Team USA Softball Hitting Instruction

[Chris O'Leary]

I have to admit that I am REALLY late to the whole world of fast pitch softball. However, I've gotten a lot of interest from fast pitch folks in my stuff of late, so I've been on a bit of a crash course.

I've spent a lot of time on the fastpitch section of Siggy's site and recently started poking around YouTube looking for clips. One thing I've noticed is some pretty major differences in the swings of people like Caitlin Benyi and Michelle Smith and the swings of people like Jessica Mendoza and Jennie Finch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGGaHfpcq4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K1GDrk_0uA&feature=related

It seems like some of the Team USA players used a no-stride approach that was very different from the (IMO much nicer) swings you see on Siggy's site.

Can anyone educate me on the context/history of this? Could this be related to their lack of success in the 2008 Olympics?

[Mark H]

I've seen Mendoza look better. Finch too for that matter. By Hardy's definition looked like Finch was warming up her two plane swing. ;) You find a lot of different influences in fastpitch. When the current twenty something fp players started out it was way deep into the dark ages in fp hitting instruction. It will be interesting to see what the National Team swings look like in ten or fifteen years. Some of the last National Team swings beg, no scream, the question why wasn't Danyele Gomez and or Kaitlin Cochran on the team.

[shake-n-bake]

Possibly the only thing my son and daughter agree on - their favorite player - Jennie Finch!

[kylebee]

Bustos has an MLB-quality swing.

[Chris O'Leary]

Bustos has an MLB-quality swing.

Yes, but it's quite different than the swings you see from Mendoza and Finch.

They are using the static, no-stride, spin swing that some people preach. That really doesn't make sense because it robs them of power. Their lower bodies should be more active, not less active, than Bustos' due to their lower muscle mass (and mass in general).

[straightleg]

I work with busto's hitting coach.

He can take a kid, boy or girl and in 2-3 one hour lessons have them hitting the cr## out of the ball.

I have been training with him for about 1 1/2 years.


His motto - keep it simple




Straightleg

[omg]

I work with busto's hitting coach.

He can take a kid, boy or girl and in 2-3 one hour lessons have them hitting the cr## out of the ball.

I have been training with him for about 1 1/2 years.


His motto - keep it simple




Straightleg

Sounds like a good coach. What are the types of things he says and does?

[CoachB25]

So why ask questions then?

Shouldn't you already have everything covered?

And the pro coaches I've known certainly would never seek advice on a message board about a player that they are "working with". They would never need to. They already knew everything they needed to know to get him ironed out. And since you are an expert, you should, in theory, be able to do the same.

Does an accredited professor look on Wikipedia for answers? Would Urban Meyer ask people in NCAA 09 XBOX online leagues for new plays? Would Phil Jackson ask a middle school coach how to run the Triangle Offense more efficiently?

Can't we cite examples of professional scouts participating on this site? Can't we cite examples of professional players participating on this site?
Can't we cite examples of those who give professional lessons participating on this site?

BTW, please note, I'm an "ex - expert."

[Jake Patterson]

This thread went way off track...
Here's the original question:

It seems like some of the Team USA players used a no-stride approach that was very different from the (IMO much nicer) swings you see on Siggy's site.

Can anyone educate me on the context/history of this? Could this be related to their lack of success in the 2008 Olympics?

[straightleg]

Sounds like a good coach. What are the types of things he says and does?


He gives clinics mainly in ohio with bustos. last one he did jenny did pitching, berg and bustos did fielding and this guy did the hitting.

if you have questions you can pm me.





straightleg

[straightleg]

I have to admit that I am REALLY late to the whole world of fast pitch softball. However, I've gotten a lot of interest from fast pitch folks in my stuff of late, so I've been on a bit of a crash course.

I've spent a lot of time on the fastpitch section of Siggy's site and recently started poking around YouTube looking for clips. One thing I've noticed is some pretty major differences in the swings of people like Caitlin Benyi and Michelle Smith and the swings of people like Jessica Mendoza and Jennie Finch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGGaHfpcq4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K1GDrk_0uA&feature=related

It seems like some of the Team USA players used a no-stride approach that was very different from the (IMO much nicer) swings you see on Siggy's site.

Can anyone educate me on the context/history of this? Could this be related to their lack of success in the 2008 Olympics?



Chris.
Candera stands behind RVP.
The ex - chinese olyompic coach I work with stands behind RVP.

He teachs boys and girls the same swing. He also works with bustos.


Can we teach boys and girls the same swing?

I believe you can.


As far as the history, of team USA I cant answer that.





Straightleg

[Chris O'Leary]

Chris.
Candera stands behind RVP.
The ex - chinese olyompic coach I work with stands behind RVP.

He teachs boys and girls the same swing. He also works with bustos.

Can we teach boys and girls the same swing? I believe you can.

As far as the history, of team USA I cant answer that.

Straightleg

Thanks.

In terms of whether the swing is the same or not, this clip sealed the deal for me.

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Hitting/Videos/FastPitchSoftball/Video_Hitting___FastPitchSoftball_CaitlinBenyi_1B_ 2005_001.gif

I see George Brett and Derek Jeter in this swing.

[Mark H]

Yeah I like her. I like Rivera, Cochran and Gomez too.