Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Jan 1 17:05:13 2005

In the discussion on THT about when it starts I think you described it as starting when the batter makes his step. I changed my daughter to rotational mechanics but she prefers the no step approach. It seems to work better for high level and college fastpitch softball. My question is if most of the baseball hitters are initiating the swing with a step and starting THT (which would be earlier than a no step swing), wouldn't it be harder to lay off a pitch as opposed to the no step. Maybe that's why to me it (no step) seems better suited to fastpitch because of the shorter distances. Anyway , Jack, have you see any advantages or disadvanteges as far as generating bat speed and THT?

Hi BMill

The best hitters, baseball or softball, acquire about the same launch position whether they stride or no-stride. Almost all major league hitters developed their batting styles when taking a stride and aggressively transferring weight forward was mandatory with most batting coaches. The better hitters now tend to take much shorter strides with less forward movement.

Hitters like Bonds and Sosa have little to no forward body movement with their short strides. However, placing the foot forward to foot-plant is so integrated with their timing and rhythm that the no-stride approach would probably feel restrictive and awkward.

I would say the stride/no-stride option is more a matter preference than one having an advantage over the other with regards to applying THT. The option is about evenly split with the fastpitch players I have worked with.

Jack Mankin