Posted by: JTW (jtwelborn@triad.rr.com) on Sun Nov 18 14:45:46 2007

> Hi All
>
> This may be “information overload”, but for you that would like more technical information on inside/outside mechanics, you might wade through this excerpt from a 2004 post -
> <a href="http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/16541.html">Re: last attempt</a> -- It indicates the direction my analysis of Mark’s clips will take.
>
> ##
> Note: I have always found it interesting that due to the linear, A to B, principles that have been taught to coaches for generations, any mechanic that produces a circular motion was believed taboo and would ruin a batter’s swing. – If the batter did not swing down at the ball, he was “looping.” – If he rotated around a stationary axis, he was “spinning.” He must post the front-leg and drive his back-hip forward (back to center). – If the batter’s hands did not go straight from A to B, he was “casting.” The negative connotations placed on these terms are so ingrained in our thoughts that most coaches still react negatively to them even today.
>
> Ray, I fully agree with your definitions of “To extend.” Therefore, our differences appear to be how we use these terms in the context of generating a wide hand-path for outside pitches. You stated, “The hands had to EXTEND from the one point to the other.” You would be correct if the swing had only one axis of rotation (around the spine) – the wider the path of the hands, the more the hands and arms would need to extend.
>
> However, while conducting research of the baseball swing at the U of CA (San
> Bernardino), we found while using their Motion Study Computer System that there are
> four main “Axis of Rotation” involved in the swing. --- (Axis 1) the Spine -- Hips and shoulders rotating around a fairly stationary axis. (Axis 2) The lead-shoulder joint – the biceps area of rotation. (Axis 3) The lead-elbow – forearm rotation. (Axis 4) Point between the wrist. All of these “Axis of Rotation” produce a series of accelerating arcs. And on the outside of these accelerating arcs is “The Final Arc” – the bat-head.
>
> Ray, we found during this study that linear extension mechanics produced a good deal of forearm rotation around Axis 3. This meant the lead-elbow started bent and then straightened out as the hands were thrust outward. Whereas, we found there was little to no rotation around Axis 3 with rotational transfer mechanics. This is because the lead-elbow remains in a fairly fixed position during the swing. In other words, the lead-arm remains fairly straight during the swing regardless of pitch location.
>
> As I just pointed out, the lead-arm does not extend for outside pitches with rotational mechanics. What allows for a wider or a tighter hand-path is the arc position of Axis 2 (lead-shoulder joint). If the lead-shoulder rotates all the way around to the 105 degree position (farthest from the plate), the lead-arm (and hands) will be drawn into a tight hand-path for pitches middle-in. For outside pitches, less shoulder rotation leaves Axis 2 closer to the plate allowing the lead-arm (and hands) to cast out into a wider arc.
>
> In conclusion, I would say the hands do not extend for outside pitches. They are cast into a constant arc around axis 2 regardless of pitch location (except when jammed and the elbow flexes). It is the arc position of Axis 2 that determines how wide the hand-path becomes.
>
> Jack Mankin



Hi Jack,

In higher level high school fastpitch, it’s now not uncommon to find pitch speeds identical to those found at the college level. Placement, movement, and consistency are of course not the same, but we often see speeds in the low to mid, and occasionally upper 60’s. With the high school pitching distance of 40’ and a resulting release point around 36’, available reaction time for hitters is very short!

To be successful, our hitters must be able to hit to any field depending on pitch placement. To do so requires correct bat angle at contact and correct timing of the pitch. To pull the inside strike requires contact be made slightly sooner, while hitting the outside strike to the opposite field requires contact be made slightly later.

The four axis analysis explains the how the batter can alter the swing to put the bat head on the different contact points, but it does not address the issue of how the batter controls timing of the bat to allow the ball to reach those specific contact points.

When the batter is facing the highest pitch speeds (in fastpitch or baseball), negative movement (loading) must begin at about the same time the pitcher is releasing the ball…sometimes even before. A batter who attempts to vary timing by waiting to see the ball’s placement will never hit it! The batter must therefore be able to alter not only the path of the bat head, but also the timing of the bat head DURING the course of rotation as the ball is in the final stages of its approach. The question is how this occurs.

I submit that forearm extension is a factor. Certainly, the interaction of all four axis is key. Hopefully, seeing the comparison of Mark Teixeira’s swings will shed some light.

JTW