Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Dec 13 22:11:37 2004

>>> Jack,
i'm new to your site. This thumb to the shoulder is new text to my potential instruction. Can you answer the question why the pro's do not subscribe to that theory. If it a good technique I want to incorporate it into Baseball Wizard instruction. <<<

Hi Doug

Welcome to the site. – I only developed this technique about a year ago. When I saw how effective a tool it was in teaching rotational transfer principles, I posted the drill on the board to a parent having problems teaching his son THT. Therefore, I have no record or thoughts on how many have used the drill. Most of those that have posted and emailed me have reported very good results.

I suggest you go to the Swing Mechanics Page on the Site. Study the material and pay special attention to Frame #1. That is the batter’s position at, or just before, launch. Note how close to the shoulder he has brought his hands. That is the basic position for the drill. Then, once you have a good understanding of why the drill works, try it yourself and let that be your guide.

Note: Doug, there are three important points that make the drill successful. (1) As the batter starts to rotate and launch the swing, the top-hand must be pulling back toward the shoulder to keep the thumb touching it. (2) The lead-arm is pulling the bottom-hand (and knob) around toward third base from lead-shoulder rotation and “un-shrugging.” (3) The arms do not thrust the hands forward. It is shoulder rotation that flings the hands to the hitting zone in a circular path. --- Being new to the site, you are probably not familiar with these terms. It is all there in the “Swing Mechanics Page.”

Jack Mankin