Posted by: THE HITTING GURU () on Thu Jul 24 09:42:28 2003

If your bat is cocked or centered at toe touch as it should be then the top hand is weak in this position. I believe that some people do things so well that it is unconsciece. I believe Ted Williams bottom hand loaded and unloaded with the shoulder perfectly and he probably didn't have to focus on it. His mental key was probably his top hand which I would not teach. I say Gwynn is right based on video work done in this era. Some players say they key on hitting their top hand through the center of the ball. If that action can really happen then it occurs late in the sequence after the bottom hand has loaded back and lead into the zone. OR they might be getting rear elbow extension at impact.
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> "If your bat is cocked or centered at toe touch as it should be then the top hand is weak in this position."
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> sorry, this is incorrect info....whether top or bottom hand is dominent depends on which side of the plate you hit from and i you are a natural lefty or righty...natural right handers hitting right handed = top hand dominence...natural right hander hitting left handed = bottom hand dominence...


There are no absolutes. In the case of Ken Griffey Jr. he is a natural lefthander but his right hand is more dominant through flat hands during his extension. And through this extension at the point of contact he has power to all fields. The same can be shown through the extension and one arm release of Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez.