Posted by: Doug () on Sun Dec 21 10:29:38 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.
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> > 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..
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> 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.
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> 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.

Good points by Lamber. A-Rod hits this way because he feels comfortable doing it this way and he is extremely successful doing it this way. He is very talented and has the ability to do just about whatever he wants in all aspects of his game. Frank Thomas has tried to become more rotational in the past couple of years, but was very successful for ten years with a Hriniak technique. They are both exceptions, and they do it differently than most players. They both have what great hitters with power have, and that is ability and strength. Would I teach their technique?.....no, but it does not make it wrong. There is a lot more to hitting than just mechanics....talent plays a huge roll. I have four real good pics of A-Rod in the Vegas home run derby, and at impact, he has a some felex in his lead leg and then straightens it out at extension. The other 14 guys have their lead leg straight at impact.

Doug