Posted by: Doug () on Mon Aug 4 23:05:32 2003

>>> I try not to separate the swing from the follow thru though top speed should be at or just before contact.If you think of the follow thru and when to coast you will have trouble exploding through contact. <<<
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> > > Hi RQL
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> > > I understand your point that we would not want the bat to decelerate before the ball has left the bat. But the bat only moves ¾ of an inch from contact until the ball is gone. Therefore exploding through contact is a very short distance, and of what value is expending energy after the ball is gone. So this is another place where timing plays an important role. For maximum effect, you can’t peak too soon – or too late.
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> > > PS: Obviously, a lumberjack does not explode through contact with a tree. He has expended all energy and his hands are motionless at contact. But then, he does not have to worry about timing a fastball. He is swinging at a still object. Much like a batter swinging at a heavy bag or tire.
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> > > Jack Mankin
> > > Jack ,I really did'nt mean explode through contact,I just meant don't think about follow thru or separate it, we have to focus on the ball,often kids are thinking too much when they should be reacting,in drills I remind them to be at 100%by contact,and let the follow thru come as it may.
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> One thing I have found that is a great teaching tool is the sound of the "swoosh" that the bat makes and it's location during a dry swing.
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> It can teach you alot about whether the energy was released out the end of the bat at the right time. Many many kids (most) when they dry swing will have the swoosh sound out in front of their lead knee. This is very late batspeed. This sound, if you're reaching max batspeed at the right time, should be at/near contact. Much deeper in the zone than most kids swings have it.
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> The real key is finding a way to teach them this. They need to create earlier batspeed so the swoosh is in the right spot. I don't have the complete answer but it starts with proper connection and rotation and getting the arm pull/push out of the swing. As the arms pull/push/disconnect the swoosh moves forward. Somehow they have to learn to stop this.

>>>Good points by all. My feeling is the same as you guys.....to have max bat speed at contact, but as Jack says the ball is only on the bat for a bit, so timing is important. If you can create max bat speed going into contact, and then continue it for a few more inches into follow through, you are taking care of the probability that you are not going to be on the money with your timing every swing. If you don't accellerate through contact, you are taking the chance that you will be decellerating at contact. If you are good enough to time the ball and hit it at max bat speed, you sure don't need us. I would like to see the player maintain his top bat speed for at least a foot, and that is what I work with on my own son. A guy takes a little off his fastball and if you are decellerating, you won't get the good result. Get to max bat speed before impact and keep it going through impact. There are not many hitters with 100% perfect timing. Use you edges where you can get them.

Doug