Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Tue May 13 17:10:17 2008

> You got me there JLB, I mis-spoke. I'm aware that Bonds' top hand is going along for the ride, in Gwynnes explanation.
> You know what we know JLB? That as great of hitters that we have heard, that try to explain what they themselves do re the swing or, what their perception is of what other hitters do, differs. It just does. I mean most of us in here know that Ted said;"conclusion, it's a push swing."
> I once heard Jim Rice, a pretty dangerous hitter in his day, once say;"the easiest way to get a swing going is to drop the rear shoulder." Then there's those folks, such as Gwynne and, others, that profess the bottom hand pulling and, providing the pop.
> Personally and, again, one mans layman opinion but, both arms obviously have to come into play. In my mind, a pull by the bottom and, a push from the top. I mean, why wouldn't it make sense for the top hand to push? Tell me if you think this is a crazy analogy, ok?
> A right handed boxer delivers a body blow to the mid section, palm up at contact right? Now, for the sake of my point. What if, when loading up his punch, put his left hand, palm down, over the right wrist, palm up, and then delivered the blow? He is certainly going to naturally feel a pulling by the front arm, his left but, he'd be foolish not to drive the right arm through as well? Try it.
> My point, is that it makes sense for both arms to work as athletically as possible. And, the theory of one arm;"just going along for the ride," I don't buy.
>
> Again, one mans opinion.
> Later.


IMO,

I know Tony Gwynn was an outstanding hitter but his analysis, IMO is way off base in the video clip that you provided.

For one they are still pictures, so he doesn't explain what happens in between each frame, how the swing flows.

Frame #2, He says "there is a little cocking of the bat". Like it really has no significance. Bonds tipping of the bat towards the shortstop, has a lot of importance not just for timing but to allow him to prepare for the swing, to get his running start.

Frame #3, Notice how the front stride foot went forward and the hips started to open but look at the rest of his body. The hands moved up and back. Look how far the barrel of the bat started to be turned rearward. This turning rearward from the tipped position creates resistance to the hips, along with the hands moving back and keeps the shoulders closed. The barrel going rearward doesn't happen by pulling on the knob. Notice how much the hips have already started to open and how closed the shoulders still are.

Frame #4, Gwynn says "pulling of the knob with the bottom hand and not much arcing." I would disagree. The bat is still on its rearward arc, if it wasn't then Bonds would be hitting down on this ball which he is not. The shoulders are still closed so there can not be any pulling on the knob. the shoulders are still resisting the hips opening, creating a stretch in the "core". Notice how the rear shoulder is coming down creating more stretch. It is a lateral tilt of the shoulders. Bonds has created bat speed without commitment. He can still check his swing if need be. If he was pulling on the knob with shoulder rotation he would already be committed to swing.

Frame #5, The hands have realesed and the launch and spend has already taken place once the hands said go, the weight shift happenened and the barrel was thrown through the zone. As for the top hand going along for the ride, again I disagree the top hand is always working around the bottom hand.

IMHO,

Graylon