We wanted to look at the current state of instruction for pitching vs hitting - not instruction in isolation but whether instruction helps (and, if so, how) in the duel between hitter & pitcher.

FIRST PART OF THE CHALLENGE:
We invited 3 noted instructors to present their best case, and turned to you for your opinions - on both the authors and the essential questions. As in previous Challenges, we made this a blind taste-test - no one knew who said what until voting was complete. in other words, we wanted the arguments to stand on merit, not reputation.

PART 2: WE ADD A WRINKLE:
...A fourth essay by a noted Sports Psychologist and former college baseball coach. We invited him to comment under the same rules as any voter - without revealing to him the authors' names.

NOW THAT THE VOTES ARE IN...

Here are the original 3 essays with authors revealed, and the critique by Tom Hanson. (Remaining bios wil appear soon.)

1. ESSAY #1: END GAME by Tony Abbatine, Frozen Ropes Founder
2. ESSAY #2: INWARD BATTLES by Perry Husband, Guessworks and Effective Velocity
3. ESSAY #3: OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE by Steve Englishbey, Englishbey Hitting
4. ESSAY #4: THE CRITIQUE by Tom Hanson, Baseball Confidence

BEFORE LOOKING AT THE CHARTS...

The inner donut represents voting share before Tom Hanson's essay appeared. The outer donut shows the final results - the combination of both part 1 and part 2 voting. In fairness to Tom, as the 4th participant, he didn't benefit from the more extensive first round voting so his absolute vote percentage is low. But his opinions definitely influenced the voting. He came out strongly in favor of Steve Englishbey and you can see that Steve's percentage jumped up after the second round. The ultimate winner remains Perry Husband, but everyone deserved - and earned - voter supporter, and we thank them for participating.

The Way Now... Change Approach... Understands Pitchers... Understands Hitters... Better Prepared... Overall Winner...

So many intriguing comments, it was difficult to select only a few...

All three offer excellent points of view on the battle that is the crux of the game we love. They are all arguing different shades of the same point of view. In the end, though the hitter and pitcher both can take into account the realities pointed out in essays one and two, it is the process-based approach to hitting (and pitching, actually) that is going to most affect individual performance. As a coach I've watched it happen- players too tense and worried about whether they will succeed block their own success. As a player I spent most of last season with the same problem - going back to the cage and BP to work on my mechanics and to perfect my swing and attack, only get so worked up in the game that I fail more than I should because I use my analytical knowledge (counts, predictions of what pitch will come based on stats) and forget to to just 'see the ball and focus on quality in my swing.' I've been working the very same thing out as author #3 hits on (pun intended) on my own already. As Yoda says, we must 'unlearn what [we] have learned.'

I think each essay was excellent. However I think the idea of action vs. reaction is key. I also think drill work is important to develop the swing, but hitting and swinging are two different animals. 5 o'clock hitters can swing, but can't hit. Some kids have ugly swings but still hit, we have all seen this. Why? Swinging is about how to do it (mechanics) Hitting is about relaxing, recognizing and timing. In order to be successful you have to teach your players how to do this. One way is to limit your swing training to drill work, and coaches BP, but include live pitching/hitting in practice as often as possible. We all know you practice llike you play, yet often times Hitters only see live pitching during games. Also spend some time teaching your player how to breathe, develop set routines and get tension free. We all ask our kids or demand or kids relax, but do we ever practice it or show them how? Sepnd some time on it. Next explain to hitters the difference between action and reaction. Train them to look for certain pitches in certain areas and get thier best swing off with less than two strikes. Demand all or none type swings with less than 2 strikes. We tell our kids "no check swings with less than two". We also allow our kids the freedom to fail. We never berate kids for taking a healthy hack at a poor pitch with less than two strikes. I would rather take a good swing at a poor pitch than a poor swing at a good pitch anyday. Finally spend time in practice discussing and practicing two type of swings. Less than two, and two strike swings. I know professional hitters will not change their swing and they will cut it loose and take the strike out. I am a high school coach at our level we need to put it in play and make the defense catch it and throw it 21 times. The lower the level the more improtant that becomes. I could go on and on about two strike adjustments, I will stop with these thoughts on hitting for now. As far as pitching, I too am a former Tom House, converted to Ron Woolforth dssciple. I think the charts and stats speak for themselves. Pitch aggressively, you have the advantage, work fast throw strikes, change speeds. If you challenge hitters and stay ahead you will be successful. One final thought on pitching, teach all of your kids to pitch. I was just talking to some D1 college coaches and they were saying that there is a standard type hitting speed that guys in their league can handle, because the hitters timing is geared to it. (82-86mph) Pitchers who are successful work above and below this. I charted the HS pitchers we face and most pitchers are throwing (78-82)mph. My question is why won't colleges recruit kids with less velocity if they admit they can get people out, and also why don't we allow these types of kids to pitch if we know they can get people out? in addition the more arms you have the more live BP you can face, and the more game like, and competetive you can make your pratices. I know that velocity is great, but it is only one aspect of success, and by itself is virtually worthless. Teach most/all of your kids to pitch. Let them know that they can win by agressiveley throwing strikes, show them the odds are in their corner, and get after it!

I believe that success is a combination of the tenets of all three essays. The eyes, and what they really see is important; understanding the psychology of the "at-bat" clearly makes a difference; and, how to take what you've learned and apply in the game is invaluable. I learned from all three essays and didn't find anything that I strongly disagreed with.

Pitcher's ability to begin and stay ahead in the count change of speeds to keep hitter off balance, movement over velocity in priority, softer not harder when in trouble. If pitcher can achieve this on a consistent basis, he will always win the war and lose very few battles. - Rick Bosworth

My hitters have the best opportunity for success when they consistently practice fundamental hitting mechanics and then strive to put the ball in play when at the plate and make something happen. My pitchers have the best opportunity for success when they consistently practice fundamental pitching mechanics in order to locate their pitches where they desire and then to use that ability to control the battle. All 3 had several very good points, #2 had more of the pitcher/hitter "game" in mind . #3 mostly went over why hitters have trouble taking practice to game time , this problem I have seen time and time again as a coach myself and is very hard to overcome as a coach and player , a few of his tactics I will try this year . I would even tell my hitters to get a little cocky at the plate, this seems to relax them also. stay focused but not tense. My Vote overall would have to go to #2, he looked at both sides the best!! Very good WORK all of YOU ,Thanks: Dave Zigmont . P.S. this kind of thing really helps us coaches out!!

Pre-game preparation will give you a chance to achieve desired results. You must have confidence in your swing mechanics, understanding your strike zone, have a game plan for every at-bat and trust you are ready for the battle. Whoever is lease prepared will give the advantage to the other. Assuming both are prepared, the advantage will go to the pitcher early in the count and if the hitter is patience enough he can take advantage of the pitchers inability to be perfect on every pitch. - Kent McCuddin

I think parts of all 3 are needed but I feel the majority of essay 1 is best. From essay 2 undrstanding ball-strike counts and using them in your favor. From essay 3 process thinking vs result thinking (examples shooting a free throw do not think about making it or misssing it (the result) think about what you need to do to make it (the process), same for a penalty kick in soccer or an extra point attempt in football. From essay 1 I liked all of it especially the adjusting focus and reading the ball from the hitter stand point. - Ed Sly, San Diego

I think the secret to winning the duel is to treat hitting in the same manner we treat other professions. We make it more difficult in practice so in the game situation it mentally is easier to the hitter. For example, use of plastic golf balls for hitting at the same velocity gives the batter a psychological edge of believing that "if I can hit a plastic golf ball, I can surely hit a ball much bigger than that".

As the stakes rise in a game, such as in late game clutch situations, some athletes seem to be oblivious to this increase in pressure. They perform as good or better than they do in less crucial situations. Why is this? Are they immune to nervousness? Do they just not care as much about the outcome so they don't feel the pressure? On the contrary. My experience has been that these clutch performers are often just as nervous and often more competitive than their team mates. I believe that these athletes have physiological differences, that they are in fact "wired" differently than most of us. I don't think this is learned behavior or "cocky confidence" at work. It is more about their body's production of and response to, adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine, and other "fight or flight" chemicals. This is an area that science knows little about but may explain why Billy Hatcher, in his 12 year career hit just .264 but in 61 post season plate appearances hit .404! - Ken Martin, Atlanta, GA

For me , this is a two part reply. First for my pitchers, I try to get them to locate the ball. At the age I coach (travel team 10U), that basically means inside-outside-high-low. My pitchers are not fined tuned enough to be consistance with any one pitch. Another game time check for my pitchers is to see where the umpire's strike zone is for the day. I have noticed that usually the strike zone is tight for the first couple of innings and then the outside pitch, (usually not hittable), becomes a strike. I know this is a cop-out but I then try to make my pitchers aware of the expanded strike zone and have my catchers set up more on the outside of the plate. What I try to instill in my young pitchers is a sense of control, throwing strikes, getting ahead of the hitter. Control over velocity will win you more games at this level. For my hitters (I like the rotational theory of hitting) I want to be selectively aggressive at the plate. For me that means being ready to hit the very first pitch thrown. Even if they swing and miss they are now mentally/physically ready to hit.They have more or less started their engine. If I have a hitter who likes to wait on the first pitch (which is usually the best pitch he will probably get) they tend to either K or hit a ball out of their zone which usually results in an out. I want all of my young hitters to be mentally agressive and ready to hit each pitch, but at the same time try recognize the location of the pitch. I tell them if you are going to swing at a pitch, make it a good effort ... do not give me a weak, half-hearted swing. That is the why I like #2's essay concerning the hitting zones and 0-2 counts vs. 2-0 counts. - Jim Broughton