Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Feb 7 16:35:54 2005

>>> "THT - Like the others that have posted before me I'm struggling with how to apply this concept. Your top hand can certainly pull back toward the catcher at the start of the swing arc but then once the barrel's arc starts moving toward the direction of third base then toward the pitcher, the rear hand can no longer pull unless you want to decelerate your bat. So does the rear hand ride along after the initial pull or does it pull first, then ride along, then push as the barrel approaches contact? I certainly can't teach this to my son is I can't make it work myself."

I've tried to apply THT by pulling back with my top hand at launch, but I have to say I haven't found a way to execute it properly.

Thanks Jack and others for whatever clarifications you can supply. <<<

Hi again Jon

To apply torque to the bat, the vectored force applied through the hands will always be opposing and perpendicular to the bat’s handle. When the bat is in the launch position, say 3 o’clock, the vectored force of the bottom-hand would be at 6 o’clock while the force of the top-hand is at 12 o’clock.

Note: I use the term “vectored force” because the actual direction of pull (or push) of the hand may not always be exactly perpendicular to the handle. Only the vectored portion of the pull or push that is perpendicular to the handle results in torque applied.

After initiation, the body is rotating, the elbow has lowered to the slot and the forearm is lowering toward horizontal. Let us say the bat has now rotated to the “lag position,” or 12 o’clock. The bottom-hand is now pulling at 3 o’clock and the top-hand at 9 o’clock.

As the bat approaches 9 o’clock (contact), the back-forearm has lowered to horizontal and now body rotation is driving the top-hand around toward the pitcher. The top-hand is now driving at 6 o’clock with the palm (instead of pulling with the fingers as with initiation). The lead-shoulder is now rotating back toward the catcher (105-degree position). Therefore, the bottom-hand is being pulled back toward the catcher (force at 12 o’clock).

So Jon, as the body rotates, the direction of force of the hands is constantly changing but always opposing.

Jack Mankin