Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Jul 26 12:54:43 2004

>>> I have been having a problem with a lack of hitting the ball off the sweet spot. I work alot on my short swing because I know that it's important but for some reason I cannot hit the ball off the sweet spot of the bat. This is very frustrating because I'm working hard to get my swing in sync but I cannot figure this one out. Most of the time I hit the ball off the end of the bat whether it's down the middle or on the outside corner. The other times I just don't get the bat head out front enough to hit the inside pitch so I hit it off the handle. Is there a particular reason why I cannot get solid contact at the plate? What can I do to work on this? Anything will help. Thanks. <<<

Hi John

In most cases, the reason batters have the problems you describe is because they accelerate the hands (and knob of the bat) but their swing mechanics leave the bat-head trailing behind. By the time the sweet spot arcs around toward contact, the hands are now arcing toward the shortstop. This pulls the sweet spot inward and the batter hits the ball off the end of the bat or misses it completely.

With good rotational mechanics, the hands only move forward 22 to 24 inches by contact as compared to the 26+ inches with extension mechanics. However, the key difference between the two mechanics is that rotational transfer mechanics applies forces to the bat that first accelerates the bat-head (and sweet spot) in an arc back toward the catcher before rotating and accelerating the bat-head toward the ball. This results in the sweet spot coming to contact before the hands arc away from the contact zone.

John, just out of curiosity, did you use the “Fence Drill” in developing your short swing? This drill promotes a swing with the problems you describe. I have over-head video of students doing this drill. All of them have the bat-head trailing well behind the hands. And, all of their hands are arcing away well before contact.

I would suggest you concentrate on mechanics that will accelerate the sweet spot around the entire swing plane. That is the purpose of all good swing mechanics – even though it may destroy a few fences.

Jack Mankin