Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sun Dec 21 10:12:28 2003

>>> How do you hook the handpath and at the same time unfold the elbows?
<<<
> >
> > Hi Lamber
> >
> > I am assuming the “unfold the elbows” relates to the extension of the arms.
--- The un-flexing (arm straightened) of the lead-elbow should occur early in
the swing or the flex should remain through contact. Un-flexing the elbow to
extend the hands toward contact only produces negative results (straightens
the hand-path and reduces the hook effect and BHT with no pluses).
> >
> > Extending the back-elbow also reduces the amount of bat speed that can
be obtained from the hook and BHT. But, by applying THT, that reduction is
offset by the bat speed gained from a wider hand-path and THT applied over
a greater portion of the swing. --- Early bat-head acceleration gained from
applying THT allows the batter to maintain a high rate of angular
displacement even with the wider hand-path.
> >
> > So Arod’s (and others) mechanics makes a tradeoff. Lower BHT but
higher THT. – Less hook effect but more bat speed from the wider hand-path.
The same would be true for Bonds and Sosa on outside pitches.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >
>
> The wider handpath is the center of our disagreement. I call it linear as a
hitter extends his arms in a "to the ball" fashion. You call it more THT and less
BHT.
>
> Isn't THT the act of pulling the bat/barrel toward the catcher. I don't extend
my arms when I use THT. I don't associate extension of the arms (forward) as
a THT movement. Arod is pushing toward the pitcher with his top hand. Or at
least toward the ball..
>
> And, your statement "the same would be true for Bonds and Sosa on
outside pitches" raises the question..."why does Arod do it on every pitch".
They only do it on outside pitches.
>
> And the answer is....this is more than a difference in amounts of THT and
BHT. These two groups of hitters hit with different techniques. Arod is a good
example of a linear upper half. Bonds and Sosa are rotational both upper
and lower.

My interpretation is that "linear" usually means there is disconnection/
deceleration before contact because the radius of the center of rotation of the
center of mass of the bat lengthens instead of remaining corcular or
shortening.It would relaly help to see all these players on video fron the
overhead view or orthogonal to the swingplane with either batspeed
mesurement or enough frames persecong video that deceleration could be
seen(1000 frames persecond seems the max in most scientific work).

I would guess Arod and Bonds are both rotational in this sense with Bonds
being quicker.I also would guess that Bonds does NOT tradeoff much in terms
of maximum batspeed.

What are John Elliott's numbers ?