Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Wed Dec 13 13:30:49 2000

RQL-

Thanks for your post under "outside pitch..".

I had some questions about how adjustments are made.

You mentioned that you practiced spatial hitting using the tee to help increase the likelihood of hitting it where they ain't-right of 2nd or left of short.Did you do this based on the location of the pitch-pull middle/take away pitch to opposite side or did you try one or the other with the same location(within reason) depending on where the bigger infield hole was or what the situation was?


You also mentioned the way Boggs and Gwynn (lefties like you)approached the middle and away pitches.It seems they prefer to keep the bat angle perpendicular to the path of the ball as long as possible by straightening the handpath throught the contact zone.The handpath might be circular before this,but then they would get/keep the hands ahead of the bat longer by straightening the hand path and using less top hand,therefore hitting the ball more inside than flush producing the hit to the opposite field.In this case,I can see why you would say hitting the inside of the ball would not promote a chp(except for the away location).

You also mention that you would do the same thing on the away pitch.Either stay circular and hit the ball deeper over the plate or straighten the handpath slightly when hitting the away pitch less deep/at the front edge of the plate.

The inside ball would use the rotational mechanics,with the very inside ball pulled but kept fair(Piazza adjustment)by tightening/continuing the arc of the handpath resulting in less release(turn) of the bat by contact.

You also say that "pulling" the outside pitch
is taboo only if it is done by casting(early arm extension).While not taboo,it is difficult to do unless you are a big powerful mcgwire type.

The middle pitch could be handled either way-rotation/pull or the Boggs/Gwynn way which I believe requires straightening of the handpath(later extension of the arms than in the taboo pull the outside situation).

Is this an accurate repeat of your ideas?

My interpretation of Jack's observations is that the acceptable Mcgwire type "pulling"(hitting outside of ball)mechanics are enabled by emphasis on chp and lots of top hand torque at initiation rather than by specific physical attributes(strength,long arms etc.In other words,it is more a matter of learning mechanics as to how productive this can be.If the pitch is middle in there is more emphasis on ongoing torso turn which delays the bathead coming out and provides good plate coverage for getting the sweetspot on the middle pitch.If the player is jammed,tightening the arc of the hand path/lean back/shortening the lead arm can keep the bathead back longer(tophand doesn't release as soon)keeping the ball fair with good elevation and batspeed.This would seem to be a more similar/continuous set of adjustments(chp in all cases) than circular handpath inside/extending handpath outside which is what Schmidt describes among others and sounds like your description.While this may be difficult,it seems that more of the most productive hitters are evolving to this mostly chp style.

Do you (or Jack) think this interpretation is reasonable ?

I have found that trying to hit the inside of the ball (cue not reality)on the inside pitch does promote the chp IF you know you need a chp and you don't delay trying to get the bathead out by dragging the bat(push knob instead of turn bat early in swing).This seems to produce(in some)the pulling back of the bottom hand /lean back that keeps the inside ball fair that you discovered by other means.