Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Sun Jun 22 23:03:32 2008

> > Hi Dave. I admire your search for the truth :)
> > If a hitters power was generated with the rear foot that you reference regarding MLB htters,then their swings would be more linear than rotational.
> > The power they're generating is the direct result of a soundly exectued rotational swing. The bttom line, is that any hitter exhibiting sound rotational mechanics, will also exhibit SOME degree of tilt in their swing,depending on pitch location, in order to get the plane of the bat, on the same plane as the pitch.
> > As far as your comparison of the motion of throwing a ball, versus, the swinging of a bat, they're two forces working on different objectives.
> > For a pitcher throwing a ball DOWN into the strike zone, it only makes anatomical sense, for the back leg and foot, to come up and through, to compltete follow through and, enhance the power of the throw. But, the batters objective Dave, is just the opposite, he's looking to get the ball UP. Now, if the batters objectice was to tomahawk or, chop the ball into the ground, then yeh, he probably would exhibit back leg lift,somewhat the same objective as the pitcher.
> > But, then how could Big Papi, get the ball into the air with those mechanics? :)
> > Take care.
> >
> > John.
>
> Hi John
>
> From your sarcasm I would assume that you did not take a look at Pujols HRs from the past few years. Go and watch Griffey's 596th HR and see his back foot move forward. As his back foot is going forward during his swing even on low pitches. A sounded executed rotational swing does involve the elevation of the back foot and not a squish the bug sit back and tilt back approach. Linear swings are not the result of lower body movement but by hand path.
>
> You can not get power forward if your weight is going backward. Look at almost every major league swing and you will see the back heel pointing straight up to the sky at contact and which means you can not have your weight going back.
>
> You are correct that the hitter must tilt some to set up their swing to match the ball plane but the tilt of the body is not adjusted depending on the plane of the pitch. If you put the same players swings side by side I rarely see a difference in body tilt depending on the plane of the pitch. You do not have enough time to reconize the pitch and plane of the ball and then adjust your body tilt to the ball.
>
> As for the throwing comparison both motions you are propelling an object after rotation of the hips and shoulders (not just pitching but throwing in general). Both the hips and shoulders rotate the arm into position to throw the ball and the same in hitting to swing the bat. They are just in different planes to the rotation of the body.
>
> I am not searching for the truth I am observing the reality and analizing what is happening. I have a quote in a baseball book that comes from a reporter which says "The coaches could not believe what the pictures showed them as his back foot was off the ground when he made contact with the ball and horror of horrors his top hand came off the bat after he contacted the ball." His name was Hank Aaron.
>
> Reality has been around for many years but many people keep looking for their truth. Sorry about the sarcasm.
>
> Dave



Dave,

Your quote; "You are correct that the hitter must tilt some to set up their swing to match the ball plane but the tilt of the body is not adjusted depending on the plane of the pitch. If you put the same players swings side by side I rarely see a difference in body tilt depending on the plane of the pitch. You do not have enough time to reconize the pitch and plane of the ball and then adjust your body tilt to the ball."

Good thoughts. I agree shoulders setting plane is to slow. IMO the hands adjust the bat angle to the plane of the pitch. I think the shoulders will tilt a little more or less dependent upon pitch location, but very little. The shoulders react to the hands.

Graylon