Posted by: Rich () on Mon Nov 22 17:20:48 2004

Hi All
>
> I thought we had resolved the hands leading the bat-head question. However, there still appears to be those that have disagreements. The thread ran off the page and I am bringing the last few posts to the top as a new thread.
>
> (Doug)
> >>> Tom, Exactly.....the clips of Rose, Murcer, B.Williams and F.Robinson show the hands/wrists have not rolled over at impact, but the bathead is in front of the hands at impact also. The clip of Rose shows the hands slightly ahead of the bathead, and he is hitting a ball a little to right of center. When the barrel is slanted/pointed to the pull field, the hands are behind the barrel. When the barrel is slanted/pointed to center field, the hands are even with the barrel. When the barrel is slanted/pointed to the off field, the hands are ahead of the barrel. In all of my posts, I don't talk about the wrist/hands rolling over, and as far as players not having strong hands and wrists.......well, they faze out in high school. <<<
>
> (Jack Mankin)
> This disagreement reminds me of two guys having lunch on a train. One is looking out the window at the scenery flying by and says, ?man, we must be going 90 mph.? The other is looking at the steak he is cutting and replies, ?looks to me as if we are not moving at all.?
>
> Doug, movement is a matter of reference. I doubt that the dimmest among us does not understand that, in reference to the flight of an incoming pitch, the bat-head must lead the hands to pull a ball. That is obvious. However, mb?s original post on this thread discussed deceleration of the bat in regards to the hands position. I am merely pointing out that deceleration has not necessarily occurred on pulled balls because ?in reference to? the direction of the radial force being applied (CHP), the bat has not necessarily swung past tangent.
>
> (Doug)
> Jack, The two guys having lunch on the train story was amusing. I thought that some of the answers were like the guy who asked what time it was and the other fellow tried to build him a watch. > >
>
> (Jeff)
> Jack and Doug....please with respect to both of you! The barrel NEVER leads the hands.....Hitting is hands and hips....so I must respectfuly disagree.....Always the hands should lead the barrel!!! Jeff....
>
> (Doug)
> Jeff, Hands hips and shoulders. The bathead of ML hitters is ahead of the hands at impact on pulled balls. I have over 100 clips of the best hitters and on pulled balls the bathead is ahead of the hands at impact. Balls up the middle, the hands will be about level with the bathead and balls hit the other way you will find the hands leading the bathead. When you say NEVER, you are dead wrong and the clips prove it.
>
> Hey Doug,
I just read this last part of this thread, so i don't know if this has been said so i apologize if it has. but the bathead leading the hands in relationship to home plate or third or the mound means nothing in regards to proper mechanics.

The only time the the bathead can lead the hands in the swing relative to the forearm is if the bottom hand has begun rollover. as soon as that happens the bathead has deviated from the front arm plane and solid contact becomes much more difficult. more than likely the wrist has binded and the bathead has slowed.

There is a trick that some players use to avoid binding and roll over. if the ball has not been hit by the time the hands are in a straight line with the bathead they will allow the knob of the bat to slide under their wrist allowing the bathead to keep accelerating to contact. this sliding under of the knob keeps the bat on plane.

I think other than the transfer of power from the legs, hips, torso, shoulders to the bat, keeping the bat on PLANE is absolutely the most important aspect of a great swing. without it you lose consistency and speed.
Regards, Rich