Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Nov 29 17:11:03 2004

>>> BHL what is a "neologism " ? Also, when I hit an outside pitch I use a wider arc like you described but I have one problem (I'm a left handed hitter): when I contact an inside pitch the ball is probably about 1 foot in front of the plate and the bathead is perpendicular to left field. On an outside pitch I can't get the bathead perpendicular to left field unless I contact at about the same 1 foot in front of the plate, but if I contact that far in front my wrists roll.I think it's an anatomy thing, that for the inside pitches I contact in front of plate without wrist roll but outside pitches i have to contact ball with ball coming in farther to the plate in order to avoid wrist roll. But by letting ball get in deeper, I'm not able to get bathead perpendicular to left field (pull field), it's more perpendicular to the opposite field (right field).In addition, on inside pitches I contact when bat has started it's upswing, but an outside pitch, since it comes in deeper, I'm catching ball when bat is still on the downswing (in addition to being perpendicular to opposite field).
I hope my questions and problems make sense to you, BHL, or for that matter to Jack or anyone else. Thank you so much! <<<

Hi Sandi

I have no problem with hitters pulling outside pitches -- if they have sound rotational transfer mechanics that can handle that pitch. It is obvious that many of the great hitters successfully pull pitches on the outer part of the plate. However, I do have a problem with encouraging all batters to pull outside pitches. The mechanics exhibited by 95+% of hitters is a far cry from the mechanics used by the "example" PFO,s alluded to (Bonds, Sosa, etc.) .

In this instance, I can not speak for slowpitch. However, I can assure you that many (if not most) baseball hitters will find problems, similar to those you mentioned, when attempting to pull balls on the outer part of the zone. The average hitter's swing mechanics do not generate good early bat speed (back toward the catcher) on pitches down the middle and even less on outside pitches. The farther out they extend their hands into a wider path, the farther the bat-head trails behind the hands. Their wrists can easily roll too early if they attempt to drive the bat-head forward by over extending the top-hand.

Sandi, some of the problems you mentioned indicate your swing has more linear than rotational properties. Because good rotational mechanics generates great early bat-head acceleration, the bat is brought to contact much farther back in the swing (more toward the middle of the plate). Therefore, these hitters do not need to allow outside pitches to get in deeper than those down the middle.

You stated, "In addition, on inside pitches I contact when bat has started it's upswing, but an outside pitch, since it comes in deeper, I'm catching ball when bat is still on the downswing (in addition to being perpendicular to opposite field)." -- More linear type hitters push the top-hand forward at initiation whereas, the top-hand is being pulled back with rotational transfer mechanics. The top-hand being pulled back accelerates the bat-head on its downward slope behind the shoulders and the bat- head will bottom-out and be on an up-slope even on outside pitches. Shoving the top-hand forward means the downward slope of the bat-head is more in front of the shoulder and bottoms-out farther along in the swing.

Jack Mankin