Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rotational hitting good for everyone?

Yes. Wouldn't you want your son or daughter hitting the ball with power and consistency?

What wins baseball games?

Contrary to very popular belief it is not pitching and defense.  When was the last time you scored runs (in baseball) on defense?  You have to score runs, the best way to do that is by hitting the ball into the gaps for extra base hits. Not trying to hit the ball on the ground and hoping the defense makes errors.

Do you have to be big to hit the long ball?

No! Harmon Killebrew and Pete Rose were both 5' 11" and weighed 205 lbs. Harmon hit 573 home runs in 8,147 at-bats, Pete hit 160 Hr's in 14,057 at-bats.  Alfonso Soriano is 6' 0", 180 lbs. and already has 200 career Hr's in 3,730 at-bats.

Is this hard to learn?

The hardest thing about rotational hitting is learning to run to 3rd! 

How fast can I learn to hit this way?

In September of 2003 Mike Epstein and his son Jake conducted hitting clinics and private lessons at our Dulles Academy. Softball and baseball hitters were trained in the rotational style. Here are some experiences reported to us after the clinic and lessons:

1. David Towarnicky, a N.C. high school sophomore, returned home and went 3-4 (2B, 3B, HR).
2. Jonathan Mason, a 12 year old from Lower Loudoun, was barely hitting the ball out of the infield. After Power House Hitting lessons he went 7 for 11, hitting 4 doubles and one triple in one weekend tournament, and missed hitting for the cycle by a single, going 3 for 4 in his second weekend tournament.
3. Jimmy Kerby, a 14 year old from Lower Loudoun, was hitting weak ground balls and striking out a lot. Since beginning his Power House lessons in September he has gone 8 for 19 and moved up two spots in the batting order.
4. University of Louisiana at Lafayette went from hitting 6 team home runs to 72 in one year, 78 the next and 80 the following year, using the rotational technique.

Should everyone expect such remarkable results so quick?

Maybe. Results throughout the nation indicate this trend. However, we say "maybe" because our current students are pitchers. Generally pitchers are the best athletes on a given team. Presented with good information, a quality teaching system, and combined with their natural command of talent, it would be logical for them to more quickly see more dramatic results in anything they tried. We expect success, shouldn't you? As in life, what you get out is directly relative to what you put in!

Is this right for me?

Ask these questions of yourself. Are you satisfied with your hitting? Do you feel that you have more potential for power? Does your current hitting technique work for you? Is there another possibility?

If I show up on my team with this hitting technique will I get in trouble with my coach?

In a world that currently teaches one primary hitting technique this is a very reasonable question. BUT - this is going to change fairly quickly because of player success and our collective efforts.

But what about you…now? Quality coaches care about team unity, success and your personal growth. They also immediately identify, respect and reward success. Then they look for consistency. But some coaches have more invested in their ego than the success of their players. You must decide the character of your coach. You must decide if you have greater potential as a hitter and as a result provide a greater asset to the team. You must choose whether to stay safely "average" or if the risk of attaining excellence is in your best interest. Excellence is a choice. Welcome to life. As your Mom and Dad will tell you - it doesn't get any easier. The one thing you can always count on is our support of you. We show up every day.

Why are the Pinkmans teaching hitting?

There is a need. We have information that can and will make a difference.

Mike Epstein and John Pinkman are good friends and both write for Collegiate Baseball. We have watched the trend toward identifying rotational hitting for 2 years. We have watched the amazing success of Mike's students and the teams who have taught and adopted this technique. It is not new, it's OLD. But what is new is that powerful logical evidence from biomechanical research has identified the positive results of the simple concept of placing the bat on the same plane as the ball. We have seen the evidence. So we begin together. We encourage you to learn more and unleash the power within!

"Teaching baseball requires too many personal sacrifices to settle for just being a good school. As professional teachers, each day we must provide excellence in both our effort and environment," John Pinkman.