Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a complete fighter; technically able to fight at the elite level from either stance effortlessly. Despite being a right-handed fighter, Hagler was trained mainly out of the southpaw stance, which saw him develop a sledgehammer jab.
He utilised his versatile skill set to become a dominant undisputed middleweight ruler and a truly destructive operator in his Hall of Fame career. A three-division world champion and former undisputed light-welterweight king, Terence Crawford has become a genuine master of switch-hitting in his era. With his unorthodox movements and eye-catching reflexes, Naseem Hamed was unconventional in everything he did in the ring, including when planting his feet in different stances.
One of the best heavyweights of the modern era, Tyson Fury has become a hugely effective and versatile fighter on his way to world title success. Rarely hit clean, Pep was like a shadow in the ring, making opponents foolish at times as they swung at fresh air. Another fighter who blended a mix of styles and worked rigorously on all aspects of his craft, Andre Ward was able to switch stances at times in some key fights in his career.
Rather than constantly switching to keep opponents on edge, Ward would utilise his switching abilities efficiently; whenever he saw an opportunity or needed a different approach mid-fight. The excellent footwork he developed throughout his Hall of Fame career was key to his success, being able to keep opponents at an optimal range at all times and use his solid jab alongside this. All of the aforementioned fighters have traits in common that allow them to switch-hit effortlessly; possessing attentive footwork, versatility and agility.
They have utilised their talents from both stances to great effect and been able to adapt within the ring ropes to achieve success. There are ways of becoming a better switch-hitter and developing the technique over time so it becomes second nature in sparring and a fight a scenario.
Practising and drilling the basic combinations from both stances is essential. Every day in the gym , turning from both the dominant stance to the other will help improve skills for when it matters and build the muscle memory needed. Playing to strengths will help with switching too. For example, a fighter that possesses a strong right hand for their power shots can transfer this across to southpaw and develop a stinging jab from the other stance.
While we know how much Chipper was paid during his 19 seasons in a Braves uniform, it is impossible to truly quantify his value to the Atlanta Braves organization. His baseball acumen and calm demeanor served as a north star to so many up-and-coming stars in the Braves dugout.
Chipper played a huge role during the Braves 12 straight division titles. He played third base, shortstop, right field and left field — any position as long as it meant victory for the team. You cannot buy that type of leadership. It is ingrained in certain ballplayers at a young age and evolves into the type of person Chipper Jones proved himself to be for almost two decades in Atlanta.
Chipper wrote the following words at the end of his autobiography, Ballplayer:. And I was a big contributor to that for the better part of two decades. Chipper Jones was a class-act and a true joy to watch. Keeping him in an Atlanta Braves uniform will always be remembered by the Braves organization as money well spent.
Thoughts on how to get the Atlanta Braves back on field by Alan Carpenter. Next: Minor leaguers still being taken care of. More MLB News ». View all MLB Sites. More AL East News ». View all AL East Sites. But with four switch hitters on the roster, the Twins are a bit of a rarity. Gardenhire likes having that versatility in the lineup. So, too, does hitting coach Tom Brunansky, whose job it is to make sure those four all get their hacks from both sides of the plate.
It helps in that way. For Brunansky, the work he does with each switch hitter depends on the pitcher the Twins are facing that day. In their mindset, they feel more comfortable from that right side. But we have two swings to worry about, where most guys have one.
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