I am still trying to figure out what you are saying about the grip. What do you say the position of the hands should be at contact? What position at start of swing?
Posts: 577 | Location: mid west | Registered: January 23, 2008
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
Just as with Mantle and the other great hitters before the Charlie Lau and George Brett school of hitting became popular, the swing through the zone is palms facing side/side rather that palm up/ palm down a la Lau.
If you can do a side by side of Mantle (or Mays, Aaron, Ruth, Cobb, Musial, Wiliams, among others) and George Brett the differences would be glaring.
Micky Mantle FOR THE YANKEES hit a ball 634 feet. the real record Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium on 2-3 occasions hit 550-560' and one occasion 570'--620'. Mick has the record.
In an exibition game, Mickey Mantle hit a ball 700 feet. He was also known for hitting home run's over 600 feet on more than one occasion.
Stop spreading urban legends. It is physically impossible for any human being to hit a ball over 600 feet. 700 feet would be the equivalant of throwing a 125 mph fastball, a 2:30 mile, bench pressing over 1,000 pounds, running an 8 second 100-yard dash...it's nearly 20 percent greater than human limit. Mantle was an all-time great and probabaly had some of the best raw power known to man, but he never hit a baseball over 600 feet.
Posts: 98 | Location: PA | Registered: October 08, 2005
After seeing this film as a kid I used that grip. The skin between my thumb and index finger would be pulled and wrinkled during batting practice. Always raw and never could form a callous.
I got better results and less hand damage with the knocker knuckle grip and more bat speed.
Just as with Mantle and the other great hitters before the Charlie Lau and George Brett school of hitting became popular, the swing through the zone is palms facing side/side rather that palm up/ palm down a la Lau.
If you can do a side by side of Mantle (or Mays, Aaron, Ruth, Cobb, Musial, Wiliams, among others) and George Brett the differences would be glaring.
Originally posted by tom.guerry: Excellent close-up of Mickey's grip included.
Tom,
What, in your opinion, is the significance of the raised finger of the Mic's index finger of his bottom hand? I noticed Ruth did the same, but also with his top hand. I'm pretty sure Williams did the same.
Yep,Williams did it too.
Posts: 349 | Location: henderson ky | Registered: July 12, 2007
Having seen both play, I can assure you that Mantle would use that swing on an inside pitch. The inside pitch has to be hit further in front of the plate.
Brett on the other hand used the same hands forward swing for all locations.
Charlie Lau made it clear that palms up/palms down would cause the batter to release the bat with his top hand in the follow through.
Does Mantle or the pre-Lau batter release his top hand in the follow through?
Look at Williams follow through. With a palms up/palms down grip through contact, his follow through would never have been so fluid. The wrist roll to get the top hand forward would have been obvious.
Brett could never follow through strong. His bat would almost stop after contact unless swinging at a high pitch.
Take it for what it is. Try both styles and compare which is more fluid and offers greater range of motion. Decide which gives you beter bat control and better effect at contact.
The thread exhibits Mantle's swing and the fact that he was a comparable light weight by today's standards.
Take what you want from the post and use it as you see fit. It isn't about comparing me or anyone else's philosophy or teaching practice.
As a side note, I find showing the swings of such batting greats more qualified in teaching youngsters as comapred to some of the things being endorsed today.
Posts: 1644 | Location: Tampa | Registered: August 06, 2005
Originally posted by Quincy: Having seen both play, I can assure you that Mantle would use that swing on an inside pitch. The inside pitch has to be hit further in front of the plate.
Can you download the video in your brain and post it on YouTube? I'd like to see what you saw. You must have great photographic memory.
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Brett on the other hand used the same hands forward swing for all locations.
Hands forward, that's a new one. Whatever that means.
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Charlie Lau made it clear that palms up/palms down would cause the batter to release the bat with his top hand in the follow through.
Does Mantle or the pre-Lau batter release his top hand in the follow through?
Release is a "style" issue, not technique. It usually has to do with dominant handed-ness. Chipper Jones releases from the left side, but holds on to the bat from the right side. Oh my! He must be using two different hitting techniques! Same for Mark Texeira! Beltran and Swisher are the opposite though, release from the right side, but hold on from the left.
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Take it for what it is. Try both styles and compare which is more fluid and offers greater range of motion. Decide which gives you beter bat control and better effect at contact.
I'll take the one that allows for adjustability.
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As a side note, I find showing the swings of such batting greats more qualified in teaching youngsters as comapred to some of the things being endorsed today.
"Here kid, look at this video of Mantle. That's how you should swing. Now, I have no idea what Mantle is doing, but just swing like him and you'll get there some day."
Look Ma! No Hands!
Posts: 118 | Location: Khalee-fawn-yuh | Registered: August 04, 2007
Originally posted by Quincy: You make my point that you aren't about teaching.
You are about going after what people post.
You must have missed my lesson above. I just "taught" you that Brett and Mantle have the same grip. I'm about correcting wrong info.
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I'll stick with the swing that offers greater range of movement and bat speed and power to all fields as compared to only pull power.
And how many MLB players actually use the whole field? I hate to tell you this, but nearly everyone is "only pull power". The ones that have opposite field power know how to use the hands/forearms. 'Tis better to be early on a pitch than late, unless your name is Derek Jeter.
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You do as you think is right.
I correct what I think is wrong.
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It is easy to sit back and snipe at others postings.
Try starting a thread with what you support or endorse.
No need to start a thread. The more I post, the more I might show what I don't know.
And why would Mantle use a "different" swing for a different pitch location? What is the difference between his "inside pitch" swing and his swing for any other location?
Look Ma! No Hands!
Posts: 118 | Location: Khalee-fawn-yuh | Registered: August 04, 2007
