Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Sat Feb 12 23:47:43 2005

Hi Jack,

You reference a very important topic:

"Mike, I am certainly not suggesting a batter should try to get the back-arm extended at contact. I am saying that extending the arm more is necessary to pull the ball or on outside pitches – doubly true when pulling outside pitches."

Up until this time, I have read extensive commentary on whether the back arm should be straight or in an "L" position at contact--and why.

Upon reading you commetary as it relates to the issue, I found it necessary to review clips of Junior, Mac, and Sheffield. One constant then became transparent: all players cast their back arm when attempting to pull outside pitches. Geometrically speaking, they have found a way to pull all pitches into the "natural field," where even a 340-foot popup has the potential of carrying the fence, due both the distance of the "porch," and the velocity at which the ball is struck.

Mac exemplifies these mechanics by breaking Maris' record (i.e., initially) on a low-and-away pitch that he "yanks." The others that bear mentioning follow a similar approach.

More precisely, the adage that "it does not matter if a ball is hit 340 feet, or 500 feet, as long as it clears the fence," might not apply in home run contests predicated upon distance, nut it certainly applies here.

The implications of pull field orientation are threefold: 1) a smaller player does not have to use steroids to amass an impressive home run output; 2) pulling the ball to the right part of the field will result in less well-hit balls that die "short of the fence"; and, finally, a person who is 5'7" and weighs 140 lbs. can use this "stealth technique" to gain the reputation as a home run hitter.

However, in order to master this technique, one must understand the position of the back arm at contact when pulling outside pitches.

Mike brought up an intriguing contact: how does the hitter use the back arm correctly to bolster one's hitting ability?

Mike and Jack, upon reading this thread, I would like to pose another question: how should one use the back arm to develop into a pull field orientee.

Sincerely,
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. This is going to get interesting.