Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Sep 4 22:45:05 2003

>>> Followed discussions for many months. Purchased Final Arc II a few months ago.

Problem: son is popping everything up. Out of 100 bp swings, he will pop up on 80+. We've taped his bp. Looks as though bat is descending in front of his body and thus descending as bat enters plane of ball.

Elbow: his HS coach told him to "drive front elbow down and in." Is that what is causing him to pop up? I know he is not dropping his head or lowering his body as he swings.

Question: where should front elbow be as his hands begin to circle into plane of ball? More importantly, how do I work with him to keep from popping up? <<<

Hi dmadox

I wish I could see his coach demonstrate what he means. In a good swing, the lead-arm (straigh or bent)is always in the plane of the swing from initiation to contact. Therefore, the lead-elbow will always be pointing into the plane. You can determine the plane by taking your batting stance and extending the lead-arm (palm down) toward the contact point. Then, keeping the palm down, swing the lead-hand up to the back shoulder. Then swing it back. The bat and lead-elbow should be on an up-slope before contact. That is the plane the bat, lead-arm and elbow should follow.

The swing plane will extend up to the bat in the launch position. A frontal view of the batter at initiation should show the bat in-line with the lead-arm (from the elbow to the shoulder). If the bat is above or below that plane at initiation, waves in the swing plane are likely to result in inconsistent contact.

The lead-elbow will roll down-and-in to the side. But that will occur well after contact to allow the follow-through to sweep up and back. If the lead-elbow lowers down and in before contact, the results you describe are very likely to take place. It can also lead to other problems such as a premature rolling of the wrist.

Jack Mankin