Posted by: () on Sun Sep 7 06:15:22 2003

>>> Followed discussions for many months. Purchased Final Arc II a few months ago.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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? <<<
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> Hi dmadox
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Jack Mankin
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Good stuff.