Posted by: Jim (jwelborn@lexcominc.net) on Thu Jun 23 21:33:16 2005

> Jim,
>
> And I do not share your view, Jim.
>
> Clarification:
>
> All the following are quotes by Candrea:
>
> "Powerful hitters unwind from the bottom up with a combination of linear and rotational movement. The back side rotates against a firm front side. The word firm is important: If the hitter locks the front side, her weight actually moves back as she executes the swing. This movement does not allow the hitter to create a positive weight shift that delivers her energy toward the contact point."
>
>
>
> "If we divide the body down the middle from the head through the belly button, the front side of the body supplies the direction while the back side provides power. This principle is the same when you are teaching proper throwing mechanics. Let the back side knock the front side out versus using the front side to pull the back side through."
>
>
> "I use the phrase Throw your hands inside the ball. If the hitter is going to deliver the barrel to the ball, her hands must be inside the ball. Hitters who always try to hit the outside of the ball often have poor results. The only pitch hit on the back of the ball is the inside pitch. All other pitches are contacted on the inside half of the ball."
>
>
> "Contact points vary depending on the location of the pitch. I actually put three balls on the ground that signify the proper contact points for the inside, middle, and outside pitch. A key coaching point for proper contact is the following:
>  For an inside pitch, the barrel is in front of the hands.
>  For a middle pitch, the barrel is even with the hands.
>  For an outside pitch, the barrel is behind the hands."
>
>
>
> If you know (really know) the teachings of each, then how can you say both are correct?





Ray,

Quote #1, “Powerful hitters…”

I cannot find this quote anywhere in Candrea’s current tutorials. He breaks hitting into two distinct phases. First is the linear preparation phase which creates timing and the initial momentum which leads into the rotation phase. The second phase is the actual rotation itself. The “firm front side” coins what occurs as the front leg does its part in dynamically diverting the linear movement into rotational movement.

It is most interesting that when one studies the swings of the 28 major leaguers (including Barry Bonds) and 6 Olympic softball players on the Rightview Pro viewer, they ALL go through a linear preparation phase prior to rotation.


Quote #2, “If we divide…”

This may be a dated quote and is perhaps not the best description . However it does, to a degree, describe the rotation that ALL of the major leaguers exhibit and Jack Mankin describes. The front side does direct the rotation. The front shoulder and side are directed back toward the catcher. The back side’s share of the energy provided by rotation is being released at contact. This can be seen when the back foot relaxes and is pulled up on the toes or even comes off the ground moving in a forward direction.

The phrase “…using the front side to pull the back side through”, to me, is a description of the type of weak rotation that occurs when one “squishes the bug.”


Quote #3, “I use the phrase…”

This quote is lacking some context. It probably refers to the “poor results” that occur when the batter either tries to pull a ball that is already too deep in the zone, or is trying to pull the outside pitch.


Quote #4, “Contact points…”

I agree with this. This is more than theory. We teach this and it has made a significant difference in the effectiveness of our hitters.


This has been a great discussion. It’s really making me think through this stuff. Perhaps Mankin and Candrea do vary on a few points. But I think they are very close overall.

One part of swing mechanics upon which Candrea places emphasis is the importance of the batter’s ability to make split second adjustments just prior to actual contact. Things like “hitting through a long zone” and what should happen with the arms and wrists during rotation are things that effect significantly where on the ball the bat actually makes contact. This may be a specific area where there are differences of opinion.

Jim