Posted by: Anthony Stone (astone@msubillings.edu) on Wed Dec 8 09:50:30 2004

Question: Since many hitting instructors are so caught up in rotational versus linear hitting styles, which is more important...the hand or the hips?

Acting together, rotational or linear, they are powerful...but is rotational more consistent? Hands moving through the zone with little bat trail produce a swing that looks like someone is trying to muscle a tree through the zone. There is no bat whip.

And, the outside pitch, where many pitchers live (or die) is going to be tougher to hit because you reduce plate coverage as a direct result of the tree swing...correct?

So, as a rotational hitter, how do you account for hitting the ball consistently to all parts of the field and handling all pitches, including off-speed and on the outside corner?

Help me out here so I can help rotational hitters become better by understanding the process more.

Thanks.

Tony