Posted by: Teacherman () on Sun May 16 20:46:33 2004

Hi All
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> This is a continuation of the “To Jack” thread.
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> >>> I'm disappointed in your answer. You are careless with our language. You asked me about THT. Then, you respond with an answer about prelaunch torque. <<<
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> Hi Teacherman
>
> You are mistaken, I have always maintained that Pre-launch Torque is part of applying Top-Hand-Torque. I designated it pre-launch because the batter is applying torque to accelerate the bat-head back toward the launch position before body rotation is initiated.
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> Are you then saying that you agree torque is being applied during “prelaunch torque?” If not, address my question.
>
> In the Sheffield’s pre-launch movements
> 1) What force, other than torque, could have been applied by the hands to the handle that caused the bat-head to accelerate up and over the knob (as described below)?
>
> “Let us use Gary Sheffield as an example. As he prepares for the swing, he keeps his bottom-hand fairly stationary at his back shoulder. He bobs the bat-head up and down at the pitcher by pushing and pulling with the top-hand. He then accelerates the bat-head from a nearly horizontal position in an arc up and over the knob back toward the launch position.
>
> Teacherman, the shoulders remain motionless – there is no reactionary force from rotation. The bottom-hand remains at the back-shoulder – there is whip effect. The bat-head was accelerated from a static position (no momentum), up against gravity by the top-hand pulling up and over the bottom-hand. (Note: The cocking or un-cocking of the wrist also apply forces from opposing directions at the handle.)”
>
> The readers can weigh the worth of your other answers.
>
> Jack Mankin
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>
>

Do I need to type it all again? (see below) The force being applied to the bat handle is reactionary to the slotting of the elbow and/or to the tilting of the body. And if there is no difference between prelaunch torque and THT then why two names for it?

Gary Sheffield, again, is an extreme example as I pointed out. I don't see but a small handful of guys that do that. Show me the torque in all the major league leaders that don't waggle their bat like Sheffield. How about Arod, Pujols, Manny to name a few. There are many many more that don't do what Sheffield does than do. Yet, you claim it to be an absolute. How can it be an absolute when just a handful do it.

Finally, stand in a stance with the bat cocked toward the pitcher and the rear elbow up. Now, rotate aggressively and make sure you DO NOT pull back toward the catcher with the top hand. Leave the hands completely still but loose. In other words let the bat go where it wants to. Don't inhibit it's movement. What does the barrel do? It arcs back behind the hitter. Without any THT. What force acted on the handle???????????????

You can't point to a change in relationship between the two hands which to me shows the top hand is doing nothing different than the bottom hand. One is on top of the other in the same allignment as they had at the start. (Example: Bonds 01) But if you start with your rear elbow up and the bat cocked the movement you see will occur when the elbow is slotted.