The science behind hitting
       
Hitting a Major league fastball is quite possibly the single most difficult skill to execute in all of sports.  In fact it is so difficult, that succeeding just 3 out of 10 times is considered to be excellent.  

To put things into perspective, a blink of an eye takes 400 milliseconds.  A 95 MPH fastball reaches home plate in 395 milliseconds.  The batter must start his swing with the ball still 25ft. from the plate or it will be too late.  In the last 15ft., the brain and eye cannot work together fast enough, making the ball invisible to the hitter. The moment of contact when a bat strikes a ball lasts just 1/1,000th of a second. The diameter of the baseball and the bat are both a little less than 3 inches.


Short term results or long term benefits             

Each year, parents and amateur players will spend approximately $100.00 to $300.00 on a new bat.  The science and advances in technology behind the composition and design of bats have come a long way to enhance to the “sweet spot” and increase the hitter’s performance.  Even a hitter with serious flaws in his or her mechanics can be fairly successful with some of these bats. 

Unfortunately, this success only reinforces poor mechanics and through repetition burns it in to muscle memory making it more difficult to correct later.  As the player advances to higher levels of the game, faster and more effective pitching will expose flawed swing mechanics and the player will most likely have a more difficult time making solid contact.  That is why it is so important for players, especially younger players to learn and practice proper mechanics. 

It is truly more important to invest in developing a better swing, a skill that you can build upon year after year, than a bat that will be tossed out after one or two seasons of use.

Experience is the difference           



The foundation of a successful hitter is built on good swing mechanics. With 18 years as a professional coach (Astros, Brewers, Blue Jays,  Expos, and Marlins), I have spent thousands of  hours reviewing the swings of Minor and Major League players to help them develop and refine their mechanics. Regardless of their hitting style, I have discovered through slow motion video analysis that all successful hitters follow what I call “the 6 Absolutes”.


 

I have put together what I feel is the most effective and comprehensive collection of hitting drills and hitting instruction available on DVD.  In the Big Leagues, 
success at the plate can make or break multi-million dollar careers.  The hitting drills on my DVD’s are what I use and teach Major league hitters.

Whether you are a parent, player, or coach, my DVD's will  provide you with the drills necessary to develop proper hitting  mechanics and gain a better understanding of what is really behind the Major League swing.

 ~John Mallee 

John Mallee and Mike Giancarlo Stanton