Why does Cal Ripken teach hands

[getjiggywitit]

to the ball in his instruction but yet in an actual game it was pretty clear he did not do that. It was more of a circular hand path to the ball. I find that a lot of former preffesionals teach hands to the ball and they did not use hands to the ball during their careers. The following is a link to show his (Cal Ripken) swing during an actual game.Any idea why these guys do this ? Thanks

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/335083.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193B3EA2C03450C9486035C2B839FE8F19E284831B75F48EF45

[Jake Patterson]

to the ball in his instruction but yet in an actual game it was pretty clear he did not do that. It was more of a circular hand path to the ball. I find that a lot of former preffesionals teach hands to the ball and they did not use hands to the ball during their careers. The following is a link to show his (Cal Ripken) swing during an actual game.Any idea why these guys do this ? Thanks

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/33508...4831B75F48EF45

This supports my suggestion that "The measure of a good coach is not how well he played the game its how well he can teach it" is applicable at all levels of the game.

[getjiggywitit]

A good player does not equate to a good coach

This supports my suggestion that "The measure of a good coach is not how well he played the game its how well he can teach it" is applicable at all levels of the game.

Indeed very true, but I think Cal knows what kind of swing he really uses during games.Is it maybe because they really dont want to teach kids how to hit like they do in th pros
I dont beleive that but you never know.Thanks

[SimiBaseball]

I wish I could figure out why the "Internet hitting community" fails to grasp this concept. "Hands to the ball" is a verbal cue. It works. It has been used successfully for a hundred years.

When you "compare everything anyone tells you about hitting to video of major league hitters", the purpose is to further your understanding of the swing. It is NOT to invalidate hitting cues that have been and will continue to be effective.

The bottom line is, it is most effective to replicate what the best players are THINKING. If you try to replicate video taped swings while disregarding the thoughts that created those swings, then you are taking a longer road.

Do you REALLY believe Cal Ripken doesn't know what he's talking about? Please get over yourselves.

[virg]

Those clip swings don't show everything. All they show is launch-to-follow through. (Launch starts with a pitch already halfway home.)

They show nothing about addressing a pitch between visual pickup and launch. This might be when the hands-to referred to by Ripken happens. If it were me doing the teaching, there would be incremental hands-to during that time. Why waste the first half of every pitch, when you can be using it to prepare?

[getjiggywitit]

I wish I could figure out why the "Internet hitting community" fails to grasp this concept. "Hands to the ball" is a verbal cue. It works. It has been used successfully for a hundred years.

When you "compare everything anyone tells you about hitting to video of major league hitters", the purpose is to further your understanding of the swing. It is NOT to invalidate hitting cues that have been and will continue to be effective.

The bottom line is, it is most effective to replicate what the best players are THINKING. If you try to replicate video taped swings while disregarding the thoughts that created those swings, then you are taking a longer road.

Do you REALLY believe Cal Ripken doesn't know what he's talking about? Please get over yourselves.

Who said Ripken doesnt know what hes talking about Im just sayin that in is seminars and things of that nature he teaches hands to the ball which in retrospect for some people means his hands are going towards the baseball and not the push/pull which allows more torque and then bat drag which has your hips turning before the hands go through the zone in which they use more on the professionl level like he is using in the picture is not taught instead. Thats all

[Swing Coach]

Taking away the hands is one of the single worst things you can do for a young hitter. I have been there and done it with my son. I taught him rotational hitting, use the hips, don't emphasize the hands etc. ANd his hitting was weaker because of it. The only time you take away the hands is when a player's hands move to the ball initially ahead of the shoulders. And the only way you can tell this is happening is to use high speed video. I have videotaped many kids, college players and minor leaguers who bring their hands so fast to the ball they bypass the body as the initial engine. TO these players, I would have them de-emphasize the hands and get them to learn to use the hands together with the shoulder initially.

I gave over 100 lessons this winter and most young kids swing with their arms and bring their hands away from the body....thus, hardly using their hands at all. I could hold on to the barrell of their bat and tell them to swing and there would be almost no resistance. That's because they had no clue how to take their hands toward the ball.

Bottom line is, the best hitters in the world talk about hands because they use them in a powerful motion down toward the ball (in connection with the shoulders initially).

[getjiggywitit]

Hands to the ball means your hands are going toward the ball which is a great teaching tool no question about it. When knob to the ball is taught it creates drag in the bat as the hands go in a circular fashion towards the ball creating a bit more lift which is fantastic as well.Hips whip first then the hands in an uncoiling like fashion. I dont teach that to the younger kids until they know what it means to stay inside the ball and not cast the hands.Once they grasp the understanding of keeping the hands to the ball they get the concept of keeping those hands inside the ball.Outside pitches are vital in understanding hands inside the ball. As the kids get a bit older they can take a circular hand path which is simply tucking the back shoulder into the ribs and having the front shoulder high and keep their hands from casting way from their bodies but rather in line with the incoming pitch.

[korp]

I think the answer is simple. They were preached that swing as a kid and even though the swing has changed they don't review video with a critical eye to catch the obvious changes.

[Chris O'Leary]

Indeed very true, but I think Cal knows what kind of swing he really uses during games.Is it maybe because they really dont want to teach kids how to hit like they do in th pros
I dont beleive that but you never know.Thanks

I think they honestly don't understand their own swings. This is true of Tony Gwynn as well as Ripken.

Part of the problem is that they confuse cause and effect.

[Coordinator]

I think the answer is simple. They were preached that swing as a kid and even though the swing has changed they don't review video with a critical eye to catch the obvious changes.

I'd say that about sums it up. Comparing what Ripken says and does on his DVDs made me think this, too. I recently watched a local hitting coach give a clinic in which he was demonstrating something he always teaches but it didn't look anything like what he was saying. I think they never critically watched video of themselves.

[Chris O'Leary]

I'd say that about sums it up. Comparing what Ripken says and does on his DVDs made me think this, too. I recently watched a local hitting coach give a clinic in which he was demonstrating something he always teaches but it didn't look anything like what he was saying. I think they never critically watched video of themselves.

What's funny/pathetic is to go through books like the Louisville Slugger book and see the authors criticizing pictures, that show textbook examples of tilt, as showing the batter not swinging level and letting the barrel drop.

EVERY major league hitter lets the barrel drop below their hands on their good swings.

[Jesse]

Cal Jr. is also really big on "move back to move forward". He teaches a rocking weight shift that looks nothing like any MLB hitter I've seen (including Cal). No idea where he picked that up but I've heard it before - is that a Lau thing?

Anything Cal teaches about fielding is gold in my opinion, but you need to be suspicious of a lot of his hitting philosophies. Keep in mind this is a guy that went something like 95 straight games without an error (at shortstop no less) but was never really satisfied with his swing, especially towards the end of his career.

I saw a book in a bookstore the other day that really impressed me. It was The Hitting Edge by Tom Robson. It's somewhat basic from a mechanics standpoint, but most of what I skimmed seemed right on. He talked about bat lag, tilt, rotation, etc. and seemed to be saying all the right things. He had several photos demonstrating that the best hitters keep their hands above the barrel at contact, even on high pitches. He talked about the "hands to the ball" cue, saying that it could be an effective way to teach proper bat lag, but warned that it could create bad habits if used improperly. He only recommended its use in fixing bat lag issues, and then only sparingly. Worth checking out.

Edit: Thought I should add, the main focus of the book seems to be on the mental approach to hitting (attitude, focus, recognition, etc.) but there were several chapters on mechanics.

[StraightGrain11]

Cal Jr. is also really big on "move back to move forward". He teaches a rocking weight shift that looks nothing like any MLB hitter I've seen (including Cal).

Apparently you didn't listen well enough. That is a DRILL he USES to get the hitters to FEEL what "weight shift feels like." He says VERY SPECIFICALLY that it is NOT realistic, and that you will NEVER do it in a game, it is ONLY a DRILL.
Ripken on Weight Shift
See, I think a lot of the problems you people are having here, is that you are comparing what you SEE to what they FEEL.
Maybe YOUR visual interpretation of "hands to the ball" does not fit his. Maybe he FEELS his hands ARE going to the ball, even though that is not what you SEE.
That's the problem I seem to see with a lot of coaches today. If it LOOKS bad, it must be wrong. Forget if it FEELS right or not.

[Go Cardinals]

Apparently you didn't listen well enough. That is a DRILL he USES to get the hitters to FEEL what "weight shift feels like." He says VERY SPECIFICALLY that it is NOT realistic, and that you will NEVER do it in a game, it is ONLY a DRILL.

See, I think a lot of the problems you people are having here, is that you are comparing what you SEE to what they FEEL.
Maybe YOUR visual interpretation of "hands to the ball" does not fit his. Maybe he FEELS his hands ARE going to the ball, even though that is not what you SEE.
That's the problem I seem to see with a lot of coaches today. If it LOOKS bad, it must be wrong. Forget if it FEELS right or not.

Straightgrain... check your pm's...

ps- sorry I haven't responded to your last one... not much time w/ school work and baseball...