Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Aug 1 01:34:27 2003

Hi All

The board is starting a new month but I think July produced many interesting discussions. I am gratified that although there were many varying viewpoints, few took opposing views personally. This allows many readers to be enlightened by your discussions. I still plan to commit on some of the threads in this month -- Barring arm Sid Tue Jul 29 19:18:59 2003 -- & -- atn: jack: video analysis bart Tue Jul 29 13:48:07 2003.

Below is a post I am making to another interesting July thread. Go to -- Dominant Hand dougdinger Sun Jul 20 17:47:44 2003 – if you would like to read the total discussion.

Jack Mankin

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From: Dr. David Chambers

>>> Thank you for your response. I agree that the changes made by athletes is in their swing mechanics when they begin to struggle. In fact, I agree that the complexity of the swing as labeled by hitting instructors invalid. The human body does things naturally based upon the physically ability of the individual. Instructors try to take a natural movement and make changes to it without regard for the individuals strengths. My comment about the similarities of swinging a bat and throwing a ball are very well thought out and accurate. A right handed side arm throw (similar to skipping a rock across a pond) requires identical mechanics to a right handed batter. the hips begin to rotate, followed by the back elbow which pulls the hand and ball (or bat) and is more accurate. it also gives the athlete more control. Simple knowledge of neuromuscular recruitment and coordination contribute to our knowledge that we all have a side that is stronger and more coordinated than the other side. If this were not true the you, Mr. Mankin could throw a ball the same distance in any manner with either hand. We can look at video and see what ever we want to see. <<<

Hi Dr. David Chambers

In the discussions below your post, many have offered a valid argument that in the baseball swing, the back-elbow should not lead the hands as in throwing a ball. However, in fairness to you, I would point out that while doing video Swing Reviews, I have noted that a number of young hitters had the elbow lead their hands as in throwing a ball. This may have been their natural movement but it did not produce the beneficial results you indicated.

As you stated, the elbow leads and the arms pull the bat through. But the added inertia of the bat (as compared to a pebble) causes the elbow to then slide in toward the bellybutton. As the elbow and forearm slides inward, the path of the hand straightens and there is no circular hand-path as there would be in skipping a rock across a pond. This is also a weak position for the batter to apply torque to the bat and the end result is a poor baseball swing.

There is a type of sidearm throw where the elbow need not lead the hands and could resemble the top-hand movement of a hitter swinging with top-hand-torque. This could occur as a catcher makes a quick (remains facing the pitcher) sidearm throw toward first base. When throwing sidearm in this direction, the elbow is forced in toward the catcher’s side (instead of toward the pitcher) and rotates there without leading the hands. The hand starts up near the back-shoulder, then circles back and downward similar to the motion of a batter using THT.

Jack Mankin