Posted by: Terry Shaw (terryshaw1959@yahoo.com) on Fri Jan 19 21:19:14 2001

Hello Jack,

I would like to get your inputs on something that I've read from one of your post.

I would like to furnish a visual reference to compare the amount of lead arm barring that you feel is acceptable. You'll find the replies (and the replies in part) that I originated my question from below the dashed lines.

Your thoughts/input would be appreciated.

The visual reference is located at http://www.geocities.com/texas_softball/Edgar/Edgar.htm

Thanks, Terry Shaw

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Regarding the lead arm:

Jack wrote in a previous post (in part):

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.

and

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.



The original post is pasted below.


Re: Re: Re: bent lead arm at contact

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


Maximum wrote:

>>>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