The different types of MLB swings

[Xraf]

How many different types of swings are there among MLB players? I'm not talking high leg kick vs. small leg kick I'm looking for differences bigger than that.

Please post a clip of different swing types. I know I can find plenty of swings in the CLIPS, PICS, SITES and Practice Discussion thread. I'd like to see the clips along side a discussion of the different styles of MLB players.

[songtitle]

If you look at the various phases - Stance, Stride to Toe Touch, Toe Touch to Contact, and After Contact - you will not see much variation in the Toe Touch to Contact Phase of MLB swings.

[Rufus67]

If you look at the various phases - Stance, Stride to Toe Touch, Toe Touch to Contact, and After Contact - you will not see much variation in the Toe Touch to Contact Phase of MLB swings.

This. There used to be a commercial run on MLB Network where they have a montage of different players swinging, using one frame from each player's swing, stacked together like an old picture flip book. They wouldn't have been able to do that unless the swings were pretty much the same (in general for a "normal" swing where they're not fooled, reaching, etc.).

[Xraf]

Is there a clip out there that epitomizes a good MLB swing? How is this Cabrera clip?

Cabrera_full_sm.gif

[pstein]

How many different types of swings are there among MLB players? I'm not talking high leg kick vs. small leg kick I'm looking for differences bigger than that.

Please post a clip of different swing types. I know I can find plenty of swings in the CLIPS, PICS, SITES and Practice Discussion thread. I'd like to see the clips along side a discussion of the different styles of MLB players.

All elite MLB players (think Bonds, A-Rod, etc.) have one universal pattern/sequence. There are many styles, but only one pattern.

[Cannonball]

All elite MLB players (think Bonds, A-Rod, etc.) have one universal pattern/sequence. There are many styles, but only one pattern.

But here is the rub, players like Trout, Harper, ... have had success and yet, are attacked by some experts because they don't match a pattern some "experts" have determined as elite. I once asked what percentage of MLB Players matched or didn't match. I don't think I have ever heard an answer. Yet, we have people running around at levels of 10-12U to college who say that their kids match the elite pattern. I haven't understood that. I always liked this guy's swing:

[Xraf]

But here is the rub, players like Trout, Harper, ... have had success and yet, are attacked by some experts because they don't match a pattern some "experts" have determined as elite.

I'd like to see a nice clip of Trout's swing to see what the experts are referring to.

In the following video Matt Antonelli says Robinson Cano's swing is "one of the prettiest in the game." He has a short review of Cano's swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls2ITHRIz3s&feature=plcp

[Sultan_1895-1948]

But here is the rub, players like Trout, Harper, ... have had success and yet, are attacked by some experts because they don't match a pattern some "experts" have determined as elite. I once asked what percentage of MLB Players matched or didn't match. I don't think I have ever heard an answer. Yet, we have people running around at levels of 10-12U to college who say that their kids match the elite pattern. I haven't understood that. I always liked this guy's swing:

Yes, Pujols. He definitely swings "down through the ball" rather than the typical slight uppercut (think Dunn, Hamilton) swing you see posted on here a lot. A swing like Pujols, Sheffield, Schmidt, Berkman, Beltran, imo, keeps the bat in the zone longer, creates a larger margin for error, and produces optimal backspin for carry. Opinions vary on that, and that's ok. But when I have a kid, that is what I'll teach. Not to "chop" but to swing "down through the ball" with the emphasis on THROUGH.

Schmidt was a slightly more extreme example. Notice how down and through ball he is, with a low follow through. Here is his 500th HR. http://youtu.be/iXAQj6s6HGA

schmidt.jpeg

[dominik]

Yes, Pujols. He definitely swings "down through the ball" rather than the typical slight uppercut (think Dunn, Hamilton) swing you see posted on here a lot. A swing like Pujols, Sheffield, Schmidt, Berkman, Beltran, imo, keeps the bat in the zone longer, creates a larger margin for error, and produces optimal backspin for carry. Opinions vary on that, and that's ok. But when I have a kid, that is what I'll teach. Not to "chop" but to swing "down through the ball" with the emphasis on THROUGH.

Schmidt was a slightly more extreme example. Notice how down and through ball he is, with a low follow through. Here is his 500th HR. http://youtu.be/iXAQj6s6HGA

schmidt.jpeg

Pujols swing is more level than the typical swing but I would not say he swings down.

[Xraf]

Does anyone have a clip of Pujols or Trout you could post that is as good quality as the Cabrera clip I posted above? I'd love to see them.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Pujols swing is more level than the typical swing but I would not say he swings down.

As I stated, staying down through the ball, emphasizing THROUGH.

[Chris O'Leary]

A swing like Pujols, Sheffield, Schmidt, Berkman, Beltran, imo, keeps the bat in the zone longer, creates a larger margin for error, and produces optimal backspin for carry. Opinions vary on that, and that's ok. But when I have a kid, that is what I'll teach. Not to "chop" but to swing "down through the ball" with the emphasis on THROUGH.

Schmidt was a slightly more extreme example. Notice how down and through ball he is, with a low follow through. Here is his 500th HR. http://youtu.be/iXAQj6s6HGA

Does Schmidt's barrel ever drop below his hands and the ball?

Or does he keep the barrel above the ball up to the point of contact?

[Chris O'Leary]

Yes, Pujols. He definitely swings "down through the ball" rather than the typical slight uppercut (think Dunn, Hamilton) swing you see posted on here a lot. A swing like Pujols, Sheffield, Schmidt, Berkman, Beltran, imo, keeps the bat in the zone longer, creates a larger margin for error, and produces optimal backspin for carry. Opinions vary on that, and that's ok. But when I have a kid, that is what I'll teach. Not to "chop" but to swing "down through the ball" with the emphasis on THROUGH.

Schmidt was a slightly more extreme example. Notice how down and through ball he is, with a low follow through. Here is his 500th HR.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Thanks for posting it Chris. Still not sure how to save from youtube.

Along with staying down through the ball, he's also a "wristy" hitter, much like Hank Aaron was. You don't perhaps have any video of him?

shmiddy.gif

[Encinitas]

I have this Hank:

HANK2nd.gif


Or this.

bondshank.gif

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Very cool shots of Hank. Can do without the Barry vid. He would have been in severe decline naturally at that point. But let's not get into that.

Love that Hank up the middle shot. Seems like he was a front foot hitter and stayed through the ball well, and did use his wrists quite a bit (do you have HR number 715 video?)

Another front foot hitter was Frank Thomas, except Frank had Walt Hriniak's inside-out swing philosophy down pretty good. Incredible hitter with a great eye, but robbed himself of some power imo because he was so inside-out dedicated.

[tradosaurus]

Is there a clip out there that epitomizes a good MLB swing? How is this Cabrera clip?

Cabrera_full_sm.gif

Top hand release. Heresy!

[tradosaurus]

Thanks for posting it Chris. Still not sure how to save from youtube.

Along with staying down through the ball, he's also a "wristy" hitter, much like Hank Aaron was. You don't perhaps have any video of him?

That is an example of a pro athlete able to use a terrible batting style and produce good results.

I would teach this to kids on how not to swing.

[songtitle]

Top hand release.

If you push your back elbow to CF, you must release. Otherwise, not so much.

[Chris O'Leary]

Thanks for posting it Chris. Still not sure how to save from youtube.

Along with staying down through the ball, he's also a "wristy" hitter, much like Hank Aaron was. You don't perhaps have any video of him?

]

I don't know what you mean when you say that Schmidt swings "down through the ball." What Schmidt does is the same as what every good hitter does; he hits the ball with a slight uppercut.

What is different about his swing is how his wrists roll earlier than most contemporary hitters (but still after contact).

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I agree there is a slight uppercut but at the pont of contact, but he is more level than what we see from a lot of hitters and stays through the ball. Same goes for Pujols, Sheffield, Beltran and a number of others.

There is a distinct difference in their bat angle at contact and just after, compared to say, David Wright, who rarely gets optimal backspin. Wright often gets extreme topspin when he pulls the ball.

That is what I see. If you don't see it, then no worries.

[NoonTime]

[NoonTime]

[Sultan_1895-1948]

VERY COOL VIDS NOON!!

[Chris O'Leary]

I agree there is a slight uppercut but at the pont of contact, but he is more level than what we see from a lot of hitters and stays through the ball.

That is because of what his wrists are doing, not because of his swing plane.

I'm not sure I'd teach that degree of early wrist roll to just anyone.