Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Mar 17 22:40:40 2005

>>> Although I have found most of BHL's post to be obnoxious I would like to hear a little bit about your answers. The reason I would like to know so we can learn more of the different teachings of the same swing mechanics. I am trying to learn more about rotational hitting and have purchased your dvd, which my son has watched twice now (just received it this week) and is working hard to learn.

Knowing there are all type out there spewing out different instruction it is good to hear what comparisions and contrast there are from the guru's like yourself. Although I suspect BHL as trying to pit you guys against each other or at least trying to be clever and debate you, I look to learn the difference and what I can take away from these answers.

Right now my biggest concern with my son is first lower body so this will help and 2nd is his lead arm. So if you can please at least describe your thoughts on the lower body here. <<<

Hi Mark

When it comes to lower-body mechanics, Mike and I probably have much more in common than differences. We both agree the body rotating around a stationary axis is what supplies most of the energy for the swing. There may be some variation in how we teach that rotation, but the outcome will be close to the same.

I would say the main difference is in how we visualize the lower-body to upper-body relationship in the swing. From my reading of Mike’s work, he feels that if the batter gets the correct hip and torso rotation, the upper-body transfer mechanics will basically take care of itself.

I teach that if the batter has the correct visualization of how to initiate the bat-heads acceleration into the swing plain, the mind will set up a lower-body program to accommodate that acceleration. – I will post below part of an e-mail I wrote on this topic.

Jack Mankin
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To be honest, I have had very few students whose major problem is with their lower body mechanics. I spend a lot of time teaching the batter how to prepare good Launch and Contact positions (all the points shown in your training booklet). I have the batter address the heavy bag with the correct contact position. Then I have them use their legs (mainly the lead-leg) to rotate back to a good launch position (lead-heel up pointing toward third base). Then rotate around a stationary axis back to the contact position. This rotation is activated by the rotation of the lead-heel rotating back toward the catcher as it lowers and the lead-leg begins to extend. Then they rotate back and forth from launch to contact. Once they are fluid with their movements, they can start incorporating their timing step.

I impress upon them that all swing mechanics (lower and upper-body) has one ultimate purpose – to accelerate the bat-head around the swing plane to contact. That is what they should concentrate on – not the legs or hips or accelerating the hands – Think, rotate the heel, rotate the bat-head. -- First in an arc back toward the catcher then around toward the bag. -- No tension, no explosion – loose, smooth, ever accelerating movements.

The student’s bat-head acceleration seem to sync with hip and shoulder rotation better when thinking of accelerating the bat-head rearward than when thinking “hips first” or similar leg type cues. At least this is true for my teaching. --- This is the same method (and thought process) I used to teach John the basics of rotational transfer mechanics he exhibits in the video. John’s main problem was (like many others) his muscles were so tight from years of relying on linear mechanics, it took a long time to loosen him up to swing freely.

Jack Mankin