Resources

[WonderMonkey]

Pages of Links
http://home.comcast.net/~john.sigler/fastpitch/
Siggy has a page like this post, except his has tons more links in different categories. Go take a look. On occasion I'll bring back a specific link that has personal value to me.

Overall Baseball
www.BaseballManual.com
From a person promoting the site: "There is a new baseball instuctional manual that is hitting the market. It is awsome! What makes it unique from all the other things on the market is it is for coaches, players and parents! It starts at t-ball and takes the instruction all the way to the college level. It has been endorsed by some of the top baseball people in the country (Trot Nixon and others). Coach Ray Tanner (USC, USA National Team and former USA Olympic Coach) wrote the forword for this book. It is 19 chapters long and over 250 pages. It contains 8 very detailed instructional DVDs. Visit www.baseballmanual.com to see what this is all about. I have purchased a copy and I want other coaches to know about this resourse becase it helped me so much."

Hitting
www.WristHitter.com
From the site owner :
"overview of ‘science’ frauds; footwork and methods; batting then and now
Open Secrets; viewed from the trenches
15 tips for a tension free swing
troubleshooting
wristhitting if you must
patching ‘holes’
setting up to hit"

www.englishbeyhitting.com
I am really looking foreward to reviewing more information about Steve Englishbey. I've heard great things but have yet to hunker down and study. I will do so shortly.

www.hitting-mechanics.org
From their site: "A web site dedicated to developing and promoting a better understanding of how the body swings and throws. But even more important is how to use this information to maximize your player's swing-hitting abilities and skills."

Catching
www.Baseball-Catcher.com
Its a free site that teaches the proper fundamentals of the catching position.

Pitching
http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/
Nice site with tons of information. Steven Ellis, the founder of The Complete Pitcher, also has a book which can be seen on the site.

http://www.stevenellis.com/steven_ellis_the_complete/2006/07/bill_thurstons_.html
Blog entry with links to some decent videos on pitching form. Great for some general informatin.

[virg]

Now for sure nobody else will post.

wristhitter.com will be revamped as the book is refined.
The new homepage, simpler.
Probably no forum, consulting also by email; free

text as follows...
overview of ‘science’ frauds; footwork and methods; batting then and now
Open Secrets; viewed from the trenches
15 tips for a tension free swing
troubleshooting
wristhitting if you must
patching ‘holes’
setting up to hit

“heuristic” (according to Guerry) but scientific to me.

[WonderMonkey]

I was sure this would sink like lead. Thanks for reviving it.

I'll put that in a format and post it if there are a few more responses.

[WonderMonkey]

There is a new baseball instuctional manual that is hitting the market. It is awsome! What makes it unique from all the other things on the market is it is for coaches, players and parents! It starts at t-ball and takes the instruction all the way to the college level. It has been endorsed by some of the top baseball people in the country (Trot Nixon and others). Coach Ray Tanner (USC, USA National Team and former USA Olympic Coach) wrote the forword for this book. It is 19 chapters long and over 250 pages. It contains 8 very detailed instructional DVDs. Visit www.baseballmanual.com to see what this is all about. I have purchased a copy and I want other coaches to know about this resourse becase it helped me so much.

Hell might as well include this just as bait.

[WonderMonkey]

Since I don't think this thread is going to be very popular, I am going to keep my private resource list as I see them in this forum. If you want to access this list, add to it, discuss it, defile it, show it to your pastor, print it out for bathroom use, or whatever, go here : http://henrynet.com/hnccs/blogs/coaching/default.aspx

[WonderMonkey]

*bump*

*set*

[jsiggy]

Hitting-mechanics.org is defunct. Replaced by the pay per view forums at SETPRO.

I have some other links here (http://home.comcast.net/~john.sigler/fastpitch)which you might find of interest.

[WonderMonkey]

Hitting-mechanics.org is defunct. Replaced by the pay per view forums at SETPRO.

I have some other links here (http://home.comcast.net/~john.sigler/fastpitch)which you might find of interest.

I'll just link to your page and maybe here and there bring over some information. Sound ok?

[jsiggy]

All my info is free for the taking.

[WonderMonkey]

All my info is free for the taking.

Excellent. Spoken like a true Java hound.

[Jake Patterson]

All my info is free for the taking.

Siggy - Great resourse.

[Hawaii]

I like Tom House's pitching information. Their new book (by National Pitching Ass'n, released in 2006 I think) is entitled The Art and Science of Pitching. It's cheap (like $12 or $14) and is easily available through Amazon etc. (Disclaimer: I have no connection to NPA or this book/author except I use it and like it.)
The new book has REALLY interesting information about how many of the "old beliefs" are just that, beliefs, and are not backed up by empirical information (meaning high speed film of high-level pitchers, combined with computer analysis--they hook up pitchers to computers by putting electrode-looking things on the body and analysing the relative speed and movement of the head, arm, legs, etc.)
Some of the "old beliefs": Where to stand on the rubber whether LH or RH; staying back, pause at the top, tall and fall, drop and drive, push off the rubber, don't rush, break your hands early, show the ball to 2nd base, don't show the ball behind your back, pull your glove to your chest--and many more. House says these are not givens, that many elite pitchers do not do these things, and instead emphazises balance, posture, momentum, equal and opposite arm/shoulder angles, delayed shoulder rotation, and what he calls stack and track and swivel and stabilize. The book has an excellent section on core strength, flexibility, and joint exercises specific to pitchers. Their web site (below) also offers a multi-DVD set. The DVDs are good info, but not cheap--if you are exploring, or on a limited budget, it's probably best to start with the book, and then "graduate" to the DVDs. (E.g., a couple of the DVDs deal solely with exercises for pitchers--REALLY exhaustive and detailed.)
One interesting difference between House and several other teachers is the issue of the front leg. I've seen many coaches emphasize the pitcher must firm up the front leg and use it as a fulcrum, hinge or leverage point to help generate more force into the ball. Makes sense--similar to firming up the front leg when hitting. House has a different approach, that the front leg in pitching should flex to where knee is over plant foot, allowing the pitcher to get closer to home plate at release and continue to move his torso forward into release point.
I'm not saying House is the only way. I'm not here to convert anyone. I'm just trying to describe some of what he teaches in a nutshell, and offer one family's experience: my son and I went to a House/NPA clinic last year and have been working hard at implementing what they teach, and the results have been dramatic. If anyone has questions or wants details about what we learned at the clinic, and how it has helped, you are welcome to PM me on this forum.
Tom House's web site (nationalpitching.org or .net) can get you started, and also has lots of info and articles in the members section (annual fee, $50.)