Hands Back Hitter (Training Device)

[Benny Blades]

Has anyone out there used the "Hands Back Hitter" training aid? It's basically a "tee", you step on a string and a ball pops up into the hitting zone and swing.

Thanks in advance.......

[handyman11]

I've had one for 3-4 years ...I like it as part of our hitting stations , and it's helped some of the kids I coach ........

[Mark H]

It can help cure lunging and hip slide but it can also tend to preclude learning how to turn momentum of a stride into rotation given the hesitation between stepping on the trigger and starting the swing. Use it briefly and wisely IMO.

[RayR]

I have heard some use it this way:

Hit the ball on the way up instead of on the way back down.

[Mark H]

Yes, that would be good.

[CoachB25]

I own 3 of them and use them extensively. Yes, hit the ball on the way up. Also, when supervised, use to practice hitting the change w/ball on the way down. We have the "poppers" that throw up real baseballs and softballs which I recommend. Like any other "tool" it has some merit but also can produce problems if used inappropriately. BTW, my child really likes hitting off of this and prefers this to soft toss from the side anyday. It is not better than good soft toss from the front. JMHO!

[Rydell]

Teaches Separation

I like the hands back hitter because it helps teach a player to stride b4 they swing. Set it up on the outside part of the plate & focus on hitting ball to the opposite field gap

[Mark H]

I like the hands back hitter because it helps teach a player to stride b4 they swing.

Exactly. Long before. Unless they hit it on the way up.

[tom.guerry]

Swingbuster/HBH is excellent for learning the MLB type pattern, this is the good kind of separation to be working on, not slop - moreso with the longer Lau type swing (the original stride THEN swing cue/guys Lau Jr and Sr), but also works well with the more bellied up Epstein version MLB/make history on inside approach.

The swingbusterHBH doesn't work for pcr well unless you try to turn quick/like heck and get it on the way up.

early batspeed/mlb vs no early batspeed/PCR.

both peavy and epstein show/describe nice drills using it, see their websites

the official nyman/pcr position is that it is one of the worst if not the worst training devices in the world. see description of #1 worst training aid of all time;

http://www.setpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8606

This is certainly true if you want a PCR/non-MLB swing where you need to eliminate stretch and fire and early batspeed and upper body resistance in the impossible quest for eliminating drag and slop.

drag and slop can be well managed in the MLB pattern.

they are incurable problems in the world of nyman and not even the swingbusterHBH can fix this as long as the coach is forcing the non-MLB "blueprint'.

the best way the swingbusterHBH can work for PCR instructors is by ignoring the PCR building code when using the swingbuster. then you might get lucky with trial and error and fall into the natural MLB pattern.

you will not develop the MLB pattern as long as you actually follow the PCR/W "information".

[tom.guerry]

fun previous discussion that nyman considers dangerous, beware:

http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/boards/baseball/message.cfm?id=1335073

shawn's comment on Markh's advice:

"So your saying nothing and rehashing verbage. I was just checking."

maybe both shawn and mark have "revised" their positions and can state them here.

[chesspirate]

In my experience and opinion the HBH tends to lead to a 2part swing that is not a smooth and blended motion.
I don't personally see how a stopping of a hitters momentum at this point in the swing could lead to a high level swing, considering that mlb hitters are already starting to rotate/swing at this point in the swing.
And words can only go so far, so i'll see if i can put up some video to illustrate my point a little later.

[Mark H]

I don't personally see how a stopping of a hitters momentum at this point in the swing could lead to a high level swing, considering that mlb hitters are already starting to rotate/swing at this point in the swing.
.

It can because Tom says so. Never mind the misquotes of Nyman, Steve,Hardy etc and never mind he has no apparent long term in person students to try his theory on, he types a lot of baffling words so therefore he must be right.

[tom.guerry]

specifics on those misquote thinggy's please.

the nyman top 10 is pretty self explanatory.

he has no clue how an mlb swing works. just functional trial and error yadayadayayda.

[Erik]

I thought I had number 1 rapped up on Nymans list. I guess number 2 isn't to bad hey?.





EL,

[Mark H]

specifics on those misquote thinggy's please.

the nyman top 10 is pretty self explanatory.

he has no clue how an mlb swing works. just functional trial and error yadayadayayda.

Trying to keep up with your misquotes would be full time job. For instance you have been told by Scott that Hardy says the one plane swing is the baseball swing and yet you blithely type on.

Bottom line folks, if you want to know what any of the people Tom quotes really say, you better go to the source rather than accept his blended version of all of them creating Tom's porridge hitting recipe. If you want to know what Tom thinks about hitting, then he's your man because he definitely has his very own blend. No students, but he does have his very own theory. Carry on.