Take a look at this swing

[bowlegs]

Unfortunately all I have is a still guys but we have been working pretty hard on rotational mechanics. Will get some video soon.

[jbooth]

Unfortunately all I have is a still guys but we have been working pretty hard on rotational mechanics. Will get some video soon.

That's a pretty darn good contact position, but the question is; how did he get to it? As you know, we need video.

And before someone says he is leaning back, they need to note the camera angle. You are a bit to his front side. If the picture was taken directly from the side, I'll bet he is vertical.

[callyjr]

agree, does look like he may be a little on the back though but your right it is hard to tell how he got there. I think he would be more up on the toe at that spot in the swing therewise.

[Jake Patterson]

That's a pretty darn good contact position, but the question is; how did he get to it? As you know, we need video.

And before someone says he is leaning back, they need to note the camera angle. You are a bit to his front side. If the picture was taken directly from the side, I'll bet he is vertical.

Bow agree with Jim. That pic would indicate he's got a pretty great swing, but how he got to that spot and what he does after it matters as much as what he does at contact.

How old?

jake

[bowlegs]

He's was only 8 at the time the photo was taken

[bowlegs]

It appears to me he has too much weight on the backside but at that time I was following Epstein because that's pretty much all I knew but know we have shifted over to Englishbey. I enjoy this site a lot. A lot of great information. I hope to post some video soon.

[Jake Patterson]

It appears to me he has too much weight on the backside but at that time I was following Epstein because that's pretty much all I knew but know we have shifted over to Englishbey. I enjoy this site a lot. A lot of great information. I hope to post some video soon.

It's really difficult to say as we cannot see the ball so we don't know if has made, he is making contact or is going to make contact. If it's the latter and he is moving his weight forward and off his back foot then he's fine. Tough without video.
Jake

[TG Coach]

It appears to me he has too much weight on the backside but at that time I was following Epstein because that's pretty much all I knew but know we have shifted over to Englishbey. I enjoy this site a lot. A lot of great information. I hope to post some video soon.

LOL ... At eight my son followed the theory of see the ball, hit it. The advanced training was "swing hard."

[bowlegs]

Believe me he was your typical 8 yr old. Some days we worked for 10 minutes others an hour it all depended on him. We never pushed it.

[Chris O'Leary]

It appears to me he has too much weight on the backside but at that time I was following Epstein because that's pretty much all I knew but know we have shifted over to Englishbey. I enjoy this site a lot. A lot of great information. I hope to post some video soon.

This is a solid, but very Epstein, position.

As Englisbey will tell you, this is similar to what the best hitters do, and better than most, but not perfect.

[deaconspoint]

Believe me he was your typical 8 yr old. Some days we worked for 10 minutes others an hour it all depended on him. We never pushed it.

How old is he now?

[bowlegs]

he is ten now.

[Go Cardinals]

His swing looks amazing for a 8 year old. It looks like he is generating aton of bat speed.

[callyjr]

It appears to me he has too much weight on the backside but at that time I was following Epstein because that's pretty much all I knew but know we have shifted over to Englishbey. I enjoy this site a lot. A lot of great information. I hope to post some video soon.


why change whats working, all you need to so is add in the #'S drill at the 1 position to the 2 position is step on his toe so he rolls up on the toes not turn and squish, Once he starts to understand the feel of it the rest is the same and no more weight on the backside. see my latest Epstein student.

http://callyjr.hittingillustrated.com/students/Nick%20day%202%20tip%20and%20rip.mov

no weight on the back, no Englishby(spinning). Each Guru has its good and bad. Epstein just left out 1 little part about getting kids off the backside, he teaches it different live then his most recent CD and DVD.

[hiddengem]

This is a great looking shot for an 8 yr old. Like Jim said, if we could see this picture at a different angle and see the position his torso is in that would help. In my opinion, a hitter should strive to be in a position (torso straight up and down) to be able to handle the good fastball everytime. If you are too far tilted back toward the catcher on the majority of your swings the good fastball is going to give you alot of problems.

[jima]

Cally, that kid's swing looks great. I love how decisive the load, step and turn are (is). Does he use the load to help time pitchers? jima

[Mark H]

no weight on the back, no Englishby(spinning). Each Guru has its good and bad. Epstein just left out 1 little part about getting kids off the backside, he teaches it different live then his most recent CD and DVD.

Given the verbiage I suggest you are getting your opinions on what Englishbey teaches from his detractors rather than from him. While you are at it, your definition of "spinning" might be helpful.

[deaconspoint]

Each Guru has its good and bad. Epstein just left out 1 little part about getting kids off the backside, he teaches it different live then his most recent CD and DVD.

Just curios. Why would someone teach something differently live than they would in a dvd they are selling. Are they purposely leaving something important out so you will have to come back to them to fix it? I'm not sure I quite get that one.

[callyjr]

Just curios. Why would someone teach something differently live than they would in a dvd they are selling. Are they purposely leaving something important out so you will have to come back to them to fix it? I'm not sure I quite get that one.


Baseball is about making adjustments, basically guys like you all opened his eyes to the fact that his students were squishing. they have made the adjustment live and offer the advice as well. No guru is perfect and we all know that. As long as they continue to try and improve thats all we can ask.

[callyjr]

Cally, that kid's swing looks great. I love how decisive the load, step and turn are (is). Does he use the load to help time pitchers? jima
Thanks Jima,

We are still working on things with him. Not understand the question completely. We are working on getting him to turn in less then he is, but the load is a needed part of every MLB swing IMO. We are also trying to get him to block the front side a little better as well. I had him in BP a few days ago and he was hitting shots to both sides of the field. In 35 to 40 swings he took 5 or 6 out of a 330 foot field and a lot of 1 hoppers. It was a pretty good 1st BP session going from using the swiftstick and wiffle balls to a real bat and ball.

Cally

[The Cobb]

Get him to wear his socks up and the swing is perfect!

Heheh.

[Jake Patterson]

http://callyjr.hittingillustrated.com/students/Nick%20day%202%20tip%20and%20rip.mov


Unable to open

[Hawaii]

While video would help, his contact position looks good to me except maybe his head is a bit off the ball. Having said that, and knowing I may open a can of worms here, I am concerned about his weight. I'm hoping he has or will lengthen/thin out, but he looks at danger of becoming obese. Can such a "prediction" be made from a still photo? I'm sure there's lots of reasons why not, but it's still in my gut, so there you have it. I hope I'm wrong. Prince Fielder is certainly proving that seriously heavy dudes can hit, but there are many more players who have fallen by the wayside due to their weight. I guess the point I'm trying to make is this: don't just focus on his swing mechanics. Give attention to his diet, nutrition, and conditioning. I've seen a bunch of talented kids literally eat their way out of baseball, and with all respect, I fear this boy is on the danger list for that. I'm about to leave for vacation for 2 weeks, and will not be visiting, so my reply to any replies will have to wait.

[Lobo47]

the kid is to much on his back side and doesnt look like he has a good weight transfer and he is using all of his arms he is very compact tho

[Jake Patterson]

the kid is to much on his back side and doesnt look like he has a good weight transfer and he is using all of his arms he is very compact tho

Bow,
I would take everything here with a grain of salt - MiniBow looks great. Just understand that we are unable to give any substantive advice without seeing a few swings.
Jake

[bowlegs]

I understand Jake and it makes perfect sense that you guys need to see some video. It's kind of been an on and off process with him and his swing. I don't think I have a good enough handle on rotational mechanics to be sure I am showing him the correct way so I thought I would seek some help. I think I have found an instructor locally that I will get him to and hopefully we can learn together. I just wanted to throw it out there and get some opinions. His league is just about over so we'll have some time to get after it! Thanks for the input guys and when he starts working with his coach I'll post some video of the whole process so we can see the progression.

[LClifton]

I agree with what Jake and others have said,,,need video.

The position this young man has achieved in this still picture is very good as stated already by HiddenGem and Jim Booth.
(for 8 yrs old, 10 yrs old, either way,there is a lot to like)

It will be great to see him in a clip.

And Bow....thanks for sharing the picture with us.
(If you need any help with producing or posting video, feel free to drop me a note)

[Jake Patterson]

I understand Jake and it makes perfect sense that you guys need to see some video. It's kind of been an on and off process with him and his swing. I don't think I have a good enough handle on rotational mechanics to be sure I am showing him the correct way so I thought I would seek some help. I think I have found an instructor locally that I will get him to and hopefully we can learn together. I just wanted to throw it out there and get some opinions. His league is just about over so we'll have some time to get after it! Thanks for the input guys and when he starts working with his coach I'll post some video of the whole process so we can see the progression.

There is nothing better than a motivated father/son team. Keep us posted.

[bowlegs]

Thanks for the kind words LC and I am pretty sure I'll be needing some help once I get some video. I already have a digital video camera but what software do I need for editing and posting clips? What angles should he be shot from?

[bowlegs]

I'll keep you guys up on it Jake and thanks.

[callyjr]

I'll keep you guys up on it Jake and thanks.

did you ever consider calling Jake and Mike and talking to them. I think being the poster child on Mikes website you would have some pull with him making sure your still getting things right.

so I wonder what is wrong with being a gap tp gap hitter?

Says Dad:

"My nine year old son, Brandon, and his linear style of hitting was only producing ground ball after ground ball. Since he is not the swiftest, it also produced out after out. Several months ago we decided to purchase your Hall of Fame Package and slowly work through the drills. Now Brandon is a gap to gap hitter, enjoying some new found power and a great start to his season. Your step-by-step program makes it so simple teach!

[deaconspoint]

That's kind of pathetic cally.

You said you loved me.:cry:



Good luck bowlegsjr and have fun this summer!!

[Jake Patterson]

did you ever consider calling Jake and Mike and talking to them. I think being the poster child on Mikes website you would have some pull with him making sure your still getting things right.


Cally,
Are you confusing your Jakes???

[callyjr]

Jake Epstein is Mike's son. Jake pretty much runs the business noe and Mike is te face. Also This young man we have been talking about is on Epsteins website in the clips section.

[callyjr]

That's kind of pathetic cally.

You said you loved me.:cry:



Good luck bowlegsjr and have fun this summer!!


I don't understand? Whats pathetic about it. This kid was a gap to gap hitter and Epstein has him on his website. I would think that if it was working once then maybe something changed? My point was to simply get him to call Epstein and sat hey this is going on and we cant figure out how to fix it.

[Jake Patterson]

Jake Epstein is Mike's son. Jake pretty much runs the business noe and Mike is te face.
This I knew..

Also This young man we have been talking about is on Epsteins website in the clips section.
This I didn't know.

[bowlegs]

He is on Epsteins website. We I emailed Jake to ask if things looked okay he emailed me back and asked if they could post it. All of the wording is theirs. I agreed and thats that, but after doing more research on the technique I have switched to Englishbey. Nothing against Mike and I wouldn't call Brandon a poster child. The photo looked decent and I guess they thought it would help their cause. We have never trained with Mike or Jake personally.

[callyjr]

funny,


Your with englishby now and your on websites asking for help on his swing, what part of that am i mis-understanding. Don't take me the wrong way, but one system was working and now its not, then you switch to another and its not working. Kid is not getting enough time to develop his swing IMO. Let him swing the bat and quit worrying about how. He is now 10? Epstein rarely takes on a student less then 12, and very rarely 10. I have never taken on a student besides my own boy less the 13. There is a reason for this, TG will tell you all about it.

Cally

[bowlegs]

I have never personally seen Englishbey or Epstein for instruction and I am no guru when it comes to rotational mechanichs> iseek suggestions and help anywhere I can. i have asked from suggestions on a few sites. Just trying to gather as much info as I can to help myself and my son. The only thing I have to gain from this is knowledge. I think you are tying to read to much into it Cally or maybe I should say that I am "following" a certain person instead of saying I am "with" a certain person. the only thing I have is the dvd's. I am not trying to drive people one way or the other.

[Jake Patterson]

I have asked from suggestions on a few sites. Just trying to gather as much info as I can to help myself and my son. The only thing I have to gain from this is knowledge.

Nothing wrong with this...

[callyjr]

i agree, sorry for what looked like an attack, not intended that way. Just trying to understand your thoughts.