woods (he taught both guys) but who except golf aficionados have heard of Adam Scott? Great swings of course help but are not everything. I believe the same holds for baseball.

I think it was Ben Hogan who was asked who had the best swing he ever saw. He replied something to the effect of, "Some random guy on a driving range a couple of years ago."

[omg]

The best are bigger, stronger, and faster. With superior eye-hand coordination. They hit the ball harder and more frequently than others. Swing mechanics are part of the equation but not anywhere near the top.

[jbolt_2000]

I agree with this...

The best are bigger, stronger, and faster. With superior eye-hand coordination. They hit the ball harder and more frequently than others. Swing mechanics are part of the equation but not anywhere near the top.

And this....

The best do it better. They may or may not do it the same way.
natural ability + proper technique = success.

You look at the top 10 hitters in the Bigs and you will probably see 10 different swings. Parts of their mechanics may be the same, but over its different. Just look at some top level hitters:
Albert Pujols
Lance Berkman
Ichiro Suzuki
Hunter Pence

All four are very different from each other yet all produce on a regular basis. Of those four, Berkman probably has the most "sound" mechanics, but Albert has the power and Ichiro and Hunter get alot of base hits.

[Onebigwhitevan]

I think this poll is interesting, but not very specific. What are we comparing? Elite what? This word brings different things to mind in different people. Elite hitters is still not specific, nor elite pitchers. Hitting has many purposes. You would need to break it down a little more I think to get at real insight into people's heads. Power hitters definately do it differently than slap hitters. Comfort with what they do dictates how they do it. I see that the top power hitters over time do it differently. They create a separation in hips, shoulders and hands that average power hitters just don't do. But just like anything in life outcome usually affects method. The cool thing about people is their ability to adapt the body's motions, so the result is desirable. Good mechanics or not. I think that is why you will always see hard workers carve out spots in talent laden markets. Results and promise of continued results usually dictate advancement. Pitchers also have diffent agendas. So they do it different than each other. The ones that are usually on top though again get natural or trained separation. So again I would say they do it differently. You still can be very successful with baseball not doing anything differently. Just consistently doing what you are comfortable in doing. There is my two lincolns.

[Swing Coach]

I agree with this...


And this....


You look at the top 10 hitters in the Bigs and you will probably see 10 different swings. Parts of their mechanics may be the same, but over its different. Just look at some top level hitters:
Albert Pujols
Lance Berkman
Ichiro Suzuki
Hunter Pence

All four are very different from each other yet all produce on a regular basis. Of those four, Berkman probably has the most "sound" mechanics, but Albert has the power and Ichiro and Hunter get alot of base hits.

Sorry Jbolt, but I have to disagree. I have analyzed the first three swings, as well as many, many others. They may all have different beginning style, but after they land, their swings (as well as most all MLB'ers) have a near identical pattern.
And as for the OP, there is a distinct MLB pattern and when I look at the many minor leaguers I have, there are distinct flaws in almost every swing - especially at the lower levels - not seen at the MLB level.

SC

[dominik]

I think this poll is interesting, but not very specific. What are we comparing? Elite what? This word brings different things to mind in different people. Elite hitters is still not specific, nor elite pitchers. Hitting has many purposes. You would need to break it down a little more I think to get at real insight into people's heads. Power hitters definately do it differently than slap hitters. Comfort with what they do dictates how they do it. I see that the top power hitters over time do it differently. They create a separation in hips, shoulders and hands that average power hitters just don't do. But just like anything in life outcome usually affects method. The cool thing about people is their ability to adapt the body's motions, so the result is desirable. Good mechanics or not. I think that is why you will always see hard workers carve out spots in talent laden markets. Results and promise of continued results usually dictate advancement. Pitchers also have diffent agendas. So they do it different than each other. The ones that are usually on top though again get natural or trained separation. So again I would say they do it differently. You still can be very successful with baseball not doing anything differently. Just consistently doing what you are comfortable in doing. There is my two lincolns.

I would love a study that compares swings of guys in the 80-100 OPS+ range with guys above 120 OPS+. would be really interesting to see.