Posted by: Shawn () on Tue Aug 3 19:06:34 2004

>>> Is this hitter applying THT?
>
> http://members.aol.com/bellshw2/alex.mov
>
> My answer is No, I believe it's rotation and where the bat head is when rotation begins. I'll let Jack school us on if this is THT. <<<
>
> Hi Shawn
>
> As I recall from our earlier discussions, you made it clear that you do not believe torque (hands applying force from opposing directions) is even a factor in generating bat speed. Therefore, what point is there in us discussing THT?
>
> But I can tell you this with certainty – No batter, regardless of who it is, can attain great bat speed by driving the top-hand in the same direction as the bottom-hand. Call it whatever you wish, but in order to generate maximum acceleration at initiation, the top-hand must pull in the opposite direction the bottom-hand is being pulled.
>
> >>> Is this hitter applying THT? <<<
>
> On this swing, the batter appears to acquire a good launch position but exhibits limited efficiently in applying THT. His bat speed is generated late in this long swing (hands travel 40+ inches to contact). The bat-head would never lag behind the hands that far into the swing if the batter initiated the swing with good THT and applied BHT. He appears to me to have been fooled on the pitch and had to pull it.
>
> Jack Mankin
>
>

Jack,

When did I say natural hand action, or wrist action, doesn't take place.

You are to caught up in THT and BHT to see if this is a good swing or bad swing. All you can see is how far the hands travel.

""But I can tell you this with certainty – No batter, regardless of who it is, can attain great bat speed by driving the top-hand in the same direction as the bottom-hand. Call it whatever you wish, but in order to generate maximum acceleration at initiation, the top-hand must pull in the opposite direction the bottom-hand is being pulled.""

The top hand makes one rotational point. This can be clearly seen when a hitter doesn't have good rotation, but rotate the back leg only. The top hand pivot and sends the bathead back toward the catcher and then out away from the body. A clip would really up convey the words.

If you are rotational the top hand will turn with rotation. It all depends on where the bathead is when rotation begins. If we have a swing to look at, like this one, it doesn't lie. Call it a good launch position with the bathead slightly cocked toward the pitcher, the forces at work in the hands are similar to what you describe, but, these forces are also how rotation works in the swing.

The question is, and I think you would agree or can see, does he actively apply the forces you describe in this swing?

The other rotational point is the lead shoulder.

If a hitter is truly launching his swing with rotation, or the lowerbody, wouldn't the forces acting on the hands be similar to what you describe??

I can see how rotation works in this swing and how his hands are working. The bathead is thrown out of rotation, not by driving the hands forward or by taking them forward.

What I'm trying to say is if your are truly rotational the swing will happen similar to what you say, if you are using the body to power your swing. I don't think there is a big mystery to applying forces correctly. I believe the hands will do the correct thing if you are launching your swing with the lowerbody.

Shawn