Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Aug 19 14:53:24 2004

>>> Tom, trying to follow you here, would you say that the rear elbow if in the up and back position must begin to dip in order to generate the majority of the pull back of the bat by the top hand. Would that be a fair understanding. <<<

Hi rql

Although you addressed your question to Tom, I would like to interject a couple points. – As I have mentioned before, the top-hand can not pull back on its own. For the top-hand to apply a rearward force, requires the forearm (and elbow) to be applying a rearward pull. As Tom pointed out, once the shoulder has fully adducted the elbow (toward the third base dugout), any further pulling back of the top-hand must occur while the back-elbow is lowering.

Many good hitters do not use a pre-launch movement that sweeps the bat-head from a more vertical position back into the swing plane. These hitters start with the bat in the plane of the swing and the back-elbow already adducted. Therefore, during the rotation of the foreman, their elbow must lower as they apply a rearward force at the handle to assist shoulder rotation in accelerating the bat-head back toward the catcher.

Then, there are many good hitters (like Bonds and Sosa) who setup with a more vertical bat and have their hands away from the back shoulder. These hitters use the abduction then adduction of the back-shoulder (pulling back of the forearm and top-hand) to accelerate the bat-head back toward the launch position. – I have video of these hitters showing the bat-head accelerating rearward before shoulder rotation or the lowering of the elbow.

Note to All: Whether or not you accept Tom’s or my interpretation of how great hitters initiate their swings, I can assure you of the following observation. – The main reason most hitters (little League to the Pros) never attain their maximum bat speed is because they only concentrate on accelerating the bat-head in front of their shoulder. Great hitters generate great bat speed by first accelerating the bat-head back behind their shoulder before directing their energy toward the ball. -- Great hitters use mechanics that accelerate the bat-head around the entire swing plane while the average hitter uses only half of it.

Watch the average batter warming up in the batter’s circle. You may see what I am talking about.

Jack Mankin