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

[ATTACH]116784[/ATTACH]

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?

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[Encinitas]

I have this Hank:

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Or this.

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