Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sat Nov 10 09:03:46 2007

JTW -

Extremely insightful descriptions, thanks.

I think with regard to in vs out adjustment, Jack has the best model/description.

I would not say the pulled ball is necessarily hit with more energy (typically it is becasue it's simpler to figure out how to pull), as Jack points out the genesis of his understanding the importance of THT was seeing Brett hitting huge oppo power shots on outside balls and I think if you know how this happens and are anticipating well, you can learn to do this. This then pays off over all becasue even if you don't get the utside ball, overall you have learned to keep the hands back longer so you have "early batspeed" for longer read time and more relaxed/confident swing.

During the preparation phase, the lead arm is stretched a little more/longer as hands are loaded more up and in for outside ball.

When the body then rotates. there is more separation (enegry) in the torso that is sucked out more quickly (by higher load/longer swing radius/more extended lead arm/still CHP once bathead has launched) with bat drag being prevented by more early handle torque (THT).

This is more body motion to learn to control, but it can produce the monster oppo shots that Jack saw in Brett for example as well as spatially "earlier batspeed" for hard deeper contact.

So this would put the control of this upstream in how the hands are loaded to create a slightly longer swing radius/stretch of lead arm and positioning to apply slightly more handle torque with the bat head swinging out to make deeper square contact with the sweetspot.

One of the contributor's here who understands this particularly well is "rql".

The multiple pendulum type extension of the forearm is more a result of this than a cause, BUT the feel of this certainly can be used to teach this swing/ Emphasis needs to be on the earlier adjustments to make it happen however. This is analagous to how the upstream
shaping of the swing plane in golf will largely determine how the hands/arms release (more or less rollover and or wrst hinging. also very grip dependent).

I particularly liked your description of pendulum vs hinge or pivot point which I believe adds to how "plane matching" to enlarge "contact zone" is a more accurate description of the goal.

The usual inaccurate concepts make this goal of the flat/oval swing shape result from mechanics involving deceleration or suboptimal acceleration which has a more severe effect on messing up timing which can not be adequately compensated by any theoretical gain using any other method attempting to "stay in the zone longer".

Match your zone up and go through it as quickly as possible to make timing error minimal, do not try to stay in your zone longer.

Also very good understanding of negative and positive move as necessary for adeqaute swing prepartion to maximize quickness later and ability to read location as long as possible and adjust contact zone as late and as accurately as possible.

My understanding of how this works comes from golf where the way to produce the desired type of segmental body acceleration for this quck/early batspeed and late accurate adjustment is more like the old fashioned hips leading type swing which requires the back and forth weight shift and hip turn to get the hips leading, then having the hips continue to turn in response to the upper body swing which gives a quick well timed and directed coil/load.

This type of quickness and adjustability with ability to keep hands back as long as possible and maximize "read time" is degraded by trying to move the torso/shoulders actively.

It requires the traditional "hips and hands" feel/synched action of the two ends of the body with the upper body in control and the lower body supplying power as directed.

Shoulders move more as a result of how upper body and hips work together rather than getting overactive and becoming the focus of turning themselves

Thanks again. See what you think of these additional ideas.