Chipper Jones "down and through" hitting style.

[Stampede]

Here we go again, I saw Chipper on MLB network advocating for the old "down and through", level shoulders baseball swing. He talked about teaching kids to hit down and put backspin on the ball. Do any pros actually understand what they are doing when they step into the box? How can they watch video and still think they swing like they teach?

[tradosaurus]

Maybe Mr. Jones should be saying "Don't do as I do but do as I say".

http://youtu.be/lZSJogfTcW0

He looks to be swinging level with the plane of the ball (slight uppercut). Which is the proper way of hitting.

[Standballdad]

Maybe Mr. Jones should be saying "Don't do as I do but do as I say".

http://youtu.be/lZSJogfTcW0

He looks to be swinging level with the plane of the ball (slight uppercut). Which is the proper way of hitting.

I believe what Chipper is saying is just a hitting cue. What actually happens in the swing is what you see him doing. My sons hitting coach gives my son the same hitting cue but if you watch his swing it is a slight upper cut. Same with Pujols if you ever here him talk about hitting, he talks about taking his hands down to the ball, that is his hitting cue. If you tell a kid to swing with a slight upper cut the results will be an exaggerated upper cut swing.

[songtitle]

Here's Chipper's swing - you decide...

Stride to toe touch


Toe touch to hip touch


Hip touch to contact


From what I read, prior to this season, the Atlanta Braves did not have a video system in place. The new hitting coach is starting one this year. So, Chipper may not have any idea what he looks like on video.

[songtitle]

If you tell a kid to swing with a slight upper cut the results will be an exaggerated upper cut swing.

You hear this all the time, but I have never seen an actual video of a kid doing this. I rank this up there with Big Foot.

[Stampede]

I believe what Chipper is saying is just a hitting cue. What actually happens in the swing is what you see him doing. My sons hitting coach gives my son the same hitting cue but if you watch his swing it is a slight upper cut. Same with Pujols if you ever here him talk about hitting, he talks about taking his hands down to the ball, that is his hitting cue. If you tell a kid to swing with a slight upper cut the results will be an exaggerated upper cut swing.

My son went to a high school coaching clinic last spring and the hitting instructor also taught the hit down to put spin on the ball technique. He didn't get it, he started chopping down on the ball, which is basically what they do when they demonstrate the swing. I should have asked what they taught before I let him go, because it really had him messed up.

[Standballdad]

My son went to a high school coaching clinic last spring and the hitting instructor also taught the hit down to put spin on the ball technique. He didn't get it, he started chopping down on the ball, which is basically what they do when they demonstrate the swing. I should have asked what they taught before I let him go, because it really had him messed up.

My sons swing cue is hands down to the ball and to impart backspin. You can see in his video that his swing still has a slightly upward swing to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmRilePGEdU&list=HL1321760657&feature=mh_lolz

[Standballdad]

You hear this all the time, but I have never seen an actual video of a kid doing this. I rank this up there with Big Foot.

Never seen video but have seen young kids do it.

[tradosaurus]

My son went to a high school coaching clinic last spring and the hitting instructor also taught the hit down to put spin on the ball technique. He didn't get it, he started chopping down on the ball, which is basically what they do when they demonstrate the swing. I should have asked what they taught before I let him go, because it really had him messed up.

That is why I won't let my 13 yr old go to any hitting camps or baseball camps in general. They are money makers primarily.

[tradosaurus]

Here's Chipper's swing - you decide...

Stride to toe touch


Toe touch to hip touch


Hip touch to contact


From what I read, prior to this season, the Atlanta Braves did not have a video system in place. The new hitting coach is starting one this year. So, Chipper may not have any idea what he looks like on video.

I think Chipper Jones has a beautiful swing. Maybe he should just point kids to his youtube video's instead.

[coops]

If you tell a kid to swing with a slight upper cut the results will be an exaggerated upper cut swing.

On the other hand if you give a kid a cue to swing down at the ball to get back spin... you get kids that chop at the ball.

[Standballdad]

On the other hand if you give a kid a cue to swing down at the ball to get back spin... you get kids that chop at the ball.

Not if you teach it properly.

[coops]

Not if you teach it properly.

The same could be said about hitting the ball with a slight upper cut or in other words matching the plane of the ball striking it just below center of ball.

[The Uncoach]

I believe what Chipper is saying is just a hitting cue. What actually happens in the swing is what you see him doing. My sons hitting coach gives my son the same hitting cue but if you watch his swing it is a slight upper cut. Same with Pujols if you ever here him talk about hitting, he talks about taking his hands down to the ball, that is his hitting cue. If you tell a kid to swing with a slight upper cut the results will be an exaggerated upper cut swing.

You suggest that if you tell a kid to swing down, he'll swing up, and if you tell him to swing up he'll swing up even more. I'd like to know if you've actually worked with anyone other than your son, because I can grab any number of woodchoppers, ask them to hit a ball up an elevator shaft and they would swing down even more than they were previously.

On the other hand if you give a kid a cue to swing down at the ball to get back spin... you get kids that chop at the ball.

In the context of this discussion you are correct.

Not if you teach it properly.

I know for a fact I can teach kids to swing with a slight uppercut without teaching them to swing down on the ball.

[CoolHandLuke]

My sons swing cue is hands down to the ball and to impart backspin. You can see in his video that his swing still has a slightly upward swing to it.

Many rotational folks will say that is a terrible que. If that cue gets your son to get on plane quickly and stay on plane, then it works.

Your body doesn't always do what your mind thinks it's doing, epecially when it comes to hitting. A player's swing will have a natural tendency to finish at shoulder height just due to physical anatomy. In many cases, even if you truely think you're swinging slightly down or level, the path is most likely slightly up, and will continue that upward path until it reaches shoulder height.