Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

I have many times talked about the motor learning concept of....the "action-perception gap" [or differential] regarding what athletes THINK they are doing. As opposed to what they ACTUALLY do.

Aside from the VERY starkly drawn "differential" between Sammy Sosa's on deck swings [wherein he JUST moved the arms/bat in an almost straight down trajectory] as contrasted with his ACTUAL game swings....

....there may be no better ex. than the comparison of Pense's on deck vs actual game swings. Here's a clip of the on deck swing:

[Slow it down to see how "unreal ", so to speak, it actually is ....compared to this:

I will not bother to try to qualify the stark contrast here. I think the differences should be quite obvious. The more interesting question is: How does one explain this stark difference?

Now, one argument that I have seen as regards such differences is along the lines of..."well, this warm-up somehow helps him do the right thing, so to speak, in real time."

But my standard reply ---one of 'em--to this line of thinking is: "If you saw a 12 yr. old warming up this way would you not be at least a little concerned?" Of COURSE you would!!

And you would very likely say this based on your empirical experience of seeing many hitters creating relatively poor warm-up or practice swings ...that pretty much MATCHED their ACTUAL game swings.

Which then returns us to the issue of trying to explain/understand as to how Pence can practice an utterly AWFUL swing...yet create a swing in actual performance that has yielded him millions of dollars!?

The following, I think, is the key. Based on research from academics like Howard Gardner ["Multiple Intelligences"], as well as my own personal and teaching experience I will say this:

SOME people have a GREATER genetic predisposition towards what can be understood as kinesthetic awareness [kinesthetic "intelligence" if you will]. Meaning that they have--at birth-- a much more refined POTENTIAL to discern movements.

Meaning that, compared to most, they can better discern thru "feel", what is good vs. not so good movement. In this context, it is CRITICAL to understand that this kind of "heightened" or sensitive feedback loop is almost ENTIRLEY ...TACIT....meaning non-verbal and not explicit.

The understanding [accepting] that this kind of genetic and tacit kinesthetic intelligence BEST explains the Pence differential [practice/explicit thoughts vs actual game swings/implicitly derived actions] really NEEDS to be fully considered.

Now, having said that, in effect, the Pence differential is best explained by largely genetic factors, does this mean that ALL elite level performance is simply a function of superior genetics?

Well, simply put....OF COURSE NOT! One of my all time favorite quotes [from a geneticist] as regards the basic genetic vs. environment question is: " Well I can guarantee you that performance is 100% genetics ...and 100% environment."

Meaning of course that there is this VERY complex interaction of genetic and environmental components that combines to create outcomes.

And thus, from my vantage point, as trainer/teacher, I see ALL potential development as something that CAN --via what I call " smart training"--be enhanced/optimized. Genetic factors, though important, are not the ONLY factors. MUCH depends on many OTHER factors.

And from my vantage point as a teacher very dedicated to the charge of developing true potential, my essential charge is to variously maintain the "high standard" that is almost entirely a function of a MERIT BASED mindset/approach.

Which means----and I DO want to emphasize this is this age of judging people by their immutable traits of gender/skin color----that I do not give a FLYING FUCK as regards your immutable traits!!!

My simple question is this: Do you REALLY want to engage in the relatively arduous process of learning how to move much effectively over time?

Do you REALLY want to engage in the process of doing what it takes to reach your true potential ?

THESE are my questions for you---as opposed to the kinds of utterly BULLSHIT nonsense that I all too often see writ large in the culture.

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