Tweet
The following is from the book “The Mike Schmidt Study”.
We’ve discussed “hand action” off an on. I’d be interested in others thoughts on this information.
Hand Action
Hand speed means nothing in golf because the ball is stationary, so the golfer employs the front side and lead arm for accuracy. He can even stop his swing and start over if he wants to. But to the hitter, hand speed is everything because the pitch is traveling at high speed in unpredictable ways and sometimes you have to swing.
The hitter will go a long way when he realizes that his hand speed is vital in governing the start, delay, speed, and direction of his stroke. The third key on Rod Carew’s list of ten keys to good hitting is: “Use your hands. Become an aggressive hands hitter. This allows you to wait longer on the pitch and react to changes in pitch direction.”
Building the skill of hand quickness is as easy as switching on a light. First, understand that hand speed is a physical concept. The body must become aware of how the hand and wrist muscles should work. You can get this concept by taking your stance and feel only the power in your hands, your grip. Let nothing else register. Grip the bat firmly at the “pad” of the hand located at the base of the fingers, not back in the palm. Squeeze and release the handle of your bat with your fingers to burn in the feel of strength. Now start your swing with your hands only, starting your hands from the launching position. Again, hands only. You’ll find that the other body parts, particularly the hip rotation, fall in line automatically. Once you have the feel in your hands, never lose it. Rehearse it as much as you can.
…
Thus, from the launching position it’s “hands first.”
…
Remember, any premature movement toward the pitcher, a false start or flinch by the hands, will incorrectly allow the front shoulders to open. This is why hand work is vital. Hands must stay back!
Frank Howard: “Lock up that front side until the hands begin working.”
Exactly. Hands first, front side second.
Frank Howard: “I like to use the expression ‘we have a fast hip [front side opening] action, but it’s a late action.’ This makes it a snap. If I open the hips [and front shoulder] too soon, the front side is going to fly open and I’ll lose my power.”
Al Kaline: “My secret was to always keep that front shoulder closed until the last instant. That way my hands had to start.”
Clarence Jones: “Hitters sometimes hurry their feet [knee cock, stride, landing, resulting in premature hip turn] and you have to slow them down. When a hitter hurries his feet, his actions happen too fast and he’ll drag the bat. Slow his feet down. Slow feet [deliberate, relaxed movement] results in quick hands.”
These men are saying the same thing. Combined, they read like this: “When a hitter hurries his actions, the front side opens up too soon and upsets the rhythm of the swing. The power is lost and the bat drags because the hands cannot work.”
Remember, all hitting movements except the hands and hips are slow, steady, relaxed, fluid. Keeping the front side closed is vital. If Al Kaline calls it his secret we’d do well to label it top priority.
To capsulize, there are two kinds of swings. One is pulled through by the front arm and front shoulder, which tends to restrict hip rotation. The other type of swing is dominated by the hand snap, using both hands. The second is by far the quicker, and facilitates hip rotation.
We’ve discussed “hand action” off an on. I’d be interested in others thoughts on this information.
Hand Action
Hand speed means nothing in golf because the ball is stationary, so the golfer employs the front side and lead arm for accuracy. He can even stop his swing and start over if he wants to. But to the hitter, hand speed is everything because the pitch is traveling at high speed in unpredictable ways and sometimes you have to swing.
The hitter will go a long way when he realizes that his hand speed is vital in governing the start, delay, speed, and direction of his stroke. The third key on Rod Carew’s list of ten keys to good hitting is: “Use your hands. Become an aggressive hands hitter. This allows you to wait longer on the pitch and react to changes in pitch direction.”
Building the skill of hand quickness is as easy as switching on a light. First, understand that hand speed is a physical concept. The body must become aware of how the hand and wrist muscles should work. You can get this concept by taking your stance and feel only the power in your hands, your grip. Let nothing else register. Grip the bat firmly at the “pad” of the hand located at the base of the fingers, not back in the palm. Squeeze and release the handle of your bat with your fingers to burn in the feel of strength. Now start your swing with your hands only, starting your hands from the launching position. Again, hands only. You’ll find that the other body parts, particularly the hip rotation, fall in line automatically. Once you have the feel in your hands, never lose it. Rehearse it as much as you can.
…
Thus, from the launching position it’s “hands first.”
…
Remember, any premature movement toward the pitcher, a false start or flinch by the hands, will incorrectly allow the front shoulders to open. This is why hand work is vital. Hands must stay back!
Frank Howard: “Lock up that front side until the hands begin working.”
Exactly. Hands first, front side second.
Frank Howard: “I like to use the expression ‘we have a fast hip [front side opening] action, but it’s a late action.’ This makes it a snap. If I open the hips [and front shoulder] too soon, the front side is going to fly open and I’ll lose my power.”
Al Kaline: “My secret was to always keep that front shoulder closed until the last instant. That way my hands had to start.”
Clarence Jones: “Hitters sometimes hurry their feet [knee cock, stride, landing, resulting in premature hip turn] and you have to slow them down. When a hitter hurries his feet, his actions happen too fast and he’ll drag the bat. Slow his feet down. Slow feet [deliberate, relaxed movement] results in quick hands.”
These men are saying the same thing. Combined, they read like this: “When a hitter hurries his actions, the front side opens up too soon and upsets the rhythm of the swing. The power is lost and the bat drags because the hands cannot work.”
Remember, all hitting movements except the hands and hips are slow, steady, relaxed, fluid. Keeping the front side closed is vital. If Al Kaline calls it his secret we’d do well to label it top priority.
To capsulize, there are two kinds of swings. One is pulled through by the front arm and front shoulder, which tends to restrict hip rotation. The other type of swing is dominated by the hand snap, using both hands. The second is by far the quicker, and facilitates hip rotation.
Comment