Posted by: Jeff M () on Wed Apr 14 10:52:37 2004

>>> I believe that Jack information has benefitted a variety of individuals, possessing hetereogeneous skill levels and statures. Yet, there are three of pointers might prove detrimental to the development of a player. They include 1) putting little emphasis on the importance of the stretch position; 2) dismissing the importance of sitting on the back leg; and, finally, 3) failing to recognize the need to get the front heel planted on time.
> >
> > Jack contends that focusing on cues that overemphasize the hips leading the hands can cause the batter to forget about swinging the bat-head in an arc. Rather, he opines that if a batter allows the bat to arc back towards the catcher, inertia will cause the seperation that will allow the hips to lead to hands.
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> > Secondly, I read posts where he argues against hinging the rear leg more for low pitches. Contrariwise, he believes that swings are best handled by the batter adjusting the swing plane to a more vertical one.
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> > Finally, his "cue" for bat acceleration is "rotate the heel, rotate the bathead." According to Jack, this "cue" helps the batter use to front leg to assist rotation in a more productive manner than if the heel were just dropped straight down.
> >
> > However, allowing inertia to cause the hips to rotate ahead of hands causes a very slow swing. If, on the other hand, the batter opens the bottom half, while closing the top half, both halves will spring forward, almost instantaneously. The better connection will cause the lower body to cause the shoulders to rotate much more effectively using this method.
> >
> > As for Jack's advice to maintain the same posture while hitting, here is what Ted Williams and John Underwood have to say on the subject:
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> > "To get the maximum hitting surface of the bat through the longest possible impact zone you are better off bending your knees and dropping down. The angle of the bat at impact is much sharper when you're up high trying to uppercur. The plane of the swing intersects the downward flight of the ball over a shortened area. You want the opposite" ("The Science of Hitting").
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> > Lastly, one can spin the heel all he or she once, but until the heel drops, no rotations occur. This is seen in the "Final Arc II," where Elliot's rotation begins at front heel plant. A better "cue" might be "open the foot, drop the heel, rotate the bat-head."
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> > Other than that, I think the rest of Jack's instructional "cues" are just fine.
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> > BHL <<<
> >
> > Hi BHL
> >
> > First let me say, you’re encouraging young hitters to pull outside pitches is definitely “detrimental to the development of a player.” There are a number of professional hitters with sound rotational mechanics (THT) that can successfully pull outside pitches. However, most hitters, especially young hitters, have a tendency to use more linear mechanics on outside pitches and your recommendation of pulling everything will lead them to many disappointments.
> >
> > I must also point out that your post misrepresents many of my batting principles. I am not sure how many hitters you have worked with to test your ideas, but hundreds of video swing reviews show that the principles presented on this site (and in my instructional video) are working just fine.
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> > Jack Mankin
> >
> >Hi Jack,
>
> I believe that Pull Field Orientation makes perfect geometric, mechanical, and psychological sense.
>
> It is logical geometrically in the sense that hits and mis-hits to left field (i.e., the shortest field) with authority usually result in home runs.
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> Mechanically, they occur because the batter uses optimum bat-speed, and is forced to use THT as well.
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> This, in turn, nourishes psychological aggressiveness, to the point that the hitter is willing to stand right up on top of the plate.
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> > As for the defense of my "cues," I believe in the following statements:
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> 1)Using inertial forces to cause the hips and hands causes far too much slack in the upper body for the lower body to have an appreciable effect on it. I would much rather see the batter stretch to halves, so both halves can rotate forward almost immediately.
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> 2)Uppercutting does not allow anywhere near the same "contact potential" (Ferroli phrase) as sitting on the back leg, and allowing "the plane of the swing to match the plane of the pitch."
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> 3)Rotating the heel does nothing for hip rotation. Only when the dropped heel is planted can the hips rotate, causing the shoulders to swing around, and the bat-head to do the same thing.
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> Now I am not saying that your batting research leads all other research. We all know it has.
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> I am just questioning your lower body "cues."
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> I remember one post saying that Epstein provides better body instruction than you.
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> On the other hand, you explain the upper body mechanics better.
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> So, if we combine the two, we have an unstoppable force of one guru who provides information for developmental mechanics; the other who shows how to complete the energy transfer.
>
> Sincerely,
> BHL
> Knight1285@aol.com
>
> P.S. Jack, I defend my statements with common sense, and pride. In fact, I am looking forward to a Final Arc III, where Epstein shows individuals how to develop power, and you show the mechanics how to unleash it. What a DVD that would be!

Black Hole Lexicographer & Jack,
You make many valid points BHL, but I disagree that the uncoiling of the hips in initiated by the heal placement/return. I beleive the hips begin to uncoil/rotate closed once the front toe/ball are planted. If you wait for the heel drop the hips will move in a forward linear direction, and excess strain will be placed on the back knee. This results in a major breakdown and maximum batspeed/acceleration occurs late...25-35 degrees past perpendicular. This may be why you advocate pull field orientation...YOU generate YOUR power late. As a result this compensation seems logical (to you) because the end result is a well placed ball over a short field. A "better" approach might be to focus/attempt to make contact roughly perpendicular to the ball path. Even though the fences are longer in the power alleys, a hitter has a much greater chance of solid contact and sustained results if he swings using proper (THT CHP)mechanics. Oh BHL...I think you are a fan of Ted Williams, but didn't he say..." I don't swing level, and I certainly don't swing down". Hope I got the quote right.
Just my thoughts,
Jeff M