Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: THG () on Fri Dec 21 10:26:17 2007

> THG,
>
> You state...""In the 2nd clip it Pujols is using more energy and has an overall more aggressive move toward the ball. His aggressiveness is seen as his back foot comes completely off the ground while coming forward significantly. His hip turn as well as his core turn are much more dramatic as well.""
>
> This all occurs because he was a bit late, but he brought the barrel to the ball do to a slight lean back.
>
> The violence in the body vs. the smoothness of the body in the two clips is due to not being on time vs. being on time. When you are on time the swing is much smoother and less rushed and ridged.
>
> Had he been on time, his barrel would be on track to the ball without the need to clear his body out of the way with the lean.
>
> When MLB hitters take batting practice, there is almost never a backward lean because it is easier to be on time. The game is sped up and adjustments are made on the fly...backward lean.
>
> Jimmy

Jimmy. I appreciate your feedback, but I do not agree. What was the result of the batted ball in each instance?

If he were actually late in clip 2 you would see him collapse his chp or see swing path interruption midway during the swing (in an effort to get to the ball.)

It would be helpful if Jack or Brian could show the side and front view of a hitter when he is late to the fastball. Then we could make a better judgement.

In the first clip (as Graylon suggests) Pujols is clearly early and restricts forward movement in an effort not to extend. I would guess that the result would be solid but diminished contact because he effectively had to slow down his swing in order not to miss the pitch. In fact his swing is somewhat of a controlled swinging lunge in which he follows through to mame it look good.

In general rearward tilt is a desired action for many hitters and allows them a better launch contact position. Brett, Griffey, McGriff, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Jim Thome and Barry Bonds are a good examples of such hitters who used this principle.

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Text:

> > THG,
> > 
> > You state...""In the 2nd clip it Pujols is using more energy and has an overall more aggressive move toward the ball. His aggressiveness is seen as his back foot comes completely off the ground while coming forward significantly. His hip turn as well as his core turn are much more dramatic as well.""
> > 
> > This all occurs because he was a bit late, but he brought the barrel to the ball do to a slight lean back.
> > 
> > The violence in the body vs. the smoothness of the body in the two clips is due to not being on time vs. being on time. When you are on time the swing is much smoother and less rushed and ridged.
> > 
> > Had he been on time, his barrel would be on track to the ball without the need to clear his body out of the way with the lean.
> > 
> > When MLB hitters take batting practice, there is almost never a  backward lean because it is easier to be on time. The game is sped up and adjustments are made on the fly...backward lean.
> > 
> > Jimmy
> 
> Jimmy.  I appreciate your feedback, but I do not agree.  What was the result of the batted ball in each instance?
> 
> If he were actually late in clip 2 you would see him collapse his chp or see swing path interruption midway during the swing (in an effort to get to the ball.)  
> 
> It would be helpful if Jack or Brian could show the side and front view of a hitter when he is late to the fastball.  Then we could make a better judgement.
> 
> In the first clip (as Graylon suggests) Pujols is clearly early and restricts forward movement in an effort not to extend.  I would guess that the result would be solid but diminished contact because he effectively had to slow down his swing in order not to miss the pitch.  In fact his swing is somewhat of a controlled swinging lunge in which he follows through to mame it look good. 
> 
> In general rearward tilt is a desired action for many hitters and allows them a better launch contact position.  Brett, Griffey, McGriff, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Jim Thome and Barry Bonds are a good examples of such hitters who used this principle.

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