Posted by: ray porco () on Sat Apr 10 11:05:53 2004

Jack,

By wrists being weaker, I mean a physically/mechanically disadvantaged position.

Disclaimer:
First let me say to everyone that I believe you should not even attempt at hitting an outside pitch unless forced. It is a low percentage pitch to hit (see Teddy’s chart). Pitcher’s get paid millions of dollars to place the ball on the low outside corner. Good pitchers will set you up. Good pitchers will curve you to break the ball even further away. A slider, a sinker, ….Good pitchers will change you up. Good pitchers will …(you get the message). But, if you MUST, then by all means do not try to pull it.

Everything below can be described kinesthetically, Jack, but I have resisted because of wishes you voiced in a prior post. Please try and refrain from telling me that what I seem to be describing are linear mechanics and not make me read something that you have already posted.


Let me begin:

Extending to reach an outside pitch causes you to tilt your axis

Tilting the axis and reaching limits hip rotation.

Limited hip rotation will cause shoulder rotation to start earlier in the swing (to keep the transition from hips to shoulders smooth - no disconnect).

Starting shoulder rotation earlier in the swing causes you to reach maximum bat speed (what small measure that you can attain while reaching out) in the first part of the hitting zone.

Pulling a pitch properly requires full hip rotation. Pulling the outside pitch (with limited hip rotation and making contact in the last part of the hitting zone), will require the shoulders to pass the hips in rotation before the ball arrives.

Shoulders passing hips results in lost batspeed.

To make up for lost batspeed the body is forced to torque the wrists severely to keep the bat moving.

Torqueing the wrists severely (coupled with the arms stretched and restricted hip rotation) will cause wrist roll.

Rolling the top hand wrist results in the bat rolling. The direction of the bat roll is up.

The bat rolling upward increases (almost assures) chances that the bat will strike the top of the ball.

Grounder to short.


To document this I would have to describe biomechanical movements illustrated by swing clips.



ray porco