Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Aug 25 00:17:43 2000

>>>I have heard you mention checking the swing plane and lead arm. I wanted to know if by "below the lead arm" (barrel at contact) if your taken into consideration the lower strike zone?

I belief you are talking about the approach (lowering the forearm to soon, etc.). My interpretation is at actual contact the barrel will often be lower than the lead arm/elbow, but still within the swing plane from start to finish (lead arm/elbow). <<<

Hi Shawn

The bat can be thought of as an extension of the lead arm. On pitchs lower than the shoulders, the bat-head should be inline with the lead-arm and therefore lower than the hands. --- Your interpretation of the plane at contact is the same as mine. And with a good swing, you will find that the lead arm will always be in that plane from initiation to contact. If at initiation the correct forces are applied to the bat, it will also be accelerated into that plane. But if forces are applied that cause the bat-head to accelerate in a more vertical angle, you will see the bat-head falling below the plane of the lead arm. The natural reaction of the bat is to then accelerate upward toward the swing plane. This sine wave action of the bat to the swing plane causes a loss of power and consistency.

Shawn, a video of your swing taken from the pitchers mound will allow you to see if you are applying forces that will accelerate the bat-head straight into the swing plane. --- When applying top-hand-torque, the bat-head must be pulled toward the catcher and in-line with the lead arm.

Jack Mankin