Posted by: tjs (jsorge5126@aol.com) on Wed Sep 27 21:45:43 2000

>>>JACK YOU SAY YOUR INSTRUCTION TEACHES TO MAKE CONTACT WHEN THE BAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL{INSIDE OR OUTSIDE}.ON AN INSIDE PITCH IF THE BAT IS PERPENDICULAR AT CONTACT WONT THIS HIT IT OFF THE HANDLE,OR AT LEAST INSIDE THE SWEET SPOT.IF OPTIMUM CONTACT POINT IS PERPENDICULAR TO BALL TO CREATE BATSPEED WHY IS THE LONGEST BALLS HIT PULLED AND MOST HOMERUNS PULLED.<<<
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> Hi RQL
>
> I think under normal circumstances, most batters attempt to hit the ball "straight-away." This means they try to bring their bat fairly close to perpendicular to the incoming ball. Of course, there are times when the hitter tries to guide the ball to one side or the other. But in most cases, balls are hit to the opposite field because of bat-lag on outside pitches. The wider the hand-path the wider the path of the bat-head. The wider the bat-head path, the greater the amount of torque required to maintain the same angular displacement. Therefore, since only a few hitters apply torque early in the swing, most batters hit outside pitches to the opposite field.
>
> Conversely, the tighter hand-path requires less energy to bring the bat around. So on inside pitches the batter is more likely to have the bat rotate past perpendicular and pull the ball. --- So I don't think "pulling" or "hitting inside-out" is as much a matter of choice as it is a matter of "demand vs supply."
>
> RQL, I agree with you on inside pitches. If the batter is jammed, it will be hard to have the bat perpendicular. To hit the ball fair he would need to break-down the lead elbow (hands farther inside) and pull or inside-out the ball. But for pitches in the strike zone, he doesn't have to think about pulling the inside pitch. It will happen automatically -- tighter hand-path, less resistance, quicker bat-head rotation.
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> Yes, you are right again. Most home runs are pulled (more degrees of rotation). And now with more top-hand-torque, the better hitters are able to pull even good pitches on the outside corner.
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> Jack Mankin
>
jack,

you bring up a good point and response to the last question. but doesn't bat angle play a role in driving the ball the other way. aren't most home runs pulled or hit middle to pull fields because the barrel travels longer and has more time to accelerate than on outside pitches? i was always under the impression that the farther the ball is away from the hitter, the deeper one lets the ball get in the stance. it is harder to hit home runs the other way because the barrel never has a chance to accelerate or get to a speed as it would on an outside pitch. if the hitter continually attempts to get the bat perpendicular to the path of the ball, wouldn't this eliminate any balls hit the other way?

respectfully,
tjs