Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Jan 2 22:55:15 2008

>>> Hi Jack,

I don't think the axis of rotation has to do with stride at all. In fact, you can have plenty of weight shift with no stride whatsoever. Load / unload is less of a stride and more of strech / unstrech muscles during the load process which shifts the COG or axis of rotation. The COG in elite swings of today and past (supported by video) show the axis of rotation at an angular (shifted forward) position, and NOT a straight line in the dirt from the head through the spine and out the butt. Some are more forward than others, but I will submit there are plenty of videos where you almost see the back foot lifting off the ground all together (i.e. Griffey, Aaron, etc.) the axis is shifted forward.

If you have the (Merry go Round Syndrome) -- spinning like a revolving door, AND the hinge angle of the cocked hands are kept fixed through contact (as they should) then the bat head will never get off of the Merry go round and cut across the ball. Whereas if the axis of rotation is shifted forward, the "hook" as you describe will naturally unhinge through contact and the bat head will power through the ball....it is un-natural to stay on the "Merry go Round" with the swinging gate.

Thanks for listening. <<<

Hi Coach Steven

I will soon start a thread addressing some of the problems that I have with the concept of “weight shift.” For 18 years, I to taught my batters that shifting their weight forward to a firm front leg is where much of the energy for their swing came from. But, I now find that video analysis of high level swings presents many questions to that teaching.

The same is true for the negative connotations surrounding the term “spinning,” or the (Merry go Round Syndrome), as you put it. Like most other coaches, I taught the “swinging gate” concepts I found in Jim Leferbvre’s book and discouraged them from rotating about the center of their body. But now, after studying overhead views of 125 MLB hitters, I find myself wondering how many of those Kids I may have screwed up.

You state, “If you have the (Merry go Round Syndrome) -- spinning like a revolving door, AND the hinge angle of the cocked hands are kept fixed through contact (as they should) then the bat head will never get off of the Merry go round and cut across the ball.”

Sorry to say, I no longer have those overhead views I taped from games in the old Astro Dome. I discarded them at the completion of my study. However, I will post a couple overhead clips I do have. These clips were developed for different subjects but they closely represent the axis of rotation I saw in most high level swings. Note whether you see them rotating around their front side, like a “swinging gate,” or, would you say they are rotating about their spines, like a “revolving door?”

overhead of CHP by Brian

Rose hook in handpath

Jack Mankin