Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Tue Jan 16 06:37:29 2001

>>>(No, I don't mean in the swing sequence. THT happend before BHT sequentially in the swing.)
> Jack, in a post a few weeks ago I asked if it would cause problems with the swing if THT were taught first, then BHT? You said you would respond to that 'important question' soon and this is a request/reminder since I am very curious.
>
> Before you answer, I'll put my own thoughts out here.
> BHT is more fundamental to the swing because it can't be done unless there is solid, complete hip and shoulder rotation as a foundation of the swing.
> I suspect that if hip and shoulder rotation mechanics are poor, that THT would not be an important place to start. It would probably complicate things. Would it be a 'bad' thing? or just pointless?
> If however, the hips and shoulders are turning reasonably well but the hitter can't feel BHT, I don't know what to say???? Is it possible that a hitter doesn't understand or feel BHT but is using it anyway just through good body rotation and good hand placement (not extending too soon)?
>
> Jack, that's about as far as I have gotten. Any help for the mildly confused <<<
>
> Hi Major Dan
>
> Your statement, “BHT is more fundamental to the swing because it can't be done unless there is solid, complete hip and shoulder rotation as a foundation of the swing” is one important reason why a batter should become proficient with BHT (bottom-hand-torque) before attempting to learn THT (top-hand-torque). Another equally important reason is that the batter needs to develop the “linkage” (transfer mechanics) to convert shoulder rotation into bat speed. With rotational mechanics, and proper linkage, the circular-hand-path is accelerated by shoulder rotation. Linear mechanics rely less on shoulder rotation and more on the extension of the arms to accelerate the hands.
>
> The linear transfer mechanics used by nearly all hitters has the back (or top) hand extending forward as the swing is initiated. This has the effect of accelerating the bat lengthwise (knob first) and delays the involvement of the front side (poor linkage) until the lead arm nears full extension. Good rotation mechanics require that the top hand stay back during initiation (act more as a pivot point) and allow the front side to become more active in applying torque earlier in the swing.
>
> Therefore, having the top hand driving forward at initiation is incompatible with rotation transfer mechanics (both BHT and THT). I have found that it is easier to teach the proper role of the top hand and lead arm while working on BHT. Then work on adding more and more THT. --- Batters who accelerate the bat-head back toward the catcher (pre-launch THT) and then extend the top hand forward at initiation develop serious bio-mechanical (wrist bind) problems. The swing is very jerky (can cause wrist pain) with waves in the swing plane. This is a common flaw with many pro hitters attempting to use top-hand-torque.
>
> Jack Mankin
>

Jack-
Thanks. I continue to learn more every day and appreciate your help in the process.

I got out my old heavy bag and started pounding on it! I felt Bottom Hand Torque for the first time. I am experimenting with how to ingrain the technique and how to teach it/show it to students.
One thing I did was to emulate your THT demonstration but for BHT - I held the bat with the bottom hand fingers only. I started at contact, reversed the swing about half way, then turned back into the swing and pulled the bat handle back with the fingers of my bottom hand to snap the bat barrel into the heavy bag.
I hope that description is clear enough. I can definitely quicken up the bat that way as a demo. It doesn't work very well with a ball on a tee- no resistance and the bat bat tends to go flying out of the top hand.
IMO BHT is a very quick motion that happens in a short moment in time during the fastest part of the swing. Therefore it is not easy to feel or 'do' on purpose, at least in my experience. That's why the heavy bag is such a brilliant idea - you can go full speed into the BHT moment and stop the bat dead right after you do BHT. In fact I can time the BHT to snap the barrel into bag contact.

Any clues on how to transfer the heavy bag skill to a ball on a tee?

Jack, on your point of developing solid transfer mechanics to have the shoulders accelerate the circular hand path - you are so right. My daughter (16 - fps) tends to push her hands forward. When she does that there is no way she can get shoulder turn and turn it into BHT. In fact when the hands push, the hips slow down and the shoulders pass the hips too early in the swing.
As soon as her hands stop pushing and the top elbow stays near the ribs, the hips finish the turn, the CHP shows up, BHT is available, etc. It's all linked together.
We have a lot of habits to remake however
Thanks again.
Major Dan