Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Mar 4 01:38:32 2003

> > > I think one of the main reasons rotational hitters (chp & torque)are leading the performance stats is because there is less need for the batter to change his swing mechanics or timing due to pitch placement. He is able to use the same basic rotational mechanics regardless of where the pitcher throws to him - and still hit the ball hard. The adjustment he needs to make is a slight change in how he initiates the swing. Once that change is made - his mechanics for the balance of the swing is on autopilot regardless of where the pitch is.
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> The change in the batter’s initiation that programs the swing is controlled mainly by the direction of pull of the top hand. In other words, the direction of pull of the top hand at initiation sets up trajectories that control the balance of the swing mechanics.
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> As an example - say the pitchers mound is at 6 o’clock and the plate is at 12 o’clock. On an inside pitch, the direction of pull of the top hand is in tight, say at 1 o’clock. This causes the back elbow to come almost straight down to the batter’s side. This also keeps the lead arm across the chest and generates a tight hand-path and thus a low-load resistance to shoulder rotation. The back elbow coming more straight down with little body rotation during initiation, means top-hand-torque was applied over a limited amount of time. But with full shoulder rotation (lead shoulder pulling back toward catcher) at contact, the batters finishes the swing with a lot of bottom-hand-torque.
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> On a pitch more in the middle of the plate, the pull of the top hand is more straight-away or at 12 o’clock. With a more straight-away pull the shoulders rotate a few degrees as the back elbow lowers to the batter’s side allowing a greater amount of time to apply top-hand-torque. This direction of pull also causes the lead arm to cast slightly away from the chest and generates a somewhat wider hand-path. A wider hand-path generates greater bat speed and a higher load resistance to shoulder rotation. Less shoulder rotation means less bottom-hand-torque. So on the pitch in the mid part of the plate, what we wind up with is greater bat speed from a wider hand-path and more balance between bottom and top-hand-torque being applied.
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> On recognizing an outside pitch, the batters pull of the top hand is more away from center - or at 11 o’clock. This direction of pull causes the back elbow to sweep in a wider path and slows body rotation. This allows top-hand-torque to be applied over a much greater portion of the swing. This direction of pull also causes the lead arm to cast out farther and develops a wide hand-path and thus a heavy resistant load to shoulder rotation. A more limited shoulder rotation equates to little bottom-hand-torque being applied. So, on the outside pitch the swing produces a wider hand-path with a lot of top-hand-torque and little bottom-hand-torque. <
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> Jack Mankin



>>> All that pulling the top hand to different postions on the clock - sounds alot like "throwing your hands at the ball" Jack. I would never tell my hitters to do that - it is inconsistent with everything you advocate. If you tell a hitter about the clock, I guarantee you are asking for trouble. Do you have video or examples of MLB hitters that do what you say, Jack?

I think, try the Bonds approach. <<<

Hi Georger

The direction of the hands while applying top-hand-torque is directly OPPOSITE to that of "throwing your hands at the ball." So I really can not understand how you drew your conclusion. By definition, "throwing your hands at the ball" requires a FORWARD thrust of the hands at initiation. Applying top-hand torque requires the top-hand to PULL BACK (toward the catcher) at initiation. This pulls the bottom-hand and lead-arm tighter across the chest as body rotation starts.

I would have to agree with you that using a clock was probably not the best choice to describe the direction of pull of the top-hand. But, at the time, it was all I could come up with. Maybe describing it as pulling the top-hand back toward the catchers left shoulder on inside pitches and at his right shoulder on outside pitches would have been better. --- Regardless of how Barry Bonds describes how he hits outside pitches, a video analysis of Bonds’ mechanics would exhibit what I stated above.

Jack Mankin