Posted by: Martin () on Mon Feb 17 06:31:24 2003

Folks
> >
> > Physics is science. Biology is science. Exercise physiology isn't science.
> >
> > Kinesiology isn't science.
> >
> > They masquerade as such so ex-athletes will have curriculum and the hope of employment.
> >
> > Mr. Ziegler, tell us, what value have the disciplines of exercise physiology and kinesiology brought to your study of the baseball swing? What tools have they provided that a basic understanding of anatomy wouldn't?
> >
> > I suspect that you are one of those people who thinks human endeavor is perfectable and that science is the answer.
> >
> > Melvin
> >
> >
> HELLO, are we all on the batspeed.com discussion board, or are we in Kansas? Here is a page from Batspeed.com's site. It is a letter from the "Science Department" to Jack. Does seetheballhitheball.com have a discussion forum? Maybe we can find some good insight there?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 14 December 1991
>
>
> 3801 West Temple Avenue
> Pomona, California 91768-4031
> Telephone (714) 869-4014
>
> Physics
> College of Science
>
>
> To whom it may concern:
>
> I have had the opportunity to view a 100-minute video tape by Jack Mankin, summarizing his findings on the mechanics of baseball batting. I have also read some of his writings on this subject and have spoken with him on several occasions. Jack Mankin has spent an enormous number of hours analyzing professional batters, using frame-by-frame observations (at 1/30 second time intervals). He has painstakingly developed a clever categorization scheme containing dozens of batting characteristics. Of these, he has identified a handful of the most important batting elements. Although he is not a scientist, Jack Mankin has designed and followed a thoughtful, careful, objective, science-like approach that is very impressive.
>
> Batting entails a good deal of rather complex physics. To my knowledge, the research that has been carried out in the scientific community lags behind Jack Mankin's path breaking work.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Harvey S. Left, Chair Physics Department

I am a scientist that has critically reviewed the contributions Zig has made to the body of science as it pertains to the baseball swing. I can not speak to a form letter that was written in 1991 by an unknown retired professor, but I can attest to the fact that Zig's work is founded on scientific principles, and his research and peer review is TODAY'S science, not 'science" of 12 years ago.
Keep up the good work, Zig. Remember, Columbus, Galileo and even Charlie Lau Jr had their skeptics, but we all know there place in history.Hopefully you won't be receiving hate email from certain individuals like Lau Jr did.