Posted by: ray porco () on Mon Dec 13 22:18:08 2004

>>>i would be interested in your honest opinion about how far from/how close to the shoulder the hands should come, as well as the thumb stuff...<<<

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grc,

how far from/close to?
whatever would be optimum for each individual batter. there is no magic number of inches.

as far as "...the thumb stuff...", it is impossible for me to touch my top hand shoulder with my top hand thumb as i am swinging. check out overhead views posted some time ago by NickKio (Mercer, Williams, Robinson, Rose). however, today's pros seem to (as a rule) be more tighter (more compact). ARod seems to come closest.

i personally wouldn't use it (thumb to the shoulder) as a training exercise. i'd would have to see it demonstrated (the touching part) to believe it.


ray porco