Posted by: Shawn () on Sun Aug 29 16:03:24 2004

Hi Jack,

I'm getting no decrease in speed when I bring the hands forward a short distance ahead of the rear shoulder. There's a strong case that can be made that this increases the late uncocking which increases the arc later in the swing (you will have a greater arcing from around the rear shoulder to contact, the arc will be covering a greater distance from frame to frame).

There are lots of ways to apply physics in the swing. The late uncocking holds up just as well as any other way we apply physics.

In the late uncocking there is a force transferred down the length of the bat. There is a forward force in the swing, it might be the arms and bat being pulling forward by rotation.

Here's Chipper Jones showing the bat coming off the tip of the shoulder, after the hands have moved forward ahead of the shoulder, with the bat and wrists still cocked. After getting to that position the hands begin to uncock turning the bat over a greater distance out infront of the body.

http://members.aol.com/bellshw2/Chipper01.mov

I would take that swing any day. There's nothing wrong with swinging forward, it just depends on the mechanics of the individual.

Shawn