Posted by: Teacherman () on Tue Jun 8 20:04:37 2004

I have heard many commentators and analysts saying the Griffey has a long swing. What exactly is a long swing? I've heard players, coaches, and magazine authors saying that Bonds is to quick and short, yet we all know at this site that Bonds uses the same technique as Griffey. So why is Griffey's long and Bonds' short?
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> > > There is a misconception that both use the same technique. On this site we speak of rotational mechanics as being the preferred technique, but we must remember that each hitter does not rotate exactly a like. In addition, each hitter does not use the same muscles in the same way. Some hitters use more of their hands (Bonds), while others use more of their arms and or legs. Will Clark, Griffey, and Edmonds glide into the ball. Bonds, Thome, and Sosa attack the ball. Long swingers tend to strike out more even if they are under control. Short and quick swingers have a better chance of putting the ball in play if they do not try to overswing (hit the ball to hard). Brett is an exception because he leveled out his swing (and did not expand the strike zone) for the most part unless his team needed late inning heroics. As a student of Lau, his theory was contact first and the homeruns will take care of themselves.
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> > Bonds, with maybe the shortest swing of all time doesn't get short by using his hands. That is absurd. Bonds is short because he doesn't use his hands/arms as much as others.
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> No offense, but you are dead wrong! And what is absurd is that you of all posters should make such a comment. You have been and will continue to be berated about your comments to some of the most basic principles as well as the complex. Thus, you should understand the spirit, as well as the content of the information and opinions that are being offered before you make a comment involving what is absurd. Bond's has the most complete command of all his motor skills, along with technique, desire, intelligence, toughness, and athletic ability, which make him the hitter he is. Of these attributes, he uses the strength in his hands to allow him to wait longer and if necessary, bring his hands in to hit balls hard and for homeruns. His approach, which we will continue to analyze, even if eventually understood, cannot be fully applied effectively by those who do not possess his other attributes. Just for your information, a short swing is a swing that has a shorter path to the incoming pitch. This is opposed to a long swing which must be initiated earlier in the batter's set up and has a longer path to the incoming pitch. I hope you will look at this as "one to grow on", rather than a personal attack against you. We all have a right to our opinion. But we should give each poster credit for his views, at least until we can disprove it with factual information.

Bonds strength is unquestionable. His technique is what makes his swing short. The tightness of his rotation is why his swing is short. His stance and leg spread is shorter than most hitters. His hands are held very close again keeping the axis small. Do his strong hands help. Absolutely. But they wouldn't give him a short swing if his rotation was not tight. Take his strength a put it in a different technique and he's not near as accomplished.

I'll consider that a good lesson for you.