Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Mon May 12 23:32:39 2003

We talk about bat speed, rotational and non rotational hitting
mechanics, but what do you do before you get to the point where
the heel comes down and the swing starts? What approach do
you use? Do you hitch to get started? Do you cock your knee to
get started? Do you just stand there and then rotate? How
important do you think a timing device is to your swing, and if so
what is it? Much has been argued on this site about bat speed
and rotational mechanics, but what about your feelings on how
to load and time a pitch? Why is John Olerud successful and
why is Julio Franco successful and why was Strawberry
successful when all three had a different approach to hitting?
>
> Your thoughts please, Doug

I would reinforce much of what rql and Bart said with some
disagreement I'm sure on details.Balanaced at toe touch,but not
only loaded,but still loading.definition of balance is tricky/
complex.

The rhythm of "batcock" reflects mostly the necessary sequence
of back arm led loading.This arm action needs to be well
synchronized with the lower body motion as well to get a good
twist/load/coil.Many good hitters demonstrate this sequence of
bat cock/uncock,which is a good way to learn as suggested by
Bart,better than trying to describe how the knob turns or how to
move the back arm to load.

Hank Aaron demonstrates the phases of cock/uncock fairly
dramatically.I think it is desirable to have the bat fairly vertical in
the stance because lower bat positions can inerfere with good
cocking/uncocking motion.Typical sequence is:

1-Bat tips slightly toward opposite batter's box-as hands come
into middle and body flexes/bends at waist with beginning of
stride foot lift/inward turn.
2-Bat cocks toward pitcher much as Bart describes as back arm
internally rotates in synch with hip cock/internal rotation of stride
leg
3-Bat drops back from vertical as back scap loads,this is during
what Epstein describes as "winding the rubber band" as you
stride toward toe touch.Back scap loading leads "counter-
rotation on top as stride leg abducts,and before bottom half then
rotates open to twist/coil.
4-Bat accelerates back toward catcher(?"THT") as back scap
stays loaded,back arm begins to externally rotate down(back
elbow leveled off with scap load and now starts down)into
slot,lead arm internally rotates to continue torso loading/
tightening connection,lead leg externally rotates as lower body
rotates open by toe touch,body now twisting/coiling.This bat/arm
action allows the hands to stay back and the loading to continue
as the bottom half continues to rotate open.

The individual style of the hittercan make a lot of this hard to
see,but you can find it visually often enough that I believe the
underlying biomechanical motion sequence is a desirable
universal.

It's a lot easier to just show how/when to cock/uncock the bat,or
to find someone to emulate who does the sequence
well.Rhythmic preswing activity should have the same sort of
feel as the beginning of this motion.