This is just great thank you for posting! Charlie Lau knew hitting, My HS team Sarasota High School filmed this in 1982. I am in the video as a 15 year-old (56 now). The baseball coach is Clyde Metcalf and 82 was his first season. Coach Metcalf ended up winning 950 games w/ 6 State Championships & 2 National Championships. Recently retired, he 27:26 is the National & FL State HS Hall of Fame! A former MLB #1 draft pick of the Braves is in the video as a HS Sophomore as well.
As a high school junior in 1988, I decided I wanted to hit left handed. I was given this VHS.....It changed my life. I was a half ass right -handed -hitting second baseman at the time. I became obsessed with this model and by 1990 had earned two collegiate scholarships. You could say Charlie Lau's theory really had a major impact on my life. To this day, I see so many big leaguers who could really benefit by adopting this philosophy. RIP Charlie and thank you
I can credit this video with helping me hit for .300 average in college baseball 30 years ago. Tremendous fundamentals of hitting that still relate to hitters today!
Loving this video. Great tips and a lot of fun. As a kid I heard so many hitters talk about being disciples of Charlie Lau. I always associated him with Lou Piniella. Lau was the real-deal. A genuine guru who actually delivered results. He died way too young at 50.
Thanks for uploading this. He turned many careers around with his philosophies on hitting still used today.Although some have been tweaked a bit he will always be among the greatest
This is classic 'linear' taught by many before Lau and many after, but he doesn't emphasize a descending bath path... the dreaded chop down swing. The real problem I have with Lau is the emphasis on weight shift. The modern MLB swing uses a good launch position (rather than a linear weight shift), then turning on the axis created by the front heel plant thru the shoulders. @ 4:10, Stargell's body position thru contact contradicts some of Lau's technique. Stargell's head stops moving at foot plant; Lau's head keeps moving. The stride foot is open, the hips are opening, the barrel gets on-plane early and the lead forearm and bat form a line... on-plane! This strong hitting position is common to all good hitters... in the past and even now. Stargell plants his stride heel, then rotates. He looks very much like Bonds. @38:40, Brett reaches this same position... the head stops, he rotates on axis, back hand releases and drives the ball. This is all Ted Williams stuff. Lau is an interesting mix of old school and modern hitting. Now, Lau's 'lead arm extension' was ahead of it's time. It's gets the bat on-plane helping to drive the ball. Hanging on with the back hand does tend to roll the bat, shortening the follow-thru and lowering bat speed. It you want to look at the direction the modern MLB swing is going... check out Josh Donaldson, Bautista, Bonds, Story and many others... taught by Epstein, Baseball Rebellion, Hitterish, Madden and Tewksbury.
Not trying to be confrontational, but George Brett was a classic student of Mr. Lau. Last time I checked, Brett hit .390 one year, and is in the HOF. I was a Yankees fan back in the 70's & 80's and absolutely hated Brett as an opponent. I also respected the hell out of him as a hitter and as a man. Can't think of a man I wanted up less than Brett. But I digress. Why all the negative comments. Do you folks REALLY think you know more than Lau and Brett? By the way, Absolutely love the old Sox Uni! Also thought the other Jersey's that went with the shorts were cool, too. Now I can see somebody not ageing with that opinion.
Erich, I was a Royals fan in the 70's and ever since, and I always wanted George up in a key situation. ;-) He was one of the best clutch hitters of all time. That Yankee-Royals rivalry was special back in those days. We are lucky we got to see those great games, even though your Yankees came out on top more times than my Royals. :-)
Eddie Mathews, the great player for the Braves, said this about Lau : Lau who never hit more than 6 hrs in a season and batted a little over .200 became a so-called expert on hitting. he had a ridiculous theory where your top hand is let go on your follow through. Ted Williams, Ruth,DiMaggio never hit like that. George Brett let Lau use him as a example, but Brett said," I never hit like that". And he didn't. Lau's theory doesn't work. For all you kids out there , don't try this at home. If you want to learn how to hit., who do you think you should copy ? Williams or Lau ?
Lau's ideas make sense. I think his disciple Walt Hriniak put too much emphasis on eliminating head movement. Hence some of his pupils, like Rich Gedman, who seemed to bury their chins in their tests while still swinging and missing. But you know, most of the hitters with whom Lau and Hriniak worked improved --
Charley Lau was a great local guy from Romulus, Michigan met him several times back in the 1970's. His Sister Marilynn married my Mom's former fiancee Glynn Vaught and had twin sons David and Marty.
Lau's 12 greatest hitters list includes only players he's seen play. So guys like Ruth, Gehrig, Horsnby and Cobb wouldn't be on his list. And today's best hitters wouldn't either.... in fact, even guys like Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Barry Bonds and Cal Ripken are too late for his list, this film was made circa 1983. But Lau came to MLB starting in 1956, so he would have seen Ted Williams and Stan Musial and all the other great hitters of the '50s: Mays, Banks, Matthews, Aaron, Clemente, Robinsons Frank and Jackie, Mantle, Snider, etc.. Keep that in mind if you're going to try to match lists as I am....
**SPOILER ALERT: Lau expands his list to 15, so you should, too. His list and mine matched on 10 of the 15. My 5 not on Lau's list: Yogi Berra, Ted Kluzsewski, Ernie Banks, Rod Carew, Joe Morgan.
was,nt meant for power but more for bat to ball and contact.leting go of top hand at finish added to diminishing of power.Great method for smaller ,not built for power guys,or gals.
The way he approached the swing was not conducive to power, the top hand releasing is really a non- issue, Griffey, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and many others released their top hand after contact
His description about "that being an absolute at point of contact" at 26:25 is terrible. The arms should not be extended nor the bat parallel to the ground.
This book is nothing more than malarkey. Look at the cover picture, I dare you to find a video of him hitting like that. He was paid to pose. Read Ted Williams science of hitting and get a real education.
He was a .255 lifetime hitter. During his best season, he hit .295 in 1965. He was a back-up Catcher who only played 527 games over 11 seasons. He only hit 16 HR's in those 11 years. He's fits the old adage "Those who can do it, those who can't teach it."
It didn't seem to hurt Ty Cobb, Wee Willie Keeler, Rogers Hornsby, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn or Ichiro Suzuki. And no less than George Brett swore by him. So tell me in your edumacated estimation how Lau "ruined" hitters?
Just my opinion, all but one of the hitters you mention there were basically singles slap hitters, I'll give you hall of fame slap hitters, but still. My druthers on the hitting style really comes from his disciple Hriniak who basically ruined players like Gedman and Greenwell of the sox, both were pure power hitters who also hit for average when they first came up and Hriniak turned them into one handed slap hitters who could no longer handle the inside pitch. My opinion on his hitting style is that it works while the hitter still have all their exceptional natural talent, hand-eye coordination;, etc. but as soon as they start to lose a bit, they fall off the planet quickly, as there is no room for slight error at contact point. I'm sure lots of good hitters took parts of his theory and he certainly was knowledgeable, but few he mentions in his video actually hit like he taught, not even remotely.
David Forbes So on their Hall of Fame plaques where does it say "slap hitter"? You know the saying: "They're all line drives in the scorebook". Gedman, being a catcher, his hitting skill would decline precipitously due to the demands of the position. It's the reason why they converted Greg Biggio from a catcher to a second baseman, why Joe Maurer was converted from a catcher to a first baseman and why the Giants are going to do the same to Buster Posey very soon. As for Greenwell, he was a solid hitter; no more, no less. Which reminds me of another "slap hitter" teammate of his; Wade Boggs. You're really not making your case here.
This is just great thank you for posting! Charlie Lau knew hitting, My HS team Sarasota High School filmed this in 1982. I am in the video as a 15 year-old (56 now). The baseball coach is Clyde Metcalf and 82 was his first season. Coach Metcalf ended up winning 950 games w/ 6 State Championships & 2 National Championships. Recently retired, he 27:26 is the National & FL State HS Hall of Fame! A former MLB #1 draft pick of the Braves is in the video as a HS Sophomore as well.
Sarasota payne park 1982
As a high school junior in 1988, I decided I wanted to hit left handed. I was given this VHS.....It changed my life. I was a half ass right -handed -hitting second baseman at the time. I became obsessed with this model and by 1990 had earned two collegiate scholarships. You could say Charlie Lau's theory really had a major impact on my life. To this day, I see so many big leaguers who could really benefit by adopting this philosophy. RIP Charlie and thank you
I can credit this video with helping me hit for .300 average in college baseball 30 years ago. Tremendous fundamentals of hitting that still relate to hitters today!
Loving this video. Great tips and a lot of fun. As a kid I heard so many hitters talk about being disciples of Charlie Lau. I always associated him with Lou Piniella. Lau was the real-deal. A genuine guru who actually delivered results. He died way too young at 50.
Here from Max Dugan. Charlie seemed like a great guy. Sad he died so young. I love his phrases and manorisms.
Thanks for uploading this. He turned many careers around with his philosophies on hitting still used today.Although some have been tweaked a bit he will always be among the greatest
Was never a Don Drysdale fan especially, but he looked great here. Sorry he passed so young, just 56 years old.
This guy was brilliant at teaching the hitting like many he was better at teaching it then doing it!!!
Ted Williams favorite video. 😋
Certain elements of his philosophy are useful. Rod carew echoed the "middle, middle, middle" refrain.
Lau was a good coach. He didn't try to reinvent the wheel. He studied what all the great hitters did and taught that.
"ADJUST TRACKING" ah.. that takes me back...
Been looking for this I owned it in 1989 when I was a senior in high school
This is classic 'linear' taught by many before Lau and many after, but he doesn't emphasize a descending bath path... the dreaded chop down swing.
The real problem I have with Lau is the emphasis on weight shift. The modern MLB swing uses a good launch position (rather than a linear weight shift), then turning on the axis created by the front heel plant thru the shoulders. @ 4:10, Stargell's body position thru contact contradicts some of Lau's technique. Stargell's head stops moving at foot plant; Lau's head keeps moving. The stride foot is open, the hips are opening, the barrel gets on-plane early and the lead forearm and bat form a line... on-plane! This strong hitting position is common to all good hitters... in the past and even now. Stargell plants his stride heel, then rotates. He looks very much like Bonds. @38:40, Brett reaches this same position... the head stops, he rotates on axis, back hand releases and drives the ball. This is all Ted Williams stuff. Lau is an interesting mix of old school and modern hitting. Now, Lau's 'lead arm extension' was ahead of it's time. It's gets the bat on-plane helping to drive the ball. Hanging on with the back hand does tend to roll the bat, shortening the follow-thru and lowering bat speed. It you want to look at the direction the modern MLB swing is going... check out Josh Donaldson, Bautista, Bonds, Story and many others... taught by Epstein, Baseball Rebellion, Hitterish, Madden and Tewksbury.
Not trying to be confrontational, but George Brett was a classic student of Mr. Lau. Last time I checked, Brett hit .390 one year, and is in the HOF. I was a Yankees fan back in the 70's & 80's and absolutely hated Brett as an opponent. I also respected the hell out of him as a hitter and as a man. Can't think of a man I wanted up less than Brett. But I digress. Why all the negative comments. Do you folks REALLY think you know more than Lau and Brett? By the way, Absolutely love the old Sox Uni! Also thought the other Jersey's that went with the shorts were cool, too. Now I can see somebody not ageing with that opinion.
Erich, I was a Royals fan in the 70's and ever since, and I always wanted George up in a key situation. ;-) He was one of the best clutch hitters of all time. That Yankee-Royals rivalry was special back in those days. We are lucky we got to see those great games, even though your Yankees came out on top more times than my Royals. :-)
Eddie Mathews, the great player for the Braves, said this about Lau :
Lau who never hit more than 6 hrs in a season and batted a little over .200
became a so-called expert on hitting. he had a ridiculous theory where your top hand is let go on your follow through.
Ted Williams, Ruth,DiMaggio never hit like that.
George Brett let Lau use him as a example, but Brett said," I never hit like that".
And he didn't. Lau's theory doesn't work. For all you kids out there , don't try this at home. If you want to learn how to hit., who do you think you should copy ? Williams or Lau ?
Erich L. Ruehs , Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Albert Pujols all use the Charlie Lau hitting method. Watch baseball and a lot use this technique.
Good player doesn't equal good coach weather your babe Ruth or a little leauger
D Edralin none of those guys use laus method
My Uncle was the assistant to the producer on this - his first credit!
Lau's ideas make sense.
I think his disciple Walt Hriniak put too much emphasis on eliminating head movement. Hence some of his pupils, like Rich Gedman, who seemed to bury their chins in their tests while still swinging and missing.
But you know, most of the hitters with whom Lau and Hriniak worked improved --
Charley Lau was a great local guy from Romulus, Michigan met him several times back in the 1970's. His Sister Marilynn married my Mom's former fiancee Glynn Vaught and had twin sons David and Marty.
remember watching this when i was a kid lol
Best hitting coach probably ever! Just ask George Brett. Fisk etc.
My mom was he’s high school teacher and my dad rode to work with him . Heard he was a great guy
great find
I can’t believe that Babe Ruth, and Tony Gwinn weren’t in the list.
Did he say that you sometimes step open on inside pitches and closed on outside pitches?
Lau's 12 greatest hitters list includes only players he's seen play. So guys like Ruth, Gehrig, Horsnby and Cobb wouldn't be on his list.
And today's best hitters wouldn't either.... in fact, even guys like Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Barry Bonds and Cal Ripken are too late for his list, this film was made circa 1983.
But Lau came to MLB starting in 1956, so he would have seen Ted Williams and Stan Musial and all the other great hitters of the '50s: Mays, Banks, Matthews, Aaron, Clemente, Robinsons Frank and Jackie, Mantle, Snider, etc.. Keep that in mind if you're going to try to match lists as I am....
**SPOILER ALERT: Lau expands his list to 15, so you should, too.
His list and mine matched on 10 of the 15. My 5 not on Lau's list: Yogi Berra, Ted Kluzsewski, Ernie Banks, Rod Carew, Joe Morgan.
u do have to line your self and good job with it ok.and good for your body to
was,nt meant for power but more for bat to ball and contact.leting go of top hand at finish added to diminishing of power.Great method for smaller ,not built for power guys,or gals.
ua-cam.com/video/j3EHr90pkew/v-deo.html Looks exactly like what lau is teaching to me....
The way he approached the swing was not conducive to power, the top hand releasing is really a non- issue, Griffey, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and many others released their top hand after contact
Put Rose in the HOF !
Fuck yeah
His description about "that being an absolute at point of contact" at 26:25 is terrible.
The arms should not be extended nor the bat parallel to the ground.
That's why he was an MLB hitting specialist/coach and you are not.
I also love how he said to land closed then showed a video of himself landing open
Jackson was no better after having Lau as his hitting coach. Coaching is needed, but when dealing with vet's it's way overrated.
This book is nothing more than malarkey. Look at the cover picture, I dare you to find a video of him hitting like that. He was paid to pose. Read Ted Williams science of hitting and get a real education.
The art of hitting .300? I don't think Lau ever hit .300 in his entire career.
He was a .255 lifetime hitter. During his best season, he hit .295 in 1965. He was a back-up Catcher who only played 527 games over 11 seasons. He only hit 16 HR's in those 11 years.
He's fits the old adage "Those who can do it, those who can't teach it."
This should have been called the Art of ruining every good hitter on the planet and making a few Punch and Judy hitters servicable"
It didn't seem to hurt Ty Cobb, Wee Willie Keeler, Rogers Hornsby, Pete Rose, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn or Ichiro Suzuki. And no less than George Brett swore by him. So tell me in your edumacated estimation how Lau "ruined" hitters?
Just my opinion, all but one of the hitters you mention there were basically singles slap hitters, I'll give you hall of fame slap hitters, but still. My druthers on the hitting style really comes from his disciple Hriniak who basically ruined players like Gedman and Greenwell of the sox, both were pure power hitters who also hit for average when they first came up and Hriniak turned them into one handed slap hitters who could no longer handle the inside pitch. My opinion on his hitting style is that it works while the hitter still have all their exceptional natural talent, hand-eye coordination;, etc. but as soon as they start to lose a bit, they fall off the planet quickly, as there is no room for slight error at contact point. I'm sure lots of good hitters took parts of his theory and he certainly was knowledgeable, but few he mentions in his video actually hit like he taught, not even remotely.
David Forbes So on their Hall of Fame plaques where does it say "slap hitter"? You know the saying: "They're all line drives in the scorebook".
Gedman, being a catcher, his hitting skill would decline precipitously due to the demands of the position. It's the reason why they converted Greg Biggio from a catcher to a second baseman, why Joe Maurer was converted from a catcher to a first baseman and why the Giants are going to do the same to Buster Posey very soon.
As for Greenwell, he was a solid hitter; no more, no less. Which reminds me of another "slap hitter" teammate of his; Wade Boggs. You're really not making your case here.
You may in fact be right.
Posey is probably asking "Hey Skip, when are we gonna start that catcher-to-first-base thing??"
He caught all 17 innings Friday night, 269 pitches. ;)
I think if Charlie had lived another 25 years the game would not have evolved into the strikeouts and low averages you see today.