Posted by: The Black Hole Lexicographer (Knight1285@aol.com) on Sun Jun 11 21:37:17 2000

Greetings Jack and all,
In soft-toss practice, I imitated the elastic pull of the top hand into the launch position, slightly before pulling the bottom hand towards the catcher, which was really a motion of compensition to ensure my lead shoulder would pull my hands. Personally, I was quite astonished how rapidly the ball shot from one shoulder to another. This, perhaps, was the type of swing that allowed a shortstop that played on my brother's team who stood at 5 feet 5 inches--and weighing a scrappy 140 pounds--to hit the ball 410 to 425 feet on a high, trajectory arc. He did not appear to have to an overpowering hip movement, yet more than made up for that defiency with a tremendous amount of top hand torque.

Jack's site is clearly aimed on defining a hand path that conteracts mythology that flourishes in genetics, psychology, and, unfortunately, infiltrates the roots of baseball history, and blossoms. Nevertheless, such a site has a valid subtext: do not give in, and reluctantly resign to Social Darwinist theories (e.g., survival of the fittest, adaption of the naturally select), and allow such philosophies to counteract personal goals.

As a result of the impression this swing left on me, I will head for fields, and discover whether or not they work equally well in an environment where fences are posted--the ones I hope to clear again, this time, with far more consistency.

Sincerely,
The Black Hole Lexicographer
Knight1285@aol.com