Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue May 6 22:27:49 2008

>>> Jack, what are your thoughts as far as players that hit with their top hand, not being their dominant hand?
As I'm sure you know, Ted once said; he would have been a better hitter, had he been left handed. Can we comprehend that he could have been better?!! My own son, bats left but, is naturally right handed.
I guess it go's without saying, that these types of players, have no choice than to use a non-domiant top hand, as their power hand.
I think it's a very interesting topic. I think, that it must/have to be a fact, that these types of players, don't feel as week with a non-dominant top hand, as we might think <<<

Hi John

-- Above is your post you are referring to --

One of the main forces a batter’s mechanics applies to the bat handle that generates bat speed is “torque.” Torque is applied when the hands apply force to the handle from opposing directions. Maximum contact bat speed occurs when the lead-hand is being pulled rearward with the same force the top-hand is being driven forward.

Therefore, a top-hand dominate, or back-side dominate, hitter may apply a strong forward force to the handle. However, without an equally strong rearward pull from the lead-hand, only a limited amount of torque is available to accelerate the bat-head. To attain maximum bat speed and have pop in the bat, the batter must make more efficient use of the lead-side.

In my video analysis of average (top-hand dominate) hitters, the rotation of their lead-shoulder is more to take up slack in the lead-arm than to apply a strong rearward force at the knob.

Jack Mankin