Posted by: Rich () on Tue Nov 23 20:07:02 2004

>>> 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 <<<
>
> Hi Rich
>
> Your post shows you have studied the swing well. ? You stated, ?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?
>
> Having lead shoulder rotation to pull the bottom-hand (and knob) back toward the catcher is a key rotational transfer principle. This is what produces the hook in the hand-path and applies torque to accelerate the bat-head to contact. Do you feel that ?allowing the knob of the bat to slide under their wrist? is a different mechanics? Or, a result of the bottom-hand (and knob) being pulled back?
>
> Jack Mankin
>
>Hey Jack,

First i want to say that i think you have a remarkable ability to stay focused on the important aspects of the swing/hitting when a storm of irrelavant material is swirling around your site. you are the epitome of the calm leader... i admire your demeanor.

"is the slide under of the knob a separate mechanic?" No. i think it's a way to prolong the bat staying on plane if the front shoulder hasn't been fully rotated back... it also allows the knob more "hook" or a tighter radius.

I like loose fingers on the bat. the thumb and forefinger(of both hands) are applying the torque to the bat through out the swing. if the bottom hand's little finger is gripping the bat tightly it won't allow the knob to move around the point of rotation between the top and bottom hand. to quote you, and it's one of your best "SMOOTH, LOOSE, EVER-ACCELERATING SWING"... letting the knob slide under keeps the bat moving in a smooth plane. and it also helps keep the hands and wrist loose.

I added one more adjective to your definition when i explain the swing to the girls... QUICK,SMOOTH,LOOSE,EVER-ACCELERATING SWING. quick is the explosion out of launch/coil by the whole system that brings the bat around on a perfect plane.

If any one doesn't fully comprehend what or how to bring the bat around on plane, go to www.hitting-mechanics.org and go to forums and click on "theories and application" then click on "fools rush in..." it will take awhile to load, but what you will see is a skeleton swinging a bat on perfect plane. the bat, the forearm, and the upper front arm are all on the same plane as demonstrated by the colored disk.

I digress... the knob under the wrist is a part of the mechanic of Bottom Hand Torque. it's a facilitator. it's also a safety valve in that if you haven't made contact it give you X amount more of bathead displacement before rollover.

Do you teach this slide under? or is it something that you let come naturally? i teach it later in their development.

Thanks a bunch... Happy Thanksgiving!! regards, Rich