Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Dec 14 15:00:10 2000

>>>Jack, what is top-hand torque and how do teach it? Also is there a phone number can call to order your tape. Thanks Dennis<<<

Hi Dennis

Welcome to the site. This is in response to both of your posts. - Below is a post I wrote back in Jan. that may give you a basic idea of top-hand-torque. There are many good posts on the subject posted over the last year. You may want to take a look. --- Regarding purchasing the tape, you can order the instructional video by going to the “Video” page on the site. Your information will be processed through a secure web page. If you have any problems ordering, please e-mail me.

>>>I am sure many of you are having trouble understanding the mechanics and the importance of applying torque (top hand pulling back toward the catcher) at the start of the swing. To gain that understanding you must have a good visualization of the path the bat head travels from the launch position to contact. --- For the sake of discussion, let us assume the plain of the swing to be fairly level with the ground and we picture it like the face of a clock. The catcher at 12 o’clock, the pitcher at 6, the 3rd base dugout would be at 3, and the contact point (1st base dugout) at 9 o’clock (the bat becomes perpendicular to the flight of the ball).

When the batter is in his launch position, his bat would be over his shoulder and pointing in the direction of the 3rd base dugout (right hand batter) or at 3 o’clock. The bat-head must then rotate from the 3 o’clock position - around to 2 to 1 and 12 o’clock (back toward the catcher) before arcing on around toward the contact point at 9 o’clock.

For this swing the bat will travel through 180 degrees of rotation from launch to contact. The forces that are applied in those first 90 degrees of bat movement (3 o’clock to 12 o’clock) will determine whether the batter is just another hitter or has the potential to become a great hitter.

The lesser hitter will extend or drive both hands (applying force in the same direction) in a fairly straight line toward the pitcher. This action produces little torque and will cause the bat-head to just slide over in line with the hands when the bat is in the 12 o’clock position. The bat will be extended more lengthwise toward the pitcher (knob to the ball) with little angular displacement (bat speed) generated. Also, the batter will not be in a good position to apply torque to the bat until the lead arm nears full extension and the top hand has something to push against. Therefor, much of the bat speed produced will be developed after the bat passing through the ideal contact point.

The great hitter will keep his hands back while applying torque (hands applying forces from opposing directions) as he initiates the swing. He will allow the lead arm to stay close the chest and let the body’s rotation bring the hands around to the contact area. By pulling the top hand back toward the catcher as the bottom hand pulls the knob around toward the pitcher will cause the bat-head to start gaining a high a rate of angular displacement (toward the catcher) with very little forward advancement of the hand-path. When his bat gets to the 12 o’clock position, it won’t be just sliding forward. This will allow the bat to rotate around to perpendicular with a much shorter hand-path -- 20 to 22 inches as compared to 26 to 28 with linear mechanics.<<<

Jack Mankin