Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: Pro_Hitter (andygreen29@hotmail.com) on Sat Nov 1 12:22:27 2003

Hi All,

I just wanted to speak to the subject of bat lag one more time. I think I have caused some confusion with the concept of "shaft to shoulder" in a swing. I use this as a checkpoint when looking at video tape and we must remember that when we pause the swing to see this concept illustrated in "every" quality major league swing, it does not mean that the hands are now travelling on a different path. At this exact time when this principle is illustrated, the bat head is flat (in relation to the ground) but it is still travelling with angular displacement (i think I'm using that term correctly). The hands of a good hitter are in now way sliding forward at this time. Essentially, the "shaft to shoulder" concept is a snapshot in the middle of the swing and not the initiation point of the swing. As far as this goes, I feel like I'm on the same page as what I'm reading Jack saying (Jack, don't let me put words in your mouth here though). Jack, if you do have differences or questions with what I've described here, let me know.

andy

>>> How does this reconcile with Pro Hitters version of bat lag? He says the shaft needs to stay close to the shoulder as if it was pressed against it. He uses Bonds as an example and I see what he's talking about. Seems to me the bat is sliding then while the shoulders are rotating. <<<

Hi

I am not able to characterize Andy’s position on bat lag until he and I have a chance to clarify our differences – if any exist. --- Barry Bonds has his hands coming toward the back-shoulder as he initiates rotation. Therefore, the bat will of course be close to the shoulder as he rotates. But his bat is far from sliding linearly. Anyone viewing his swing should easily note the bat-head starting to accelerate in an arc back toward the catcher well before (during pre-launch) the swing is initiated. This is how he is able to keep the bat-head accelerating in sync with his body rotation so that the bat will be brought to contact as shoulder rotation is depleted. This is not the case when a batter extends hands while the bat-head trails behind.

Jack Mankin

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> Hi All,
> 
> I just wanted to speak to the subject of bat lag one more time.  I think I have caused some confusion with the concept of "shaft to shoulder" in a swing.  I use this as a checkpoint when looking at video tape and we must remember that when we pause the swing to see this concept illustrated in "every" quality major league swing, it does not mean that the hands are now travelling on a different path.  At this exact time when this principle is illustrated, the bat head is flat (in relation to the ground) but it is still travelling with angular displacement (i think I'm using that term correctly).  The hands of a good hitter are in now way sliding forward at this time.  Essentially, the "shaft to shoulder" concept is a snapshot in the middle of the swing and not the initiation point of the swing.  As far as this goes, I feel like I'm on the same page as what I'm reading Jack saying (Jack, don't let me put words in your mouth here though).  Jack, if you do have differences or questions with what I've described here, let me know.
> 
> andy
> 
> >>> How does this reconcile with Pro Hitters version of bat lag? He says the shaft needs to stay close to the shoulder as if it was pressed against it. He uses Bonds as an example and I see what he's talking about. Seems to me the bat is sliding then while the shoulders are rotating. <<< 
> 
> Hi 
> 
> I am not able to characterize Andy’s position on bat lag until he and I have a chance to clarify our differences – if any exist. --- Barry Bonds has his hands coming toward the back-shoulder as he initiates rotation. Therefore, the bat will of course be close to the shoulder as he rotates. But his bat is far from sliding linearly. Anyone viewing his swing should easily note the bat-head starting to accelerate in an arc back toward the catcher well before (during pre-launch) the swing is initiated. This is how he is able to keep the bat-head accelerating in sync with his body rotation so that the bat will be brought to contact as shoulder rotation is depleted. This is not the case when a batter extends hands while the bat-head trails behind. 
> 
> Jack Mankin

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