Posted by: Doc (jocdoc@bellsouth.net) on Wed May 21 15:04:45 2008

> I always hear people teaching batters drills to keep their hands inside the ball.
>
> What does hands inside the ball look like? What does that mean?

What I've learned it means that on the release of the ball to keep your swing and this means your hands bent slightly on contact with a liitle flexion and not full extension. Think of it that if you are standing next to the plate. Now, hold your hands with bat stetched out in extension. Notice you have much plate coverage, but probally way to much. This allows for a long swing causing the hitter to have a slow bat and a much longer path to the ball (a longer arch to his swing). Your hands closer to your body in a more flexed position allows for a shorter path to the ball, a shorter arch in your swing and a quicker contact to the ball. Remember you only have like .15 seconds to start your swing to contact. Seen on ESPN game with Joe Morgan. Also has to do with the time to read a pitch. The longer to read a pitch with a long swing, the poorer your results.