Posted by: Teacherman () on Fri May 2 18:24:33 2003

I think someone previously made a distinction between the two (maybe Teacherman?). I think the distinction was in connection with full x-t vs. less-than-full x-t.
>
> I hope whoever it was might rearticulate their view, as I have reason to believe it might be a topic worth discussing. I say this knowing or thinking that at the time I myself was scoffing at the notion. But I would like to hear the idea once more.

Bart

You and I were doing battle last fall about this topic. I maintained maximum batspeed was at extension as Paul Nyman states. If you remember, you started the post with a quote from the SETPRO website that you disagreed with.

Paul was saying that there is a tradeoff of batspeed for bat quickness by leaving the elbow in the slot, therefore not reaching extension on the swing. He also stated that there are a few major leaguers who do hit at extension with Griffey as an example. I later suggested McGwire did also.

The whole point was that being quicker to the ball, even if it doesn't generate maximum batspeed. is desireable because it allows a little more time for decisions. And, that maximum batspeed isn't necessary for most big leaguers to hit the ball out of the park. Better decisions and better sweet spot contact resulted from this.

I went on the explain that I had tested this theory with my 16 yr olds at fall practice and that everyone of them registered higher batspeeds at extension than at the "L". It was about this time that I posted a clip of Arod (the same on Ray Porco and I have been discussing) and the topic died a silent death.