Posted by: Melvin () on Mon Aug 25 20:40:15 2003

Jack I have seen on the message board that the swing is a slight upercut by the great hitters. I was always taught to focus on the top half of the ball. What do the great hitters focus on when rotating to the ball ? I hope you don't say I see the ball I hit the ball. 90% of the young hitters I have worked with when they swing and miss are under the ball, I have always told them to focus on the top half and it seems to resolve the problem. I guess I am struggling on what to tell those same kids that appear to be under it but yet they are suppose to be swinging up at it.

Hi

Swing plane is a product of posture when rotation begins. The hands have nothing to do with it. Or said a better way, if you are depending on the hands to set swing plane, the swing plane won't really matter because a hands-controlled swing won't ever generate the bat speed needed to hit consistently.

You don't stand there and try to manipulate the bat like a magic wand onto the path of the ball.

Which I suspect is what is happening with the person who first put the message.

In teaching children, swing plane is a minor point. Most of them need to learn to rotate the bat into an impact bag. Then you can work on posture, which will set the swing plane, and it should be slightly up from the moment the front shoulder begins rotating around toward the catcher.

If a child has good rotation, correct posture and some talent, the swing plane will take care of itself

If those mechanics aren't there, forget swing plane. It won't do anyone any good.

You can't stand there and say "They are missing under, so they need to swing down." It's more complicated than that.

Melvin