Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Jan 15 12:28:31 2001

>>>So should we have our front arm extended so the elbow joint is locked, or should it just have a slight bend to it? Ted Williams has some pictures in his book showing a slight bend in his front arm, but somehow he is the best hitter ever! <<<

Hi Maximum

I do not mean to say the lead arm must be locked or ridged. But if given the choice of having the lead elbow bent 20+ degrees or locked -I would take locked every time.

Too many coaches and players think that having good lower body mechanics that cause the hip and shoulder to rotate around a stationary axis defines a hitter as using rotational mechanics. This is only a half-truth. Most hitters rotate their hips and shoulders. The number one factor that defines a rotational hitter is his “transfer mechanics”. -- Did the batter develop a circular-hand-path by keeping the lead arm fairly straight across his chest during rotation - or did the lead elbow bend (elbow at the pitcher) and allow the “hands to come thru” on a straighter coarse.

Good transfer mechanics requires that the rotating lead shoulder is constantly supplying a strong pull (linkage) to the knob end of the bat. ---This would be true whether you are a Little Leaguer or Ted Williams.

Jack Mankin