Posted by: Scott (snickas10@msn.com) on Mon May 2 11:18:31 2005

Jack,
At what point did I mention any mechanics of a linear swing? My problem with the advice on a high pitch was the terminology used; "Get your hands on top of the ball." Telling a student this could be detrimental. In my opinion I do not think that we should mention the words "hands" or "arms" when teaching a rotational swing. The reason is because the hands and arms do not swing the bat, the hips and shoulders do. The hands and arms are an extension of the shoulders and will naturally follow the rotation of the shoulders. Yes the hands are above the ball and barrel at contact, but I do not think you have to tell the hitter this. It happens naturally with the swing, it has too. Hitters hear, "get your hands on top of the ball" and they think "HANDS" and may be apt to lose the shoulder rotation and swing with their hands because subconsciously they are thinking hands, not turn hips and shoulders around axis. Once rotation stops the hands stop going in a circular path, begin in a linear path, and then rolling occurs. The rolling of the wrists occur once the bottom hand gets to the endpoint of the linear swing. The top hand will take over and causes the rear elbow to get away from the body (aka arm barring, not in slot, isn't in an "L"), wrists will roll, and the barrel will grossly lead the hands. Therefore, there is no power, force, or bat speed created, and a weak ground ball to the pull side will occur.

The point of my original reply was to remind people that the high pitch is hit with less of a tilt of the hitter's axis. The lower the pitch is the more tilt and downward angle of the rear shoulder. Once the ball gets up in the hitting zone the shoulders will level and there is less of a tilt of the axis. The point is to hit behind the ball just below the center to drive the ball to the outfield.

Although we give cues, to help the hitter's swing, that make sense and are clear to us, the words we use may be misconstrued by the hitter. They will practice and swing to their understanding of ours words.

I am not an advocate linear mechanics and hitting the inside part of the ball. In fact I want my students to want the inside pitch and make it their strength by using rotational mechanics and drive the ball to the pull side. I live off the Ted Williams quote, "History is made on the inside part of the plate."

My comments have not indicated a linear swing. My comments are to make us conscious of the terminology use.

Thanks for your time, Scott