Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Nov 3 17:47:21 2000

>>>Jack I would think it would be helpful to all if we could see some clips of linear hitters and how their swings differ on tape.All I ever see posted is chp and I figure you saw some in your investigation,Tim Olson said he may be able to put them up if he had some names.Luis soho came to mind to me,and I wonder about Paul O'neill,ofcourse I wondered about Rose also,did anyone see the clip of Rose from the left side on no chop ma ,thread on set pro,from behind is that circular when going up the middle.If we are going to talk about the difference between the 2 and talk about slo mo video we should know equally well what the linear swing looks like.RQL <<<

Hi RQL

If we define a linear hitter as having a hand-path that is straight all the way from A to B, we would find few of them in the professional ranks. This would require the hands to be 6 to 8 inches away from the body at initiation. Although many batters may have the hands away from the body in their stance, most will bring the hands back and in before they are started forward. So most all hitters will have the hands start with some arc in their path.

Most of the swings I charted were viewed from behind the pitcher. From that viewpoint I could not accurately give a rating as to how circular or straight the hand-path was. I found it better to note the position of the hands at initiation and contact and the maximum bend to the lead arm during the swing. By combining the ratings from these three items a fairly accurate depiction of the hand-path could be made.

Example ---If the hands were away from the body at initiation I gave it a (1or 2) - a (3) if they were hidden the body - a (4 to 5) if the hands were visible behind the body. -- A rating of (5 to 1) depending on how straight the lead arm remained during the swing. -- A rating of (1 to 5) depending on how far the back arm was extended at contact. NOTE: A long extension of the back arm means a straighter hand-path.

RQL, to me a linear swing is also defined by the direction of force of the hands at initiation. If the force of BOTH hands is directed more back toward the pitcher - it's linear --- If the forces are in opposing directions - it's rotational.

Jack Mankin