Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Dec 23 16:36:54 2003

Jack Mankin's comment:

Hi All

The mechanics used at initiation is by far the most important part of the swing. How the batter develops energy for the swing and the direction of the forces he applies to the bat at this point will determine the quality of his mechanics for the balance of the swing.

"A ballistic motion, once initiated, produces trajectories that can only be efficiently changed at its margins."

Although the above bio-mechanical principle may appear complicated, once grasped, it makes understanding and teaching the mechanics of the baseball swing far more clear. The principle basically means the batter does not have to remember when to "pop his hips," "squeeze the trigger," or any of other batting mechanical principles.

Once the batter has properly initiated his swing with the correct forces, the rhythm of his ensuing mechanics are on autopilot. From his launch position to follow-through, what to do with his front toe, hips, hands, and so on, need never enter the batter's mind. Forces he applied at the start of the swing determined the sequence of the following mechanics. Now, his total concentration is on timing and getting the plane of the swing inline with the path of the ball.

When a batter initiates the swing with incorrect forces, the balance of the swing will be an exercise in compensation. The reaction of the bat to an improperly initiated swing is what causes that tense, jerky appearance.

When a player or coach uses video to review flaws in a batter¡¦s mechanics, it is imperative that the coach understands that the solution to a flaw will not be found in the frame that the flaw becomes apparent. The answer lies in the forces he used to initiated the swing.

Below are additional points to look for in a good swing.

Back elbow is lowering past the mid-way point. --- Note: The lead-knee has started rotating around toward the pitcher. All slack has been taken out of lead-arm so that any rotation of the shoulders will cause a corresponding acceleration of the hands. There is ample flex in the lead- leg to extend and help drive rotation.

Hips, torso and shoulders start their rotation around a stationary axis.

As the back-elbow lowers to the batter's side, the pulling back of the top-hand (THT) accelerates the bat-head¡¦s arc back toward the catcher and allows the wrist of the top hand to rotate in-line with the plane of the swing.

The forearm (back-arm) starts its rotation and lowering toward a horizontal position (completed in frame #5).

From this point to contact, the position of the back-elbow in relation to the body will change very little (sliding forward 1 to 3 inches) for pitches from the middle -in.

The quick acceleration of the hand-path is developed mainly from the rotation of the shoulders and torso (not from the arm muscles).

Angular bat-head acceleration will be the product (Force X Time) of constantly supplying torque and rotational energy from the body through the hands.