Posted by: Scott (jscott1954@hotmail.com) on Mon Dec 22 19:14:13 2003

HI Scott
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> As an instructor also I too took the road to find answers to many questions. I have used rotational mechanics personally and now teach it to Fastpitch softball players. I believe that the fundementals behind rotational mechanics would greatly improve most players ability to drive the ball in the game of fastpitch but it is an uphill battle that we face. Most teachers out there have ingrained hands before hips and are interested in keeping that "bug a squishing" so making changes to a players swing take a long time to become realized.
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> I have seen research done through video analysis programs and biomechanical principals that show higher bat speeds achieved by rotational mechanics and kinematic sequencing. Look up http://www.skilltechnologies.com/ to see more research on ideal hitting techniques. Please email me for more personal information.
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> Keep researching as it is the best way to get your questions answered. Remember the day you stop learning is the day you fall behind.
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> Dave

Hey Dave,

Thanks so much the followup. I agree totally with your last statement. People always ask me why I continue to learn and teach since my youngest daughter is a senior this year. I plan to learn and teach as long as I'm above ground and anyway able, hopefully for many, many more years.

I am still trying to understand the definitions of the two - linear vs rotational. I have read and made copies of most of the postings on this site concerning it but still have a difficult time relating it to some of the fastpitch strategies in the game today. Some young ladies can hit it over but there are a lot of jsut long routine fly balls hit and caught for an out. On the stats the guys referenced about the increase in balls hit out, I would like to see the stats for strikeouts and fly outs over the same set of at bats.

I tell my players they have one task and one task only - "Hit and Hit HARD!!" One of the best hits is a low strike that is hit hard and never gains any height before hitting the seam betwen the dirt and grass and skipping into the outfield. Althought I self taught myself from Weekly's and Candrea's tapes, plus many books both softball and baseball, and attending coaching schools and clinics, I do not believe I teach a pure linear or rotational swing but a intergation of parts of both, if I understand what I am reading and I'm not sure I do YET ( but I will keep trying ). I want to understand so I can help more players become thier best.

I was thrilled to hear from someone on the softball field side of this question. Do you think the direction of delivery of the softball compared to that of a baseball; and the shorter reaction time ( the time from when the ball is released until it gets to the contact zone ) are being considered in this discussion or by anyone else? There seems to be a lot of verbage about the "hands to the ball" first creating a linear swing. Coming from Weekly and Candrea teaching, they previously said that there are 5 things that must happen in order: 1) Back hip pushes 2) front hip is moved by back hip push 3) upper torso/ shoulders move one quarter 4) front elbow extends then 5) wrist snaps through contact zone. If I understand this correctly, I don't see how the hands are in front of the hips and this seems rotational is some regard, and not linear. I was told by someone else that Weekly's teachings were strictly linear and not good. (( Kim Mahr and the 1996 USA Gold Team might not agree )

I think one of my strenghts in teaching is in the "mental mechanics". Helping the players develop " positive self-talk " - can hit mechanics and I use Brain Doyle's "Yes-Yes, No-Zone , Never-Ever" approach to hitting. The greatest swing mechanics will not help you if you do not swing and attack the pitch. But I want to teach the best I can so anything you can share on specifics of the rotational machanics being applied to softball would be greatly appreciated.

Please share more.

Scott



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