Posted by: Doug () on Mon Mar 3 18:51:50 2003

>>> During the swing should the batter dominate with his bottom hand or his top hand? I have been told both. One instructor told me to throw the bottom hand through, but another man told me to put hardly any pressure with your top hand and to let the bottom hand do everything. Which is more true? Is it the same with every pitch? <<<
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> Hi Mike
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> Welcome to the site. --- Here just a couple of thoughts regarding the hands and rotational transfer mechanics. – First, the hands are not accelerated by the extension of the arms. They remain back close to the shoulder and are swung (or flung) into a circular path by body rotation. – The second force supplied through the hands that generates bat speed is torque. One hand pushing in one direction while the other is pulling in another. So for most pitches, the forces supplied through each hand is about equal. --- About the only responsibility the hands themselves have to the swing is to hold on to the bat.
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> Jack Mankin

>Jack, If that is the case, why do most of the top power hitters in the big leagues have strong hands? Do you think a young weak 18 year old with great rotational mechanics can hit the ball as far as a young 18 year old with great rotational mechanics and strong hands? I feel that rotational mechanics are the best way to succeed as a hitter, but the hands are holding on to the bat and the last two feet the bat travels before contact, the hands play an important part. Hand strength IMO is very important if you want to have power.

Doug