Posted by: larry briody (ljbriody1@aol.com) on Sat Nov 1 06:25:54 2003

>I would define “bat lag” as when the angular displacement of the bat-head does not stay in sync with body rotation (and forward advancement of the hands). The more the hands advance with a static bat, the farther the batter gets behind the power curve. --- Therefore, anyone who advocates keeping the body and bat-head quiet while quickly thrusting the hands forward is certainly not teaching the swing mechanics exhibited by the best hitters.
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> > > Jack Mankin
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> > >>> Jack
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> > Please expand on your statement. "The more the hands advance with a static bat" can be interpreted in different ways. Are the hands moving due to rotation? Or, are they moving on their own? What is considered a static bat? Barrel not arching? Or bat completely still?
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> > Help me out here. I hate the English language when it comes to discussing hitting. <<<
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> > Hi Teacherman
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> > By a “static bat” I am referring to the bat sliding (knob) first with little angular bat-head acceleration. It makes little difference if the hands are advancing from body rotation or just the extension of the arms. The farther the bat slides forward without attaining angular acceleration of the bat-head – the farther the batter gets behind the power curve and the weaker the results.
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> > Jack Mankin
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> Jack,
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> I'm starting to understand some of our differences. I'm going to speak in simple terms. When I feel fast hands my hands are on a circular path to the ball, but I try to feel that my hands are riding below my lead elbow and staying very close to the body. My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that you advocate keep the lead elbow down. If you say "no" to the lead elbow down, then the front side connection you advocate is not normally possible. This also may explain why I preach sit to hit and you may not. Clarify your postion for me on these issues, I don't want to misinterpret you in any way. Bonds hits with short arms....does he not? There is no way to hit with short arms if the circular hand path is geared to come over the lead arm. That's a long swing in my book. Please explain. I do want fast shoulders but is it a good swing cue to feel the lead elbow above the ball, during your swing? Giambi and Edmonds exagerate this move if you ask me.
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> Coach C
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>Coach C,
I have seldom heard you speak in "simple terms" other than to acknowledge a long and well thought out response to a query of yours.

From the information on this site, it fits that you feel fast hands when they take a circular path to the ball while riding below your lead elbow and staying close to your body.

From my reading ,the front side connection advocated here is to keep your front arm tight to your chest until contact.I f you try to perform this maneuver with your lead elbow down ,the result would be a terrible swing.

I believe this site advocates that if the hitter takes a step, he/she should stride on to a well flexed front knee and that the lead knee should straighten at contact.This sounds alot like"sit to hit" and then "getting out of the chair" but I fail to see the connection between the position of your lead elbow and the fact that you"preach sit to hit".

I don't know if it is a good swing cue to "feel the lead elbow above the ball" but within the context of the rotational swing,it is probably not a good idea to swing at a pitch where the lead elbow is below the ball for several obvious reasons.

If by chance that Teacherman reads these comments,would he please contact me.