Posted by: Buz (Buz3D@lvcm.com) on Wed Oct 4 02:59:26 2000

How can you say that the ball will be coming in at 11 degrees.. There are way too many variables to determine the degree the ball is approaching the plate! If the pitcher is 5'1 does the ball approach the plate at the same angle as it does from a Randy Johnson? No.. it can't. If all pitchers were exactly the same height, threw from exactly the same arm angle, at exactly the same speed, released the ball from exactly the same release point, from a mound exactly the same height and angled slope.. even then it would have a varied approach because of the interaction the fingers have at the release, causing trajectory changes to the ball. You just cannot generalize the degree with which the ball approaches. It varies! That is what makes the game so darn interesting. It is also why it is considered such a difficult feat to strike a pitched baseball. Like the oldtimers used to say "Hitting is timing, Pitching is upsetting timing!"

www.BeABetterHitter.com

>>>To kick off October's discussion, I would still like to know why we could have 60% weight on our back leg during the inward turn. If it's just a turn, where did 60% weight and 10 degrees tilt from the pitcher come from?.... <<<
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> Hi Ruben
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> Some batters take an inward turn prior to the stride while others incorporate the inward turn while striding. In either case, the tilt away from the pitcher is to bring the axis of rotation (spine) more perpendicular the incoming balls line of flight. An 85 MPH fastball will be angling downward at about 11 degrees as it passes the plate. So most batters have found their greatest success with a body lean of about 10 to 15 degrees. That will bring the swing plane more inline with the pitched ball's trajectory.
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> As the body tilts away from the pitcher, more of the body's weight is moved over the back leg.
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> Jack Mankin
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