Posted by: toti (dd) on Tue Dec 30 00:44:14 2003

What is this bottom hand guiding bat and top hand lending the power some are writing about. How can the top hand palm up with the elbow riding the hip be creating the power in the swing. How do you see the hands working in the swing.

Top hand going back(THT) WHILE your body goes forward will prevent you from going linear with hands and disconnecting upper from lower body. no matter how much torque or separation you can achieve, all this energy will dissipate if your hands disconnect and go from back to front. There should be a last second move back of the hands to connect with upperbody and create the smooth rotational holly grail.

It is true though, when i am strong at the beginning of my sessions, i am able to impart THT and it is unbelievable the amount of force i can generate with that move. THT imparts batspeed early in the swing, this energy, coupled with the proper lower upper body kinetic chain produce immense power. However in pitches middle in it is almost useless. I stand near the plate so for me THT is not very usefull. I am looking middle in until two strikes, i practice turning on the inside pitch over and over so at times i think i go linear but i try hard at staying connected and turn smoothly. However, that initial top hand pull back is good anyway to create the slack or delay for the upper torso to engage the hands in rotation even for the middle in pitch.

Hope i can help.