Posted by: Jack Mankin (Mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Apr 22 00:03:59 2005

>>> was watching an entertaining video called Hitters on Hitting .the young kids love it. Anywhoose, it showed two clips of big mac's swing. One swing early in his career with the A's and later with the redbirds. the coomentator showe how earlier in his career he pulled his shoulder and his weight back and was hitting higher home runs with much less distance wheras when he let his weight and swing go toward the field he was hitting line drive shot homerund. I noticed when the shoulder pulls back it looks to me as more of a golf swing, and i noticed in my son as well he looses some power. Have you seen the video? have you compared earlier clips of Mac. because it is plain as day. I notice the loss of power in my sons swing as well when the body comes back too much with the shoulder,,,,any comments ? Thanks Jack. <<<

Hi Mark

I have not seen the video you have referred to, but I have written posts on this board pointing out the changes Mac made in his mechanics after joining the redbirds. I am presently away from the office, and therefore, do not have access to my Archive files to reprint them for you. The bottom line is, earlier in his career with the A's, Mac stood closer to the plate and since he did not use much pre-launch torque, he relied mainly on BHT to develop his bat speed. BHT requires full shoulder rotation to the 105-degree position (like we also see with Bonds and Sosa).

Later is his career (with the Redbirds), he moved a few inches farther away from the plate and treated most pitches as 'outside' pitches. Treating most pitches as 'outside' pitches means he cannot fully rotate the lead-shoulder and still take the hands out wide enough to get the meat of the bat on the ball. Which also leaves his lead-leg bent (not extended) at contact. However, taking his hands in a wider arc allows him to apply THT farther into his swing before the back-elbow lowers to his side. A wider hand-path powered with extended THT can produce great bat speed. However, Mantle and Sosa are a just a couple of the great hitters who have used BHT to hit shots equal to Mac's.

Mark, most of the best hitters rotate their shoulders past facing the pitcher to the 105-position on middle-in pitches. Unless your son stands far away from the plate, I would be very careful having him limit his shoulder rotation. It might be wise to look elsewhere for the problem -- linkage would be a good place to start.

Jack Mankin