Michael Lotief

President/C.E.O. of Swing Attractors.

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

R.I.P. Larry Ray. Coach was fun to be around; luv to talk ball; great sense of humor, competitive.We coached together, he didn’t mind the grind & paid attention to every detail. My earliest memories watching sball was Arizona & one of the 1st videos I bought was his on slapping🙏

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Instead of verbally cueing biomechanics go straight to CNS. Focus entirely on sensory input. Bypass the conscious mind, it cannot manage multiple joint angles/sequences/tempos-instead use real time sensory feedback with training devices specific to replicate the desired movement

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@bamahurin versus looking at outcome data to determine the quality of the swing - like launch angle or exit velocity or bat speed.

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Metrics should dive deeper than just the vertical angle a ball leaves the bat after contact. There’re bad movements 2create launch angle:dropping your hands, snap the barrel rearward, lean the spine backwards, premature slot of elbow. How do you drive the ball w power in the air?

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@bamahurin teaching hitting”-look at degrees of freedom/segments/body parts/timing (hitting is unique bc of time constraints) & figuring out the sequencing at different landmarks (pitch release, contact, etc) & coming up with a way to train/create a motor synergy to organize & be repeatable

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Lastly, what’s the best way to TRAIN THE GOOD MOVEMENT PATTERNS & constrain the bad ones?

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

What MOVEMENT metrics do you use to measure good movement patterns for good launch angles and what MOVEMENT metrics do you flag to differentiate good from bad even though the outcome data/launch angle is the same?

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Swing design = pitch selection!
My 2 strike plan: look in - adjust out; look up - adjust down; work late (timing for off-speed) - adjust to velo,

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@bamahurin The video shows the transitioning from load to GO. It’s not a static position. Or simply saying “get here”. It’s a degrees of freedom puzzle-so many available movement options & combinations. Bonds’ sequence to transition IMO is one of the best ever: involving arms-spine-pelvis

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Bonds is the greatest power hitter; but in the photo below he is using the back 1/2 of his swing path. Great hitters know how to “control” their rotation to adjust to the pitch &/or count, game situation, etc. Too many hitters now just trying to yank HRS, hit the ball out front

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Hitters SHOULDN’T BE 1 DIMENSIONAL. Develop power, bat speed-BUT there’s more. Learn to tighten up, go the other way: decelerate on time-Use the back 1/2 of your swing path. Roster construction: who can adjust to the situation during the same at bat-UNDERSTAND &practice the skill

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Another UL pitcher being recognized by the Sun Belt that pitched for Stef & I - made it to the WCWS as a Freshmen and beat the #1 National Seed (Florida - Stacy Nelson - 2008). Ordinary players at ordinary programs can accomplish extraordinary things

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@UofLouisiana DP: Holly Tankersly. Other pitcher: Ashley Brignac, Jordan Wallace, Alyssa Denham.

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

Posted by the Sun Belt yesterday. Brooke was Stef & I very first recruit. Fierce competitor w/ a growth mindset & a great teammate. Stef was the very first All American in UL’s history for any sport. You will never see the kind of numbers-strike outs, wins, innings pitched again

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@UofLouisiana If they let Brooke Mitchell come back & Gomez,Elkins. Let’s see:at catcher Lexie Elkins, 1B Lacey Bertucci, MIF Nerissa Myers, Alana Addison, DJ Sanders, 3B Becky McMurtry, OF: Gomez, Aleah Creighton,Christi Ogeron slappers Karli Hubbard, Katie Smith. We’d hit as many HRS as OU

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@amberwill43 It gives all little girls hope in their dreams when they SEE & HEAR stories about ordinary players at ordinary programs accomplishing extraordinary things. The key though is competitive drive, growth mindset, work ethic, support structure, innovative ideas/techiques. Dream BIG!

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

During the TX-OU game ESPN put up a graphic with players who’ve hit 30 HOME RUNS in a season. Both Danyele Gomez & Lexi Elkins who played for me with the Ragin Cajuns were omitted but both hit 30 HRS in a single season-maybe the only coach with 2 players to hit 30 HRS in a season

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@stats_keeper It’d be insightful to share with our new generation of sluggers.+ they can give context to the challenges they faced &overcame as our game was in a different place but growing fast.I betcha the common dominator is competitive drive & growth mindset & incredible support structure

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@RockonSooner It’s a valid point &extraordinary feat.
Never been done before-Incredible.
She no doubt stands on the shoulders of those who broke barriers& DREAMED the impossible at their time-Gomez with a single wall aluminum bat. Reminders of history & context matters during great triumphs

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@stats_keeper BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS. Softball is a vehicle to where dreams come true & little girls become competitive, resolved women with growth mindsets.

[Michael Lotief @CoachMikeLotief]

@stats_keeper Gotcha. It gives little girls hope in their dreams when they SEE &hear about ordinary players at ordinary programs accomplish extraordinary things. IMO. Gomez was basically unrecruited-was better at volleyball than sball. Elkins struggled at TX Tech before transferring &going off