Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Sep 30 23:51:49 2003

>>> Jack,would you agree or disagree that the bottom hand initially pulls down and forward driven by the lead shoulder. <<<

Hi rql

I agree. Once the batter has come to the launch position, the bottom hand is pulled around from the rotation of the lead-shoulder. It is important to note that, like the top-hand, the direction of force (or pull) of the bottom-hand is also always fairly perpendicular to the length of the bat. But the top and bottom hands are always supplying force from ‘opposing’ directions.

During initiation, the top-hand is being pulled back toward the catcher as the lead-shoulder pulls the bottom-hand around toward the pitcher (THT). – As the batter rotates around toward contact (the bat displaces 180 degrees), the directions of force of the hands will reverse. The rotation of the lead-shoulder is now pulling the bottom-hand back toward the catcher as the top-hand is being driven forward (The “Hook” and BHT).

Although the bat displaced 180 degree, the direction force of both top and bottom-hand remain fairly perpendicular to the length of the bat during the swing. This is why the wrists need not flex and un-flex as much with good rotational mechanics.

Jack Mankin