Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Sep 18 11:45:36 2003

>>> My impression is that there are at least two successful hitting techniques being used by good major leaguers today. I think a lot has to do with where the hands start. The Charlie Lau thinking has been that every major leaguer gets to the same “launch position”. However, I don’t see it that way. I have put the following clips on my webpage:

Tejada and Pujols start with higher hands at the launch position. Tejada’s bat position in frame 23 is actually very similar to the position depicted in StepB.gif. Look at Pujols starting in frame 153 or so. Also similar to StepB.gif. My impression is that Pujols and Tejada get the bat on plane later in the swing than Bonds does. <<<

HI Nick

I would agree with Charlie. My position has always been that great hitters may exhibit many different styles in how they prepare their launch positions. However, at launch, they will all have their hands at the back-shoulder with the bat accelerating in the plane of the lead-arm. From that point to contact, their swing mechanics are basically the same.

The problem may be that Charlie and I have a different definition of the launch position than you. --- Nick, it would be helpful if you could show some frontal views of the better hitters. There are many aspects of the swing that is better viewed from that viewpoint such as the swing plane and hand(s) position at initiation. Problems with the swing plane show much better from a frontal view.

Jack Mankin