Posted by: Jack Mankin (Batspeed@verizon.net) on Mon Jan 7 08:34:26 2013

Does a video analysis of the best fastpitch softball hitter's mechanics support, or reject, the value of an elevated back-elbow? I address this question with my analysis of good fastpitch hitter's swings.
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Hi All

Whether to have the back-elbow elevated or lowered to the batter's side as the swing is being initiated does not appear to be an "Linear vs Rotational" issue. I find coaches from both camps with varying opinions on this topic. Before I render my opinion, I would first like to make some observations regarding the bat's trajectory around the swing plane and how it relates to this topic.

High Back-Elbow – Good or Bad

As I pointed out in the videos above, whether or not lowering an elevated elbow is beneficial or an unnecessary movement depends on the batter's initiation mechanics. The average hitter's mechanics induces little rearward bat acceleration. The better hitter's gain significant rearward bat speed as the elbow lowers.

Therefore, for a player to reach their maximum potential at the plate, I find an elevated elbow to be a beneficial (if not essential) element of the swing. In our Instructional Video ”The Final Arc ll”, we refer to the mechanic that accelerates the bat-head rearward as THT (Top-Hand-Torque). We define the mechanics as THT because the top-hand must apply a rearward force to torque the bat-head rearward.
Note: Below are links to the “Linear - Do's & Don'ts" hitting concepts we address in this “Fastpitch Hitting Series.”
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Linear "Do's & Don'ts"

* Introduction – Why This Fastpitch Series?

* "Weight Shift" -- Don't "Spin"

* "Pop Your Hips" - but - "Keep Your Shoulder In-There"
* High Back Elbow – Good or Bad?

* "Don't Cast" -- "Keep Your Hands In-side The Ball"

* ”Get Your Arms Extended”

* "Swing Down" -- "Keep The Bat-Head Above The Ball"

* "Rise Ball" "Don't Hit Around The Ball" "Swing Through The Ball"
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I will make the links above live as soon as they are available

Jack Mankin
Batspeed.com