Posted by: Coach C () on Mon Dec 29 13:57:48 2003

>>> It is impossible to launch from the position he launches from without having linear hands/arms. <<<
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> > > > > Hi Lamber
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> > > > > In regards to your statement above, there is an important question you must ask yourself. – If forces Arod’s hands/arms applies to the bat are linear (straight and inline forward) during launch, what is causing the bat-head to accelerate in an arc back toward the catcher?
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> > > > > This would also be a good time for you to answer a question I asked earlier that you failed to respond to. – “Can you (or Paul) explain how a linear force applied to a bat will induce angular displacement of the bat-head?”
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> > > > > Jack Mankin
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> > > > I have followed this thread with interest. Lamber, you mentioned that there is a difference of 2-3 ft in the contact point. I disagree, as I have 4 extremely good clips of Rodriguez pulling the ball, and he is making contact just a little in front of his lead foot. I have over a 100 clips of Bonds, and actually can find some where he is making a good swing and pulling the ball where he is up to 8-10" in front of his lead foot. Bonds, in the past 3-4 years has moved farther from the plate......he was at one time about 3" from the plate and now is about 8-9" off. A-Rod is about 13-15" off the plate. Bonds made the move, because at the time, his only weakness was a little up and on the inside corner.....he now has that handled.
> > > > I feel that A-Rod is a glider who is a rotational hitter. We can put a bunch of rules out that say this and that has to be done or you are not rotational, but that is just arguing for the sake of arguing. For someone to say that A-Rod would be better if he changed is just a wild guess....he is the best hitting shortstop of all time, and if he stays healthy, his stats will prove it. Jack, doesn't the bat head accelerate back towards the catcher on all swings? Where else would the bathead go? A-Rod also will many times make contact with his back foot off the ground too, which means that he has transfered weight over to the front side and was not striding to a balanced position and then rotating. He also has a flexed lead leg at contact.
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> > > > Doug
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> > > Doug,
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> > > It is impossible for a hitter who has his elbow slotted and a hitter who lets his elbow loose (extends to the ball) to hit the same pitch at the same contact point at the right time in their swing. The difference can be up to 2-3'.
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> > > Always remember, pitch location and speed have to be considered when studying clips. Location is usually easy to determine. Speed is not.
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> > Lamber, The 4 clips I have of A-Rod are from BP, and as a result, he is getting a good pitch to hit and there is no deception going on. His right elbow is slotted and it is not extended at contact. THe difference between him and the other 14 players on position of contact is negligible.I think that you have the same disc.
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> > Doug
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> Not only should one be cautious when viewing clips that the pitch location and speed are unkown but also be cautious of bp and especially HR derby clips. They aren't the same as game swings.

When viewing the mechanics of the swing.... the same fundamental principles that would be seen in a game swing are very clear in BP or a home run derby. This is my opinion of course. The only difference is the level of effort changes. In other words, my swing at 40 MPH pitch speed is the same at 90 MPH pitch speed. I am constantly harping on kids the notion that the BP swing is the game swing. We don't train a BP swing and then change it for the game. They are the same. Same level of effort, same length of stride, same level of tension, same level of success. Normally excessive effort level is the culprit when viewing bad game swings, this includes not getting a good pitch to hit and swinging at c**p.

I'm jumping around now, but hitters need to be trained to hit out of box, not trying to beat the ball to them. Over the last several years, I personally can say that the biggest fundamental change I've made is to let the ball come to me. I see the ball big all the time and even in BP won't swing at a bad pitch. Almost everyone I watch hit, Minor leagues, College, JUCO, High School, Travel Ball, Rec-League, T-ball, etc make a move to the ball, which is death to a hitter against expert pitching. In fact, I'd bet almost everyone on this sight makes the same move, but is unaware of it. Hitting is not easy to be sure, but the difficulty is 10 fold when we try to get to the ball before it gets to us. Linear issues (head past center) can not be resolved, until the hitter's perception changes of the ball. We all may think we're rotational and subscribe to the theories, but it's application is evasive because human instintcs tell a great athelete to get to the ball, before it get's to us.

And another thing......just kidding!


Quiet the legs (don't drive with them, but steer), swing with a still head and let the ball come to us (the biggest one and the hardest to master).

Get those right and you have Barry Bonds

Coach C