Hit Your Potential [Paperback]

Steve Ferroli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1998

Hit Your Potential reveals the batting techniques of Ted Williams, the last of the .400 hitters. One of the most self-disciplined batters ever to play the game, Williams developed precise hitting principles based on his spit-second assessment of hitting zones. Author Steve Ferroli, Ted Williams's technical hitting successor and commissioner of the Ted Williams League of youth baseball, presents this theory in practical terms that every player can understand. He combines mental and physical elements of the hitting game, providing invaluable advice for increasing your hitting potential. You'll learn how to put Williams's theory into practice through extensive illustrations detailing the hitter's precise moves, guidelines for developing solid stroke technique, and pointers for correcting problems at the plate. Bring peak-performance to your hitting game with the big-league strategies of the legendary Ted Williams.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570281831
• ISBN-13: 978-1570281839
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,513,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent book on hitting instruction, July 25, 1998

By 

Bill Nowlin "Bill Nowlin" (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hit Your Potential (Paperback)

Steve Ferroli has been personally selected by Ted Williams as his "technical successor" - Steve is a really first-class dedicated hitting instructor. Steve is the head of the newly formed Ted Williams League for youth baseball, and this book is his presentation of the Ted Williams approach to hitting. The book is well done, with tons of photographs and diagrams - and a Foreword by Ted Williams himself.

Anyone wanting to learn better hitting should definitely pick up this book. It also presents some of the latest theories of the Ted Williams League, such as the 14-inch plate for youth baseball. Even if you're just a fan and not actively trying to learn better hitting, this is quite an interesting book with many insights into baseball, and hitting in particular. Highly recommended.

--Bill Nowlin, co-author (with Jim Prime) of TED WILLIAMS: A TRIBUTE

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful user's guide to rotational mechanics, June 19, 2007

By 

RetMD (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hit Your Potential (Paperback)

This is truly a wonderful book covering the technical aspects of rotational hitting. Ferroli discusses in minute details nearly every aspect of rotational hitting such as stance, stride (length, direction, timing, foot position), proper arm use, grip, strike zone(s) (yes, plural...zones), drills, etc. Many of his recommendations can also be found in Mike Epstein's instructional items. (I highly recommend Epstein's items...books, DVDs, etc. as well. These are available at Mikeepsteinhitting.com.) This book is THE manual for rotational hitting. Not only does Ferroli make mechanical suggestions, he provides rationale for these recommendations.

In terms of "bizzare" recommendations, Mr. Ferroli does make a few seemingly unconventional suggestions. One is rotating the hitters head during contact to facilitate proper hip rotation. This amounts to "taking your eyes off the the ball." Yet scientific data prove that it is impossible to visualize the ball hitting the bat with a typical 80-90mph fastball. In fact, if you look at a few still photos of MLB hitters at the time of contact, you'll often see their eyes are focused 10-15' in front of the plate. Moreover, I've seen still photos of Mickey Mantle & Ted Williams with their eyes CLOSED at contact! Epstein, like Ferroli, emphasizes a "chin up" approach with avoidance of a head down position at contact. In regards to a parallel bat setup prior to the swing, I would only recommend that you look at a few old clips of Rod Carew. Msgr Carew nearly held his bat parallel in setup and ended up being a "pretty good" hitter. Yes, it looks a bit peculiar, but Ferroli doesn't strongly recommend it...he only suggests the various options.

One item that I found in this book that I've never read in any other book is in regards to Ferroli's theory on the "shadow" effect of the pitched ball. In short, the author feels that there is a shadow effect on the lower half of the ball that makes the upper half look "brighter." As a result, hitters tend to hit on the the top half of the ball. If one CLOSELY looks at a pitched ball (softball or baseball...you can try this at the local batting cage), I think that you'll see a subtle "shading" of the lower half of the ball. This is really an astute observation on Ferroli's part and speaks volumes about his thoughtful approach to the difficult science/art of hitting. Get the book, it's worth the investment.

5.0 out of 5 stars The last reviewer is a jealous fool, March 10, 2005

By 

Adam Frattasio (Boston, MA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hit Your Potential (Paperback)

I am a former four-year college baseball player and adult student of Ferroli. I used to hit like Lau taught, as did many major leaguers during that fad of the 1980s. But Lau and Hriniak's helicopter swing off the front foot went the way of the Soviet Union, as it should have. Ferroli extends Ted Williams' theories using physics and common sense - notions that stand the test of time. If you wish to learn to hit a baseball more consistently using the irrefutable laws of physics, common sense, and discipline, read this book. If you're into idol worshipping and fads, read the books the previous reviewer mentioned.......Adam Frattasio, author, "Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey"