Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Mon Apr 11 20:30:45 2005

> > Hi Marcus:
> >
> > If lead side rotation is de facto to hitting, then perhaps righties should think about about hitting. I call this my 1/X hypothesis, a proposition that will help individuals develop a circular hand path naturally.
> >
> > My belief system is in no way a theory; by contrast, it is, like my PFO Hypothesis, a belief system that is far from scientific. I believe it might generate some discussion, though.
> >
> > GRC, your thoughts...
> >
> > Best Wishes,
> > BHL
>
> BHL,
>
> I forgot to mention that I have a very good friend who just started playing softball at about 26 years of age a few years ago. He had very little experience at a competitive level, but he has a nasty-looking swing! I worked with him to no avail, as his poor mechanics had become such a deep-seeded habit. So, I figured we had nothing to lose by switching him to a lefty. He was hesitant, as he felt awkward in the other batter's box. It took a couple of months to get him comfortable, but once he committed, it was very easy to teach him good mechanics seeing as how he had no bad habits to overcome from that side of the plate. This was 5 or 6 years ago, and we still work on keeping his mechanics straight, but he has turned into a good hitter. He's about 5'11" 165 pounds, and he has hit a couple over the fence in our league. He's not really a power hitter, but occasionally he can pop one out. I'd say for his size, he would have to have sound mechanics to do that! He won't even think about trying to hit righty now...he says it's foreign to him now!
>
> I just thought this would be an interesting story, even if it is a little askew from the spirit of your original topic.
>
> Marcus

Hi Marcus:

I think the ultimate way to cure an individual failing to exhibit a good circular hand path would be to ask that hitter if he / she wants to hit lefty. This is due to the fact that hitters that hitters that bat the same way that they throw are likely to want to "punch into the ball." From the opposite side, though, these hitters will exhibit the tendency to fling the bat-head.

I am a right-handed power hitter, but have hit some balls well lefty. However, I tend to exhibit a better circular hand path when hitting from the left side than when hitting from my natural side? Why is this the case? The answer is the following: the dominant side comes into play.

Perhaps the best way to deal to proselytize an obstinate hitter is to teach that person mechanics from the opposite side of the plate. I am just wondering how much faster John Elliot would have mastered Mankin's mechanics had he chosen to bat left-handed.

One good experiment would be to do Jack's drills "to a T" with one exception: bat the opposite way that you throw. Then, check the bat-speed radar, and see how high it registers.

Do so mental thinking, too. When performing such exercises, the batter should ask the following: what bat-speed, given the size of the bat, will allow softballs to be hit hard enough to clear the field consistently?

Then, work on the drills until the goal is reached.

Such a proposal is bound to delight spray hitters, and to be well-loved by PFO practitioners.

Batting the opposite way you throw intentionally does have some appeal.

Any other thoughts?

Best Wishes,
The Black Hole Lexicographer (a.k.a., BHL)
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. What does NASA think they are going to accomplish by removing the Hubble?