Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Jan 25 23:18:22 2005

Jack...Thanks for the follow up.....I'm not an advocate of the hands stopping at full extension, and don't really know who would be. I see a circular path in every big league hitter I have seen on video. But I do advocate a movement forward to center. Jack, is it possible you could direct me to a video clip where a hitter has stopped his hands at extension?

All the hitters you mentioned have a weight transfer forward to center. They drive forward with their backside leg and thigh, yet they maintain their center by stopping that forward movement with the frontside landing on a flexed knee. Then begin the rotation process by firming the frontside leg( I call this resistence between frontside and backside ) and with a circular hand path. Wouldn't a hitter that just reaches with his foot and sits back and rotate be more of a spinner. A guy that comes off the ball and doesn't reach his full power potential? I think maybe we are on the same path...I have your final arc CD and am just trying to sort through it. Any help from this thread from me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hi Jeff

Your post raises many interesting questions. As you point out, it is obvious to anyone who has taken the time to study good hitter’s swings, none of them stop their hands at extension. It is also obvious they all have a CHP of some degree. The question then becomes, why is there even a discussion about an “A to B” hand-path or the stopping of the hands?

Jeff, the problem is, many (if not most) coaches are still teaching those linear batting principles to players from little league through college ball. These coaches have not taken the time, as you have, to study the swing. Therefore, they are just relying on what was taught to them 20 to 30 years ago.

As for claiming a batter is “spinning,” I can see little difference in “spinning” and “rotating around a stationary axis.” I know there are books that claim a batter must move the axis (or spine) “back to center” or he is “spinning.” However, many of the best hitters (like Bonds) just place the foot a few inches forward while the axis (and head) remains fairly stationary. Far from the axis moving forward “back to center,” Bonds’ axis actually fades 3 or 4 inches back toward the catcher as he rotates.

Jack Mankin