Posted by: Coach C () on Mon Oct 20 11:55:47 2003

> Coach-
>
> What I(personal/idiosyncratically) look for in terms of 'tht"/loading
> is whether the hitter exhibits the "universal" back arm sequence/
> bat cock/uncock sequence and how they synchronize the back
> arm and stride leg action.
>
> Tejada and Aaron exagerrate things more than Mac,but they all
> internally rotate the back arm,then scap load,then externally
> rotate the back arm toward the slot without losing scap load/
> without lettting the back arm disconnect/lget loose by
> undesirable action of flexors or adductors.They all synchronize
> the back arm and lead leg extrernal rotation well.They all have
> the bat "centered"(good positioning) and uncocking (torquing/
> tht/accelerating back toward catcher) as the front heel
> drops(before launch).
>
> One thing I have noticed in Bonds now as compared to early
> 90's is he synchronizes upper and lower body better now.Many
> hitters are now benefitting from emulating his arm/bat cock/
> uncock action/sequence.
>
> THT is not scap loading.Back scap loading assists in coking the
> bat.Back arm external rotation and lead arm internal rotation
> create pre-launch tht.Pull via bottom hand further accelerates tht
> at launch.If launch interrupts load the way you want it to,the
> handpath starts perpendicular as described by jack.Front scap
> loading happens to finalize conection just prior to "launch"/
> handpath initiation via pull of well connected (lead arm internally
> rotated,lead scap loaded)bottom hand.

Tom Thanks.

Although internally rotating the back arm occurs, my sense is the lead arm is responsible for this internal rotation. I feel the lead hand pushing on the handle, while the top hand is slave. Kind of like throwing a frisbee and getting the throwing hand in motion (out to in during pre-launch, then in to out during the throw. This is not to say that THT can not occur with the pull of the top hand on the handle, but that does not work for me. In fact I would go so far as to say that THT is easily accomplished by taking the forefinger and thumb of the top hand off the bat during the entire swing (beginning to end). I think the forefinger and thumb of the top hand can do nothing good in a baseball swing. It's these fingers that must remain dormant in the swing to act as a fulcrum for the handle to hinge properly through the ball. When I hit, often times these fingers will be off the bat. I want to feel the bottom three fingers of the top hand during the swing. One of my favorite players to watch is Lance Berkman, who I've captured actually pointing the forefinger off the bat during the entire swing.

If the mechanics are right, the top-hand forefinger and thumb, need not ever touch the bat.............Agree or disagree? Just like we swing a hammer.

Thanks

Coach C