The Washington times., 1923-06-13

There's a lot of science to this
business Of seeking the old apple--a
lot more than maybe some of you
think who only see the batter go up
to the plate and take a cut at the
ball. Golfers will understand what
mean when say that batting is
nothing more than form.
In golf, however. you swing at
stationary object. In baseball you
not only have to deal with a NOV
ing object, but one that moves at
different speeds and takes all kinds
Of curves at various heights on
different parts OF the plate-inside,
outside and right in the old alley.
All this makes form in batting
Just so much more important.
II battef'S form is perfect and
he keeps his eye on the ball he'll
get q hit. II the curve throws
his eye off the ball or il it up
sets his form, he won't.
Very well, then-let's look at
some Of the great hitters in base
ball.
ny Cobb is one OF the best hit
tiers there ever was, but Ty made
himself one. All you have to do is
TO take a peep at his form and
style. He has a good eye-yes.
But his style certainly isn't natural.
He wasn't born great hitter. He
made himself one. He chokes up on
his bat, never swings from the end
and keeps his hands several inches
apart. He shifts UP and down and
ell around the batting box against
different kinds Of pitching. He ad-
justs his form. Nature gave him q
good eye, but his style ana form
help nature. He makes them.
There isn't q player in the big
leagues who hasn't real good eye.
sight. Nothing 10 wrong with him
physically and yet there are good
hitters and bad hitters in spite
Of the fact that all batters have
about the same equipment to start
With.
The trouble is that the bad hit
tiers don't tinker with their form
enough. Low batting averages
aren't accidents. There's always a
reason.
Here are some Of the things q
batter can do to upset his form:
He'll develop q hitch in his swing
that II. it isn't one smooth
movement all the way through.
BY this / mean that they step too
much with the leg nearest the
pitcher as they swing at the ball.
Still other batterS win either
stiffen or bend their body and
pull away.
Like golf, batting is a matter of
terrible concentration. You've got
to keep your eye on the ball, fol-
low through and not anticipate the
pitcher. don't mind admitting
this is something do in my anxi-
BUSINESS to get homers and on this
account I'm frequently fooled ty \
change of pace.
The mistake that boys and young
players in the big league make is
that they try to hit the ball too
hard. Golfers do the same thing.
will get surprising results. Rhythm
is the thing that counts.
Take O. look at Rogers Hornsby
He has a free and easy swing; he
strides into the ball just right and
doesn't pull away while swinging.
He has real form. But when he'
first came up to the big leagues he
was bust He went back to the
minor, came up the next year with
form and ever since he has been q
wonderful hitter. Not everybody
can make himself a Hornsby but
my contention is that every boy and
every player in the big league can
improve his hitting a lot.
look at this whole business from
the point Of ball player, but a
few scientists who tired to analyze
my home-running hitting tell me
there is absolutely 40 scientific rea-
son why every ball player shouldn't
Be a good hitter.
copyright. 1929. by Christy Walsh
Synd4cate.)