Posted by: Jimmy () on Sun Nov 11 18:09:23 2007

Hi Jack,

I've watched both of your explanations on the Rose video, and I must say that your description of the "hook in the handpath" is a little misleading.

You state: "By “hook,” we mean that portion of the knob’s path where it reaches its maximum forward direction (toward the pitcher) and the bottom-hand starts pulling it rearward."

If the bottom hand is "pulling it rearward", than why does the top hand actually travel further forward than the the bottom hand travels rearward? Is the top hand being pulled for the ride by the BHT?

Do you really think that there is a moment in time that hitters actually put effort into BHT?

The bat has already been thrown into its directional path and the bottom hand is pretty much along for the ride at that point. I think you have it backwards in terms of the force that exists between the bat and the bottom hand at this point in the swing. The hand is not applying force to the bat, the force that exists there is applied by the inertia of the barrel along with a bit more force from the top hand.

The hands throw the barrel into a path toward the ball, and the inertia of the barrel along with a bit more force from the top hand/ back side of the hitter send it into a less circular path through the hitting zone.

By less circular (which your graphic on the Rose clip shows), I mean more linear. An arc that is less circular is MORE LINEAR.

The "hook in the handpath" actually helps the barrel of the bat stay in LINE longer with the incoming pitch.

Jimmy