Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Aug 6 00:34:15 2000

>>>What type of drills can I use to allow my players to develop and feel this proper swing? <<<

Hi Marc

Welcome to the site. I sincerely wish I knew of a few drills that would allow your players to learn rotational mechanics. And your right, it does have a completely different feel. Most players have never experienced the pull of a highly accelerated bat-head. But to develop the mechanics that produces that loose ever-accelerating sensation takes more than a couple of drills can deliver.

The quickest way to develop good mechanics is to first have a good understanding of the forces acting on the bat that causes the bat-head to accelerate. Once your players have a grasp of those forces, then they will understand the mechanics that supply them. I have found it best to have the batter learn how to accelerate the bat-head with a circular hand-path (top hand only). They should not apply torque or drive the hand forward but learn how to transfer the bodies rotational energy to accelerate the bat head. When they have become proficient at staying loose and accelerating the bat smoothly from the hand-path, I let them start adding a little torque to the swing from the pull of the lead arm (supplied by shoulder rotation).

Watch that they don't tense-up or try to force the hands forward. That will kill the continuity of the swing. --- I have the batter expend the bats energy into a heavy bag. I can then tell if he has expended all bat speed producing forces by contact. The body should then be in a balanced and relaxed mode. I can then point out his contact form.

Note: If the bag were not there, it would be the bats momentum that powered the follow-through -- not the batter.

Jack Mankin