Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Jun 24 17:19:32 2000

Hi All

Lately there has been a lot of discussion on the boards regarding the "fence drill." After reading both pro and con posts, I find that my opinion remains -- it has held back the progress of batters for generations!

I don't think any of us, straight or circular hand-path enthusiast, would advocate having the batters hands cast out in a wide looping arc. But jamming the hitter so close to a fence that he is restricted to a bad form (see below) of linear mechanics is certainly not a productive solution. --- Just instructing the batter to use good body rotation as he initiates the swing will eliminate the "casting" problem. --- As the lead shoulder rotates it will cause the lead arm to pull the hands into a tight arc.

I have found that many of the same coaches who use the fence drill also believe in teaching their hitters to "Keep your shoulder in there." Well, of course many batters who have their shoulder rotation restricted and must rely on their arms to swing the bat will develop a casting problem. So one piece of bad advice leads to another, which leads to another... I have often stated that if the swing is not initiated with the correct forces - the balance of the swing will be an exercise in compensation.

One more point regarding the fence drill. --- It forces the hands to arc toward 3rd base as the bat becomes perpendicular to the flight of the ball (position for hitting back up the middle). - Note: As the hips rotate, the back hip will come 3 to 4 inches closer to the fence than the belly-button. This means the hands must arc 3 or 4 inches inward past the line of the hip in order to allow the bat-head to come through. -- So much for outside corner pitches!

For more information that I have written on the fence drill: Click Here

Jack Mankin