Posted by: Dale () on Wed Nov 24 12:15:58 2004

>>> Hi Jack and Jeff,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I understand that some doubt the existence of torque in a swing; others acknoledge it plays a pivotal role in accumulating bat speed. Personally, I fall between these two extremes, and am agnostic about whether the mechanic is a physical factor, or a cue.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Let's return to the topic at hand, though, and assume THT exists. Jeff, I have studied Mankin's THT carefully, and it gives another dimension to the swing: width. By increasing the swing's circumference, this means that a person is capable of pulling every pitch with enough power to clear the pull field fence.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Alternatively, if one denies that torque is a factor, an individual can hit to the pull field simply by widening their CHP.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It also seems as if THT embeds itself in far more controversy than THT.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Right now, I am keeping an open mind, which is the best idea of all.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If any of you have further questions, by all means, ask, so that I can crystallize certain beliefs of mine that might seem hitherto murky to both of you.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Best wishes to both,
> > > > > > BHL
> > > > > > Knight1285@aol.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > > P.S. Jack, why you waste your time on promulgating how to amass BHT, when we all know that, if THT is used correctly, BHT will fall into place? Though I might not agree wholly with your ideas on torque, would it not make sense to articulate the concept that all the great hitters have, rather than just the good ones. Remember, people will always privilege mechanics indigenous to Hall-of-Famers over fundamentals shared by people who wind up with the labels of just "good" ballplayers.
> > > > >
> > > > > i think tht is nothing more than the knob to the pitcher thing....however, it is significant to the extent it , along with the high elbow & sufficient bat cock & inward turn, helps prepare for the circular hand path....the one question i have nver got an answer on in the past 5 years is where the "acceleration" comes from...i really think that during the knob to the pitcher phase there is not yet any acceleration taking place, because, after all, tht is a maneuver that takes place BEFORE the swing starts........grc..... <<<
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi BHL & bart/grc
> > > > >
> > > > > When I opened the Site, I had no illusions that everyone would accept the findings from my study and research. Hundreds of years after Galileo, a good percentage of the population still believed the earth was the center of the universe. Today, one out ten still believe Elvis is alive.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have discussed every aspect of my findings with both of you for half a decade. The principles on this site are the same now as the day it came online. It is now, and always has been your option to either accept or reject these findings. But, I seriously doubt that there is anything to be gained from rehashing our countless discussions of them.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jack Mankin
> > > >
> > > > Hi all of you....Thanks for the definition on THT! Now...let me say, and say it with respect to all. We want the shortest path!! We cannot begin to believe or even want to teach that we should pull all pitches...but sure if you want to CAST the hands and, let me add this, HOOK the barrel. Which now puts the barrel in front of the hands, then sure go for it. But you'll never be a quality hitter or have any!! By casting you have created a long path to the ball. Our extension must be to the pitcher and not to the plate. Our top hand is so important, more so than the bottom hand... We must allow the top hand elbow to be as close to what I call" THE SLOT" as possible on contact....we don't always achieve this because pitchers change speeds, but we should strive to be there as much as possible....thats why great hitters are great...they have great timing....HITTING IS TIMING....don't ever think it isn't...but in closing let me say the farther the top hand works away from the body the slower the bat speed. JAck....I also believe in TORQUE...but I refer to it mostly as RESISITENCE....meaning the lower half front and back sides work against each other. SO if you have good timing and your ryhtmn(APPROACH) is good...then you will have good bat speed....
> > > ***************************************************************
> > > Jeff,
> > > How do you explain the success of Guerrero, Shefield, Ramirez?? Clearly they are using a full sweep release swing as Jack advocates.
> >
> > Wow...a FULL SWEEP!!! A sweeping swing!!! Wow again....I will explain there success by saying that they do NOT have a Sweeping swing. Boy, I've evaluated and written many reports on theses guys and there swings are very direct!!! They only have length to where they are hitting the ball to. They do not have length before contact, their hands stay close to that body. Also, let me add....great hitters( because of Great Timing) can and do things not always mechanically correct and still have success....but the avg. will come down, meaning the consistence will drop. Sheffield may have the greatest bat speed in baseball....and he swings hard to....and he needs it!!! because that barrel has a long way to go to get to the contact zone...
>
> Jeff says...."...I will explain their success by saying that they do NOT have a sweeping swing. Boy, I've evaluated and written many reports on these guys and their swings are very direct!!!"
>
> Then Jeff says..."...Sheffield may have the greatest bat speed in baseball....and he swings hard too....and he needs it!!! because that barrel has a long way to go to get to the contact zone..."
>
> Huh?????
>
>
I saw Sheffield first hand for years and I assure you he is a prime example of top hand torque.Late in Strawberry's career I taught it to him and he later taught it to Sheffield.