eBook The Making of a Hitter: A Proven and Practical Step-by-Step Baseball Guide ePub

Steelrunner

Jack's book has been invaluable to me. I love the step-by-step instructions and drills. This is an easy to understand book for the every-day parent and little league coach who is trying to help players improve. Is the book high tech like reviewer Chris "hitting guru" apparently thinks is required for hitting instruction? No, it is not (no fancy video or launch angle analysis). And some of the pics and graphics in the book are literally taken in Jack's basement. But who cares! That doesn't detract from the usefulness of the book! It provides common fundamentals and ways to drill muscle memory for a solid, repeatable, and consistent swing. And While Jack is not Ted Williams (apparently Chris thinks only Ted is qualified to teach hitting?), Jack is a former MLB player and a passionate youth coach who is more than qualified as an expert on the subject. (And I have read Ted Williams' book, which is also good). Buy this book!

Forcestalker

"See the ball, hit the ball." - Jack Perconte

In a major league career from 1980-1986 with the Dodgers, Indians, Mariners and White Sox, infielder Jack Perconte hit a pair of round-trippers. But he smacks one out of the park and into the parking lot with this outstanding book - The Making of a Hitter: A Proven and Practical Step-by-Step Baseball Guide.

"My definition of power to most young hitters was made with the question, 'Can you hit a solid ground ball that can get through the infield?'" Perconte says. "If the hitter can consistently do that then they have power."

In nearly 20 years Perconte has given around 60,000 lessons for players of all ages and abilities. The 11 chapters and Drills Summary deliver a holistic approach to hitting, with practice tips for players as young as the age of four. "Fundamentals are fundamentals - they don't change from a big leaguer or the little leaguer," Perconte writes. "(Teaching the strike zone) should begin at an early age."

He initially discusses bat size, gripping the bat, plate positioning, feet alignment and balance before delving into the complete swing through words and photographs. The most common problems are clearly explained and Perconte includes a wealth of drills that includes the use a hitting tee or multiple tees, a weighted bat, balance beam, towel and a bench, which is aptly called the "timber drill." Perconte says: "Baseball is a game of repetition - challenges and variety erase boredom."

For parents and family members, Perconte discusses how to positively support the young player. He provides direction on how to teach, which he focuses on a "Caring Coach," who gives each player a chance to compete well through a variety of games and contests. "Notice I didn't say a knowledgeable coach," Perconte writes. "I've seen players improve tremendously without much instruction just by being challenged by a coach who cares.

"Leaving the game for playing and using practices for coaching is one of the keys to having focused players."

A latter section on the mental aspect is a vital tool for coaches of older players. Perconte mentions a tennis book, probably Tim Gallway's The Inner Game of Tennis, that actually helped him with focus at the plate while playing pro ball. "The game wasn't designed so the pitcher can throw the ball by you," he says, "so stay back and trust your swing."

This is truly a hands-on guide which could be used by a team during practices throughout a season or as a means for parents to guide themselves and their child in the life-skills of positive education. "Knowledge creates confidence - the good coach is the knowledge creator," Perconte writes. "We had a rule at our camps that the only players who could yell at a fellow camper were the players who had never made an error or never struck out before.

"That usually would quiet up the players and keep them accountable for their own play and not criticizing everybody else's play."

And while the book is an excellent teaching guide on hitting a baseball for players at all ability levels and being a successful coach and teacher on and off the field, Perconte will be expanding the latter in an upcoming book, Raising an Athlete. "A universal sports definition of `keeping things in perspective' is necessary because the meaning of perspective can be different for different people," he says.

Perconte's definition of "keeping it in perspective" includes the following:

1. People always keeping in mind the age of the players
2. The physical and emotional health of the child is always most important
3. Sports are only games and one aspect of many aspects of a child's life, and not the most important one
4. Always remembering that it is the players' career and not the adults'
5. Understanding that competition creates emotions but these emotions should never over ride good judgment about the four previous points.

It is not too soon for players and coaches to start spring training...for the game that is played on the diamond of life.

Shakanos

"The Making of a Hitter" may be the worst book on hitting I have yet to come across.

This book is a regurgitation of every myth and misconception about hitting out there, from the level swing to extension at the point of contact. I'm sure the author is probably a nice guy, but it's obvious that he doesn't understand what a good swing looks like and has never spent any time looking at slow motion clips, or even still photos, of what the best hitters in the world actually do when they swing the bat.

The reason I gave this book just one star is that on multiple occasions the author labels as flaws things that good hitters actually do. For instance, on Page 31 the author describes a problem that he calls the "Chicken Wing". The problem is that this is how good players get the bat on plane, and I have seen too many young hitters ruined by coaches and parents who thought that this lead arm action is incorrect when in truth it's a hallmark of a nice swing.

If you are looking to buy your first book on hitting, and don't want to be lead astray, start with "The Science of Hitting" by Ted Williams.