Posted by: Jimmy () on Thu Feb 22 00:56:27 2007

> >>> Jack,
>
> Don't waste your time Jimmy will never change. He knows major league hitters so what
can you say? It is people like Jimmy who learn linear mechanics when growing up who
keep the debate alive. The debate he says should not be happening. All the while kids are
being taught this linear mechanics only and once they reach high school they won't be
able to swing a minus 3 bat with those mechanics. It is such a shame that coaches won't
take the time to learn. The kids are suffering and the debate goes on. <<<
>
> Hi Steve
>
> I agree with you, teaching linear principles has stalled the progress of young hitters for
decades. The inefficiency of linear mechanics becomes even more evident when they enter
high school and must attempt to swing a –3 or heavier bat. This is the main reason I
brought Batspeed.com online. I hoped that the information we provided might sway some
of the youth coaches to reevaluate the principles they were teaching.
>
> However, as Jimmy’s posts reveal, linear principles have been so ingrained in coaches
minds that the vast majority of them cannot bring themselves to accept anything that
contradicts what they were taught. So, as Jimmy points out, after the seven years this site
has been online, the debate still goes on.
>
> I, like you, have little hope of changing coaches with Jimmy’s mindset. Actually, it makes
little difference to me what he personally thinks. When I respond to his posts, the purpose
is not to change his thinking. My purpose is to better inform the other thousands of other
coaches and players who read this board. Hopefully, after another seven years, this site
may have contributed to the narrowing of the gap between coaches teaching linear or
rotational principles to our youth.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack,

Your acceptance of a contradictory idea will destroy this site. My acceptance of a
contradictory idea will make me a better coach.

I am probably one of the most open-minded accepting coaches in this forum, but when I
know that a technique will hurt a hitters chances, I will debate it.

I have two Champoinship rings in professional baseball as a hitting coach. One of those
teams led the league in 9 of 11 offensive categories. That team also produced the league
MVP.

If what I am teaching is wrong and detrimental to hitters, than I must be the luckiest coach
with the luckiest hitters in baseball.

Jimmy