Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Thu Dec 13 20:38:41 2007

> > hi jimmy!
> > well said!
> >
> > but i'm more concerned with the timing of when hitters actually load... by load i'm thinking you mean drawing back the hands & arms to the launch position..
> >
> > the timing is the critical part.. FAR too many hitters think they have all the time in the world to draw back AFTER THE PITCH IS RELEASED... NOT! THIS FATAL ERROR IS THE PRIMARY REASON MOST HITTERS ARE LATE ON FAR TOO MANY PITCHES THEY SHOULD BE DRIVING.. instead the are poppingup, fouling off, or missing completely..
> >
> > i believe you should not have any drawback whatsoever... rather the lower body step-&-torque should initiate the swing, with the hands staying back as long as possible,, this way the hands will be the beneficiary of the lower body torque, & accelerate even faster through the contact zone.. too many hitters are concerned with initiating bat movement thinking that will get them there faster..
> > rather DO NOT drop the hands, do a circle hitch with the hands, or draw the arms & hands back once the pitch is underway... these are fatal errors that wil kill you..
> > if you let your lower body be the first part in motion, you will generate much higher batspeed, & catch up to pitches you previously have been late to..
>
> Hi George,
>
> Actually, the hands and arms do appear to draw back into the launch position, but the hitter should not try to accomplish this specific movement.
>
> I feel that the hitters movement back with the legs along with the fluent movement of the hitters weight returning to the middle of the hitters balance initiates any action of the hands.
>
> Where we might disagree has to do with having a load at all. It seems that you don't want the hitter to "wind-up" at all and I feel that this action is critical for the hitter to be able to get his barrel to the ball with any accuracy and strength.
>
> I do agree that they shouldn't try to create any hand movement but there should be hand movement in the load and swing. It is created as a result of a proper lower body load.
>
> Jimmy

Jimmy,

Do you believe that the shoulders should turn in at all on the load or are you just shifting your weight back with your legs? Do you believe that the hands are turning the barrel rearward or is the pulling on the knob with the lead arm/shoulder is what lays the barrel flat? What gets the barrel on plane?

Graylon