Posted by: Jimmy () on Tue Feb 26 07:02:20 2008

> > let's hear it!!
>
>
> George,
>
> Kind of a general question, don't you think? Alot, depends upon pitch location. Basically lets start with the bat angle. The bat, at contact has to be in a position that will allow a ball to be hit to RF. Obviously, I would prefer not to hit a ball on the inside part of the plate to RF, but if I am forced to in order to move a runner over I need to get my hands inside the ball and turn the bat in my hands until the angle of the bat will drive the ball to RF, hard to do. Now if the pitch is middle - away it is a little easier. I would start my swing like always and ride my back leg allowing the ball to get a little deeper. Keep my body behind the ball and my hands inside the ball while turning the barrel to the ball. "Inside seam Drill". The hips and shoulders will not rotate as much as they would on a ball you pull.
>
> IMO if you know what you need to do in order to hit the ball where you want to, Know what angle and where the bat needs to be, if you truly know what your hands have to do to control the bat to the proper angle, they will and your body will do what it has to do in order to prepare itself for the task.
>
> IMO the hands control the bat, they provide the quickness, they provide the "go". They also, control the angle and set the plane. The hips power the swing but the hands control it.
>
> I know that some people on this site will disagree with me. They will say the hips and shoulders control the swing. If that is so, then I say take your hands out of the swing and try to hit with your hips and shoulders. The bat will just lay on the ground. The only thing in contact with the bat is the hands. The hands start everything.
>
> Graylon

Graylon,

Very well said!

Jimmy