Posted by: ssarge (ssarginson@earthlink.net) on Sun Dec 12 22:44:54 2004

Jack:

I'm asking the question without an agenda, just curiosity. Is John's batspeed actually in the 90s? With good contact and swing plane, that should translate to what - maybe 450'? On your DVD, my recollection is that John indicate "high 70s or even 80" (or words to that effect) on an outside pitch, which he claimed was slightly better batspeed than he attained on an inside pitch. That bat speed seems to me consistent with the ball flight he demonstrates on the DVD.

I'm not asking to evaluate THT or anythingf else. I've spent a lot of time lately trying to ascertain pro bat speed. A lot of slow pitch players get 100mph or more, but they have very clow swings - because they can. When quickness is a consideration, there are tradeoffs, I think, and I'm trying to wade through that.

Thanks and regards,

Scott



>>> Jack says that Elliott could only bring his hands 4-5 inches from his shoulder...........well, in the Demo he did not even come that close. <<<
>
> That may very well have been the case at that time. As I pointed out above, that is one of the main reasons his bat speed was in the 70’s.
>
> John likes the Sosa style and starts with his hands 10 to 12 inches out in front of him. As he brings hands toward the shoulder, he is already accelerating the bat-head back toward the swing plane. Once the bat-head has sweep into the plane and the elbow is lowering to the slot, he wants his extended thumb to brush the shoulder. With these mechanics his bat speed is in the 90’s.
>
> Jack Mankin
>