Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Jun 16 17:24:02 2005

>>> Jack or anyone: Would you care to comment on Todd's swing on swingmechanics.com? He tends to focus on linear mechanics, but when I look at his swing, it seems to me that the core of it is rotational. He does use an extended wind-up, but he hits with a straight lower arm and rotates his hips and shoulders with impressive power. It looks as if his right arm straightens more than I would expect, probably because he hits the ball so far out in front of the plate. Do you believe he is achieving maximal power with this swing? Scary if he is not, because he is hitting some balls 400 feet. – Al <<<

Hi Al

The clips he shows are not the best for analysis. They are dark and taken from a rear angle. I am not sure what he teaches but from what I could see, I would agree with you that he exhibits rotational transfer mechanics. He wraps the bat similar to George Brett but even with his exaggerated knee lift, his stride is softer and shorter. From initiation to contact (after the front foot is planted) his mechanics on outside pitches does remind me of Brett. Note how much he accelerates the bat-head from its wrapped position to the lag position (THT).

Jack Mankin