Posted by: Coach c () on Thu Dec 18 17:51:05 2003

> > Jack,
> >
> > I've find this post one of your best. I have long felt that under a pressure situation that I would be more inclined to rely more on THT, and less on BHT. I find the swing plane is more consistant and adjustments to pitch location far easier with this particular swing. I don't know if this makes sense to you. I swing the bat like you swing that darn golf club quite frankly. A couple of questions for you:
> >
> > Would you say that A-Rod and McGwire are more likely to hit the ball further in front, due to the wider swing arc?.
> >
> > Due to the wider swing arc, do you believe there is any power loss or possibly more? Or put another way....which style has more batspeed prior to contact?
> >
> > Additionally I have noticed that in batting practice I am much more aggressive with my swing, which sometimes has the trail hand pulling back so far that it often times brings the trail arm elbow further back before it returns to the side. However, in competion the move is much more under control. This is why I say for me...80% is a good feel. Is it that I'm 80% on the THT, but the rest of the swing is on auto-pilot?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Coach C
> >
> >
>
> There is no questin that there is more batspeed with the wider arc. Problem is, it takes too long to get up to speed. Major league pitching requires a hitter to be quicker than the full extension swing allows. Therefore, most mlb hitters hit with the elbow slotted. We're back to the bat quickness v batspeed question.
>
> Mac and Griffey are a couple of the few mlb hitters that tried to get extension and remain rotational. Arod tries for extension but he's a combination of linear and rotational.
>
> High strike outs are one of the main problems with the extension swing.
>
> However, Mac did hit a few a long way.

I feel much quicker with the extension model, but my question is it giving up batspeed.

I do not think A-Rod is linear, in fact I consider him as good a rotational hitter as there is...High average, High Power, High OB%, etc....this could not be done with linear mechanics at all in my opinion. The big key is his top hand pulls back, which engages the front side for the rotational swing. Do you believe he's linear because he goes to the ball?
>

Coach C