Posted by: () on Sun Oct 24 20:00:39 2004

>>> Hi Andy,
> I did get a chance to look at these clips . I did notice in the clip with Sammy using a solo hitter to practice his swing he wasn't really focusing on swinging up to much .I understand what causes the ball to get lift and that isn't what my disagreement is here.The clips that I see here are all shots of hitters trying to get lift .I understand the swing plane angles and the physics behind what creates this effect.I didn't agree that all hitters have the strength and ability at certain levels to try only to approach the swing in an upward angle.I know that The Ultimate batting tee with the ball on the tee now with the angle adjustment allows a hitter to have a 8-12 degee upslope approach to the ball .I'm also aware of the importance of bat speed being a important factor in producing homeruns.I would say that the swing frames that I have looked at all hitters are very strong and have the tools to focus the swing in a slight to extreme upward angle.I will be creating some video to show that this can be achieved by using the ultimate batting tee.I know the homerun has become the focus,I would love to see some frames of swings that achieved line drives and hard ground balls.I think there are a number of hitters that focus on leveling out.I hope I answered your question I would like to talk to you .(513)616-3611 ERIK LASEKE <<<
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> Hi Erik
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> The theme one takes from your post is that the only reason for an up-slope at contact is to attain lift to hit home runs. However, a ball hit dead canter with a bat angling up at 8 to 12 degrees produces a line drive – not the lift to hit the ball for distance. You do not seem to address, or acknowledge, the fact that an upward bat path stays in the path of a ball angling downward for a longer period of time. This allows for a more consistent hard contact.
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> If the path of an incoming ball was level with the ground, having the bat “level out” through the contact zone would make sense. But this is not case with pitches belt down – why would you want the bat’s path to cut through the balls path instead of lining up with it?
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> Jack Mankin

Building on Jack's point about matching with the oncoming plane of the pitch...There does seem to be one clip on that page where the batter is not at an upslope (besides Sosa's practice)...Tejada's clip (lower left corner). Take a look at that clip. It's the highest pitch on the page, and therefore has the flattest angle through the zone. Tejada then, correctly, swings back at a nearly perfect level to "match the plane." The common way I hear to attack this pitch is to "get on top" and tomahawk, the irony being you end up below the ball, by swinging down, of course. Also, in reference the line drives as opposed to home runs, check out the Garciparra clip. The ball and the bat travel at the same angle four or five frames after contact, roughly 10 degrees, and produce (presumably) a gap double or one hop single. It looks like he "catches and throws" the ball. If the ball leaves the bat at 10-15 degrees, I think you have to admit that's a very desirable line drive angle. Therefore, bat traveling at that angle, striking the center of the ball, produces this line drive. Bat traveling down, or even level, must strike below the center to produce this type of line drive. The striking surface to produce this line drive goes from the size of silver dollar to a dime with the downslope.
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