Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Feb 10 09:23:26 2004

>>> I agree with the back-side through the front-side terminolgy, I find it helpful in teaching the BHT Jack has described. As far as the legs go for me....get the swing plane right and the legs do the right thing.....problem I see is that most don't have the swing plane right placing the legs into the act of compensation (for balance). However, if one was having success with driving the back knee down, I'd stick with it, especially if my buddy RQL is likes it.

Had a youngster tell me the other day....you know what it's not front-side or back-side, it's shoulders as a unit. I said "exactly!" this is coming from a kid who used to pull the bat with his front side, by trying to turn the lead shoulder back or by pulling the lead arm. It's not always as simple, but in this particular case, we worked (in slow motion) the act of driving the backside throught the front and feeling the bat-head release, through BHT. The transformation has been miraculous for him. We never talked about the legs. Bat/Shoulders must work as a unit in my opinion.....same plane. So I think that on lower pitches there will be some spine tilt....certainly more than would be on a high pitch. Bonds definitly does this!

Think shoulders/bathead same plane....get BHT torque right to feel the bathead release (as Jack has stated) and the legs will work correctly. <<<

Hi Coach C

Well stated. The ultimate purpose of all swing mechanics is to apply forces to the bat that generate maximum acceleration of the bat-head into a predicable swing plane. If accelerating the bat-head is not foremost in the batters practice sessions, he may wind up with good hip and shoulder rotation but a bat that lags behind. --- "Of what use is a 1000 HP engine .. if the transmission slips."

Jack Mankin