Posted by: Dave P (cdpaetkau@telus.net) on Fri Feb 15 10:37:13 2008

> Hi George
>
> Physics principles do govern the efficiency of a batter’s mechanics to transfer his energy into the angular acceleration on his bat. Although you often use the term “Physics” in your posts, I cannot recall a single time where you use a physics law to support your batting theories.
>
> You state, “i have trouble getting 19 and 20 year olds to figure out the science of physics and how it relates to swinging a bat at a baseball.” -- Please define the laws of physics you are referring to and how they “relate to swinging a bat at a baseball.”
>
> Jack Mankin

Dear Jack

Jack this is why you get in trouble sometimes. A nice father of two baseball boys asks a question and in stead of answering him you go off on a tangent with someone who is trying to answer the original question. You do not agree with him so answer the same question he tried to answer in your words first then go on to refute what he is saying.

For the dad here is my take. The science of the swing is not as important to the player as the feeling of the swing. With your 9 year old try to get him to feel the rotational swing by taking swings with his eyes closed and open. Most of the time the reason it is hard to abandon trained movements is because success (hitting the ball)comes faster this way then the new way. I tell my students that when you learn a new movement hitting the ball is not important but doing the right movement. Hitting involves technique (movement) and hand-eye coordination (putting the bat to the ball). If you change the movement it changes your body position so the hands and eyes must have time to adjust to the technique before they coordinate. This can be a very short time or if a big body change a longer time. The longer you practice the technique the way you want it to be the easier the eye-hand coordination it becomes.

Let your son know missing the ball is ok and have him learn to do the technique and adjust to hit the ball. The easier you make it to hit the ball (lighter bat and bigger ball) the faster the learning process.

Keep working and keep it fun.

Dave P