Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Jan 5 05:26:25 2001

>>>I am having a problem with tension. When I pull my fingers to bring to bathead back toward the catcher my entire left arm and sometimes both arms tense up. If I don't tense up I don't swing hard even if I still use THT or not. Help <<<
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> Hi Madmax
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> It would help if I have an idea of where you are in working with rotational mechanics. Do you have my instructional video? Do you practice hitting a bag or live balls? How long have you practiced bottom-hand-torque and how proficient are you with it? The more I know about your swing the more I can help. -- Maybe it would be better if you e-mailed me.
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> Max, I would not advise trying top-hand-torque until you are proficient with bottom-hand-torque.
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> Jack Mankin
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Max - definitely follow up with Jack - but I have found that lifting the back elbow, then pulling it down creates top hand torque in a more intuitive way than consciously pulling the bat back with the fingers of the top hand. The intent is to get the same effect, I just find it an easier way to think about and cause THT IMO.
Jack -
you suggest gaining proficiency with bottom hand torque before trying top hand torque. Is this because BHT is a more fundamental part of the swing? IMO BHT happens when the hips and shoulders rotate far enough, early enough to have the front shoulder moving back toward the catcher at contact. Is this correct? THT is more a method to add additional batspeed into the fundamentals surrounding the hip and shoulder rotation. Is that correct?
My confusion is that I can feel and use THT more easily than BHT. Will this cause problems with the swing if approached in the THT first, then BHT order?