Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Jan 26 15:04:38 2008

>>> Sorry for the aggressive post earlier, I was having a bad morning. Jack, I want you to know that I have learned a lot from your findings as well as Teachermans. I have also, learned a great deal from Mike Epstein.

I personally, no offense intended, could care less who has determined what happens in the swing. I try to take what works for me and my students and teach it, I never take credit for what I teach, even if it is something that I have never seen before, because just because I havn't seen it done doesn't mean it has not been done.

I don't always agree with you or Teacherman. I try to make up my own mind as to what feels right.

One thing that I have seen happen is a lot of MLB hitters use "linear" cues. So, I ask myself why. Maybe in there minds they want to create a straight line to the ball but the turning of the bat and hips will not allow this. But maybe there is a reason they use these cues, thinking about a straight line to the ball gets there hands started early, which gets there hips opening early, while allowing them some resistance in there shoulders. I know that they can't take there hands straight to the ball because of the hips and shoulders turning but maybe the attempt to keep them straight adds resistance to the shoulders, creating more seperation and that same straight line along with the turning of the shoulders shortens the distance between the lead shoulder and bottom hand and the aggressive turning of the bat in the hands causes the barrel to be thrown through the zone. I'm kind of rambling but it is very difficult to desribe what I feel when I hit, it is much easier to explain in person.

What is your opinion about MLB players linear cues? Even if they hit different then they desribe, there has to be something to it.<<<

Hi Graylon

I can understand why you would not be interested in who determined what happens in the swing. I assume the same would be true when a person flips on a light switch. Why should they care who spent years developing the light bulb, they just want the room lit.

You ask, “What is your opinion about MLB players linear cues? Even if they hit different then they desribe, there has to be something to it.”

I would say the main reason they describe their swings with linear cues is because those are the only cues they ever heard. I seriously doubt any of them were taught hitting from the batting principle or cues discussed on this or Epstein’s site.

Keep in mind Graylon, that Ted Williams' teaching was shunned by the MLB coaching community because his book did not adhere to the linear cues they taught.

Jack Mankin