Posted by: TDS (tdschmit@merchantsbank.com) on Mon May 2 16:58:49 2005

> Jack et al-
>
> I am always interested in cues that are popular/passed on/somehow survive.What is it that might or might not be useful in how they are interpreted/how they encourage you to swing?
>
> Hitting the top half of the ball for some reason persists (Lau,Bonds,etc.) even though it clearly is not what "really happens".
>
> Here is a link that has a link to Bonds explaining his cues to softballer Jennie Finch:
>
>
> http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/video/twib/index.jsp
>
>
> once you get to this TWIB index page,scroll down to 5/29/04,then click on "pitch hit and run with Jennie Finch" (not the other links which sound similar).
>
> I suspect the hit the top has something to do with being conscious primarily of top hand/back arm emphasis through contact as a swing key,but beyond this I'm not sure why it works for enough people that the cue survives.

I am not saying that is what actualy happens but I do know the bat starts from a vertical position. I think using this approach would make for more consistant contact then telling someone to hit the bottom half.