We received way more good comments than we can include here. Often several voters expressed very similar insights, so we had to choose.


Not everyone was supportive of the Challenge effort. Before we present the positive comments, a few negatives show how difficult it is for any instructor at any time to cover all the basis for every age group or level of knowledge and experience.

I did NOT find any of the essays helpful. The essay that even comes close to my philosophy of hitting instruction is Essay #3. He goes into some degree of mechanics. My philosophy is "JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE". 1. Grip & Stance, 2. Lower Body Mechanics, 3. Upper Body Mechanics and 4. Mental Preparation before each at bat. It is important to note, that not one of itself is more important than the other or one phase will drastically improve the student more than the other. Also, of equal importance, is to explain the REASONS WHY your instruction is perhaps better or more helpful than what the student had been taught prior. - Richard Piano

We all know timing is the most important thing when it comes to hitting. I wish there would have been more information related to pitch recognition. It is hard to time a pitch if it is not recognized. The best mechanics in the world are worth nothing if pitches are not recognized. - Donnie Rufe  

Essay #1 - Two good points were made. I was disappointed that there was no real third point made. Essay #2 - Made three good points; however, I don't think the term would be to push off the back foot. Back knee to the pitcher or to the ball would seem to be a better cue. Essay #3 - This essay brought too much to the table. Made good mechanical points but had too many (limit of three). The rest of the essay focused on hitting philosophy. Essay #4 - Hitting philosophy more than instruction. - Tom Becks
   
Some of these guys are working and thinking in the past and I have been working at this for too long to get caught up in methods that have no chance of passing scientific scrutiny. I liked the idea that ESSAY 1 had as far as having the player key off the coach's motion while hitting off the tee as the coach is protected by the screen. Other than that, PH (essay3) was really the only sort of scientific guy you brought into the contest. No Steve Englishbey types this year or I'll be real surprised. - Larry Briody  [Editor's Note: Essay 3, as now revealed, is not "PH" (Perry Husband). In fact, Perry explained he did NOT want to get caught up in mechanics. As for Steve Englishbey, he was invited to participate initially and subsequently to comment - before the authors were revealed. Unfortunately Steve ws unable to met our deadlines - he has participated in the past and we hope he will again.]



We allowed for multiple choice on the first three questions, but required a single answer on "who deservces to win". In light of the number of comments who found all four essays helpful perhaps we should have accepted multiple choice on question 4 as well.

No cookie cutters here! Each instructor made excellent points that differentiated their emphasis from the others. No singular "right or wrong" way - each offered valuable points, and different perspectives on their interpretations of "three top tips". But the idea of quantitative feedback via video and measurement tools is strongly favored in facilitating the players understanding of their own swing, and the relationship of the coach's instructions to improve their swing. Also, the mental aspect, and "down time " preparation cannot be overemphasized, in our opinion. Thank you for four stimulating essays. Al Dilz [Editor's Note: Al is president of Sports Sensor so you can understand his focus on measurement, but several of the authors, Perry Husband in particular, is very big on scientific methodology.]

I use a combination from all of the coaches. All had great ideas and very creative when teaching kids how to hit. This will be very helpful to me to know the different approaches and I will be able to try some new ideas so I can measure and evaluate what is best for my students. A job well done by webball, and hope to see more of it. - Sam Moore Hitters Inc. Orange, Texas

People learn in different ways and we must adapt to the student's learning style to be truly productive. Did I find the essays helpful? Yes very much so. It is always nice to see things from presented in a different manner using different focal points or lingo. Reading these essays helped to reinforce what I believe are core or key teaching principles. It is also productive to read another coach's way of presenting the information. Would I have answered the challenge differently, with other top 3 tips? No most of what I cover is covered here. - Coach Sawyer

Very good points in all 4 essays. My three points would be geared towards the younger player. 1) Must have fun. It's OK to strike out even the great hitters do it. 2) Cofidence: Fundamentals improve the chances but confidence is the key. 3) Relaxation and balance. You don't have to muscle it. The pitcher provides the power. - Jerry Singleton

All of the essays were insightful in different ways. The simple approach to the the ball in essay #1 was excellent. I like to keep things simple for my players when trying to get a coaching point across. I also liked essay #2 because he seemed to be talking about a rotational type of swing. I believe in the Mike Epstein theory on hitting. In essay #3, the metal approach to hitting before gettting into the batter's box was something I will use with my own players. In essay #4, the use of projecting an image of success before you actually get into the batters box (imagination) is a must to create a positive image and outcome. All of the articles, I found, had positive areas for me and my coaches to teach and tell our players. - Jim Broughton   

I liked and learned from essay. Each essay contained valuable ideas and approaches. Every essay contained and example of every player on my team from parental pressure, to the know it all, and also covered players who lack confidence. What i try to tell my players is dont worry about hits, just worry about putting the ball in play hard and the rest will take care of itself.   

All the articles had good points. The first article was good for simplicity, beginning hitters, or if you had a hitter struggling at the plate. Hitters that you do no want to be over thinking. I think you should develop a sound swing and then work on hitting as much live pitching for timing as possible. One drill I think is under used is when a pitcher is practicing is to stand at the plate work on picking up spins, pitch location and timing. Hitting is about timing and pitching is about throwing that timing off. Don't swing the bat just visual work. The second article was more of what I heard at the college camps my daughter has attended. Pat Murphy Alabama and Georgia. The last two articles had good points, but seemed a little too complicated for the fourteen year olds I work with. I like the KISS theory.

Essay 1 support (Andy Collins)

Catch phrases are easy for a child to remember, for anyone to remember. Simple steps that show improvement help with confidence in the batter, thus giving the best results.    

I think Essay one was actually more to the point of actually teaching a youngster to hit. The others might apply to older kids that might be able to understand the theoretical and higher order of things. - Bill McLennan

I coach a 12U team and essay number one was the one that would relate best with my boys. The concepts in essay 2 and 3 are used after they understand essay 1 because at this age, they are starting to get more advanced and the mental side plays a bigger role. - Michael Betz

I found essay 1 to be fundamentally sound and probably easier to teach and have understood. Trying to keep technique as simple and repeatable as possible is the way to go especially with younger and inexperienced players. What I did like about essay 4 was that it gives you tools to work with on the mental aspect of hitting and being a successful batter.   

Essay 1 is the most clear and easy to understand. The tips are simple to follow yet powerful. I liked Essay 4's philosophy of teaching and learning. However, Essay 1 had tips that I will definitely try to use in my coaching. - Mike Posch

Essay 2 support (Kevin Goodman)

They were all good; Essay 2 is the one to read first and last.   

Essay 2 is most in line with the approach I teach, so the PUSH-PUSH was very helpful. I've been using it with my younger hitters (10U). It simplifies the idea of producing momentum that aids rotation or hips and angular velocity of the bat head. Push the hands helps us to get the players to move their hands in the most direct route to contact point. And anyone who has everyone who has ever used video software on players at this age know that 90% (anecdotal figure) of players will "cast" their hands, resulting in a long slow swing. Not to mention, PUSH-PUSH easy for youth players to understand.    

Essay 2 is much more thorough in the actions of hitting than the rest. It is certainly the best of all 4 essays. 

The following was received afterwards from the author....  I am very honored to have been asked to participate ion the 2009 challenge and man!, what a great opportunity you have given me, to be in the "presence" of such esteemed instructors. I had no idea I was going up against the "'27 yankees" so to speak, from my perspective. To make an honorable showing with this group is exciting and I do look forward to other opportunities to continue to share my thoughts and ideas with all of the coaches and fans who frequent this website. Thank you so much, Coach, for this opportunity to share my passion for this great game. When I saw the "roster" of the other authors it kind of reminded me of when I pitched against Oklahoma State when I was a freshman back in 1982, in that everyone on the roster seemed to have been drafted in the 4th round of higher in the MLB draft and heck, I am just a walk on player from little ole Haverhill, Iowa, a town of a 152 people. Overwhelmed for sure, but glad to have a chance to show what a small town Iowa farm kid can do on a bigger stage. So I Thank you for letting me show "what I have" one more time on a pretty big stage. - Goody

Essay 3 support (Paul Niggebrugge)

Each essay brought something different to the table and I learned something from each. I particularly liked Essay 3, however; because it dealt with both the mental as well as mechanical aspects of hitting. I think the mental aspect of hitting is most neglected at the little league level. - Tony Krowiak

Essay 4 support (Perry Husband)

Although certain aspects, but certainly not all, of the original question I do teach from an actual physical instruction side like essayist 2, the more "holistic" approach of essayist 4 is something our facility has delved into deeper over the last year and some time. We attempt to create that ownership for the student and view our role as a coach as one of only being able to "mess up" a player. We attempt to be as hands off as possible and measure as much as we can through radars and video. The fourth essayist creates some wonderfully valid points and reminds me of Coach Husband.
   
All of the essay are good and there approach and philosophy are different. it is not fair to each of the authors because as i am reading each it sounds as if each are for different ages. i would and will use each but only for different ages. it looks like each is age appropriate. and that is good. So i cannot really vote for one of them because it is not fair. Since my kids are in high school i will vote for essay #4. it is more close to what i am doing now.

Each author had something valid to offer. Even though author 4 offered no actual mechanical information he did give the best advice on how to teach. I think coaches too often fall into the "how to" method to try and save time. However, if a student finds the answer on their own then he does own it.