Posted by: gregg stock (gregg.stock@line6.com) on Tue Dec 12 13:07:12 2000

There has been much discussion on Jack's post about the value of
hitting the "inside" or "outside" of the ball. Others of us have
discussed the value of hitting the top, center, or bottom half of the
ball on my previous post. Yet, I still haven't gotten the advice or
answers about my "flightpath" question.
>
> Regardless of where you actually strike the ball (inside, outside,
top half, bottom half, center, whatever!!), is the optimal flightpath
of the bat, in relationship to the ball, going to be in the same swing
plane? Should it vary up or down a few degrees, depending on the
desired result you want to get? (groundballs, line drives, or
flyballs) I'm going to assume we are talking about the best chance to
reach base safely, the line drive.
>
> Wouldn't the farther you stray from the "inline" flightpath, the
more precision that would be required?
>
> Appreciate any and all comments.
>
> Curt

The idea of having the bat swinging up in the same plane as the ball
(about a 12 degree angle) is taught by Ted Williams and Dave Hudgens.
It makes sense to maximize the contact zone and refutes the "level
swing". I watched a tape of Griffey Jr. hitting a HR the other day
that clarified my understanding on this subject. The ball was blurred
enough that you could see the angle it was coming in at. At contact
his bat was in the same plane as the ball but very briefly.

If you have reached maximum bat speed at contact, the follow through
should just gently decelerate the bat. So to achieve the a high, hands
at head level, finish the 12 degree angle is part of a constantly
increasing angle of attack.

Hope this helps,
Gregg Stock