Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatSpeed@aol.com) on Sun Oct 10 15:50:32 2004

Hi All

To swing down, level or up at contact is a major concern to many coaches and players. We are now getting to the heart of that topic. Therefore, I am starting this as a new thread so others can express their views.

(Erik)
>>> Hi JACK,
I'm looking forward to talking with you in regards to certain issues pertaining to the swing plane. I just have a few questions that i 'm sure you can shade some light on. I would like you to explain what type of swing plane would you advise a hitter that really can't drive the ball out of the park? Would you promote this type of hitter to focuse on a slight uppercut? I would think this would produce more fly balls that could be caught. I would think that this type of hitter would be better at approaching the swing to level off, this would produce line drives and ground balls. I'm confused on this subject because i don't here a lot about these types of hitters being important here on this web site. I think the goal is to make solid contact whether you approach the swing leveling out or slightly up do you agree? I ask you, if the ultimate batting tee teaches a hitter to practice both types of swings wouldn't this be a useful device? <<<

Hi Erik

You asked, “I would like you to explain what type of swing plane would you advise a hitter that really can't drive the ball out of the park? Would you promote this type of hitter to focuse on a slight uppercut?” The answer is – most definitely yes. The vast majority of hitters with a 300+ batting average have swing planes that have the bat on the up-slope at contact.

I think the major problem is the misconception that an up-slope at contact results mainly in fly balls. This is obviously not the case since many top hitters with an up-slope hit a good percentage of their balls on the ground. This is because, (1) where the ball is struck (dead center – above or below center), (2) bat speed and mass, (3) the velocity, spin an angle of the incoming pitch, has an equal or greater impact on the ball’s exit trajectories.

Here are a few points to illustrate what I stated above. Other coaches that post to the site have more expertise in this field than I. They could give you more exact data, but the essence of the points I make are valid.

(1) The ball’s exit trajectory from a Tee is quite different from the trajectory with a live pitch. As an example – A bat moving level with the ground striking a ball sitting on a Tee dead center would produce an exit trajectory level to the ground. Gravity would probably pull the ball to ground level about even with the pitcher’s mound.

A bat moving level with the ground striking a ball dead center from a pitch angling downward at about 10 degrees would produce a downward exit trajectory. – Consider the exit trajectory of a pitched ball (at the knees) striking a vertical wall. The ball would exit the wall angling downward and hit the ground well before the pitcher’s mound. -- For the ball’s exit trajectory to be level from a pitched ball, the bat’s path must be on an up-slope or the ball struck below centerline. Plus, the spin of the pitched ball (clockwise, sinker – counterclockwise, riser) has an effect.

The optimum exit trajectory for maximum ball flight is about 35 degrees upward. Even an up-slope of 15 degrees would not produce that trajectory. Professor Adair calculates the ball would need to be struck about ¼ to 3/8 inch below center (depending on the swing plane) to match the needed trajectory. – Even with a 10-degree up-slope, a ball struck at, or above the center will produce a low line drive or ground ball.

Erik, we can discuss it in greater detail by email (MrBatSpeed@aol.com) or by phone. I do have reservations regarding the changes (ramp) you made to the unit to accommodate rotational mechanics. The swing plane is like a flat disc. It is how that disc is tilted that produces the correct up-slope in the contact zone. If the disc is tilted so that the lowest point is toward the second baseman, the bat will not bottom-out and be on an up-slope in the contact zone. The bat will still be on a downward path at contact. If I understand correctly the changes made, I would advise that making an upward section at the end is not the answer.

It would be easier and far more productive to keep the disc (or ring) flat like a true swing plane and tilt it so that low point is more perpendicular to the path of the incoming pitch and the batter’s rotational axis. This would produce a better true swing plane that bottoms-out farther back so that the bat is on an up-slope at contact.

Jack Mankin

PS: To swing down, level or up at contact is a major concern to many coaches and players. We are now getting to the heart of that topic. Therefore, I am starting this as a new thread so others can express their views.

##

(Andy)
A slight uppercut IS a line-drive swing. If a hitter hits the center of the ball at 10 degrees, the ball leaves the bat around 10 degrees, it's a line drive to the outfield. If a hitter hits the center of the ball at 0 degrees (level to the ground), that ball's probably hitting the ground before the pitcher's mound, ground ball. I like to ask kids, if you could catch the ball on the bat and throw it at any trajectory, what angle do you want? They usually describe a line-drive trajectory, maybe a ball one-hopping to an outfielder. I then tell them to keep the bat moving on that plane roughly a foot before contact and a foot after contact. See the Garciaparra clip on youthbaseballcoaching.com for the effect of catching and throwing the ball at a line-drive angle. A fly ball is a 45 degree trajectory, it's more about hitting the bottom of the ball than anything else.