Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 15 03:48:29 2000

>>>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. <<<
Hi Tom

I think one of the main reasons the chp hitters are leading the performance stats is because he does not need to change his swing due to pitch placement. He is able to use the same mechanics regardless of where the pitcher throws to him - and still hit the ball hard. The only adjustment he needs to make is a slight change in how he initiates the swing. Once that change is made - his mechanics for the balance of the swing is on autopilot regardless of where the pitch is.

The change in the batter’s initiation that programs the swing is controlled mainly by the direction of pull of the top hand. In other words, the direction of pull of the top hand at initiation sets up trajectories that control the balance of the swing.

As an example - say the pitchers mound is at 6 o’clock and the plate is at 12 o’clock - On an inside pitch the direction of pull of the top hand is in tight, say at 1 o’clock, the back elbow will come almost straight down to the batters side. This keeps the lead arm across the chest and generates a tight hand-path and thus a low-load resistance to rotation. The back elbow coming straight down with little body rotation means less top-hand-torque was developed and the batters finishes the swing with a lot of bottom-hand-torque.

On a pitch more in the middle of the plate, the pull of the top hand is more straight-away or at 12 o’clock. With a more straight-away pull the shoulders rotate a few degrees as the back elbow lowers to the batter’s side allowing a greater amount of top-hand-torque to be applied. This direction of pull also causes the lead arm to cast slightly away from the chest and generates a somewhat wider hand-path. A wider hand-path generates greater bat speed and a higher load resistance to rotation. Less shoulder rotation means less bottom-hand-torque. So on the pitch in the mid part of the plate, what we wind up with is greater bat speed from a wider hand-path and more balance between bottom and top-hand-torque being applied.

On recognizing an outside pitch, the batters pull of the top hand is more away from center - or at 11 o’clock. This direction of pull causes the back elbow to sweep some distance with the body’s rotation before coming down. This allows top-hand-torque to be applied over a much greater portion of the swing. This direction of pull also causes the lead arm to cast out farther and develops a wide hand-path and thus a heavy resistant load to rotation. Limited shoulder equates to little bottom-hand-torque being applied. So, on the outside pitch the swing produces a wide hand-path with a lot of top-hand-torque and little bottom-hand-torque.

Jack Mankin