Posted by: Jon (jonwilliams@fuse.net) on Tue Jan 25 09:20:07 2005

>>> Remember that though the knob does point at the ball it is only for 1 frame in 30 frame per second video, if the chp is working. More importantly is how is your son interpreting. <<<
>
> Hi Rql
>
> I agree it how the batter interprets a cue whether it is �Knob to the ball�, or �Quick hands.� Would the batter interpret these cues to mean he should keep his hands back and accelerate the bat-head rearward? Or, would he interpret them to mean he should quickly extend the hands and knob toward the ball?
>
> From my discussions in the field with many coaches, I know how far to many of them interpret these cues. And I think you would agree with me that the latter interpretation does not produce a good CHP.
>
> Jack Mankin
>

The term circular hand path has not come up in the lessons obviously. What I see (naked eye at full speed) is that my son starts with his hands just below his right ear (he's a RH batter), with the bat in a mostly vertical position. As part of his timing mechanism, he "drifts" his hands back toward his right shoulder. This either causes or occurs simultaneously with a slight inward turn of his front/left shoulder, though he is not specifically instructed to do this.

His hands do appear to take a circular path, though I find it hard to believe he could take a truly straight path and still make decent contact with the ball. So I'm not sure how reliable this observation is. Are there visual keys I should be looking for: i.e. left/front arm staying tight to chest/rib area, right/back elbow moving down to his side as swing launches, rotate around an axis, straightened front leg at contact, etc?

Thanks for your help.
Jon