Posted by: () on Mon Apr 28 05:56:40 2003

>>> Hi Jack, You mentioned that you taught linear mechanics for 18 years. Do you mean the Lau Sr. technique or the Walt Hriniak technique? I am still confused as to what most people think linear mechanics are. I don't feel that there is a linear technique of hitting unless as I said it is the Lau Sr. Hriniak teachings. <<<
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> Hi Doug
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> I agree there is confusion as to what constitutes linear and rotational hitters. Most coaches would contend that if the batter takes a long stride or transfers weight forward during the stride, they are linear. All �no-striders� would be considered rotational. I place no value on the length of stride or how much weight is transferred when classifying a hitter�s mechanics.
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> Regardless of a good hitters length of stride (or lack of it), all forward movement of the body flows to a stop before they rotate around a stationary axis. During my study of how energy is transferred in the baseball swing (data from 3000+ charted swings), I could find no correlation between the type of mechanics used to generate body rotation and hitting performance.
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> Great hitters use a wide variety of body postures and lower-body mechanics to induce rotation around a stationary axis (the energy for the swing). Some stand tall while others like to squat. Some take a long stride toward the pitcher (like Brett) whereas Bagwell moves the lead-foot away from the pitcher. Bonds� axis fades away while Aaron�s tilts forward. Therefore a powerful rotation is what really counts regardless of the mechanics used to achieve it. --- Yet, while viewing video clips most coaches spend 95% of the time discussing the batter�s lower-body mechanics.
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> During my study I found that what separated the great hitters from all the rest was the mechanics they use to transfer their body rotation into bat-head rotation. The most talented natural hitter ever born cannot �will� the bat-head around. Like the average player, the bat speed he attains will be governed by the forces his transfer mechanics applies to the bat. Even a great athlete like Michael Jordan could not overcome the poor transfer mechanics Hriniak taught him.
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> There are two (and only two) forces a batter applies that accelerate the bat-head. They are from a �a circular hand-path� and �torque�. An angular displacement of the batter�s hand-path (a circular hand-path) transfers body rotation into bat-head rotation. Great hitters keep their hands back and allow body rotation to accelerate them into a CHP. Average hitters use the arms to extend the hands toward the pitcher. The straighter the hand-path, (or more linear) � the less bat speed generated.
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> Doug, this site defines any cue or mechanic that causes the hands to be extended into a straighter path as �linear mechanics.� Almost every film, video or book published on batting technique promotes mechanics that extend the hands, or knob, straight back at the pitcher. Therefore, for 18 years I had no choice but to teach linear mechanics and most coaches still do.
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> Jack Mankin

OK. But Bagwell and Aaron both have Epstein's separation between the hip angle and the shoulder angle. Do they not?