Posted by: ray porco (rporco@verizon.net) on Wed Jul 13 13:55:57 2005

> Ray,
>
> Did you intend "when the thumb is more ABDUCTED" in the second sentence below rather than "ADDUCTED"?
>
> The thumb position mainly decides whether a grip is under the category of precision or power. When the thumb is more adducted, then the grip becomes close to precision and vice versa. When the grip has the least precision and the most power with large adduction of the thumb, it is called 'coal hammer' grip.
>
> ************************************************************
>
>
> Jim,
>
> Please go to:
>
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vzep5xd2/baseballphotosandvideos/id3.html
>
> then scoll down below the pictures of the hands and click on the hyperlink under “reference”.
>
> Under the menu on the left side of the page, click “Class Topics”.
>
> Again under the menu on the left, click “Prehension Overview”.
>
> Please read and I will discuss it with you tonight (or after this post gets posted).


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I think what is misleading is the picture labeled "Power Grip" (personally I'd have labelled it "Control", but...).

Of the 3 pictures, the power grip has the least amount of thumb adduction (thumb is most away from fingers). As the thumb is adducted more, the grip comes closer to precision (pinching of thumb and index finger). Finally, when the thumb becomes most adducted (it is wrapped past the fingers), it is the most powerful grip of the three.

You can try the following to demonstrate for yourself:

Simulate the power grip and coal hammer grip (right handed) substituting two fingers of your left hand (index and middle) for the cylinder. Apply pressure to the left hand fingers by squeezing the right hand. Note the pressure difference applied by the different grips. Coal hammer grip applies the most pressure and the thumb is most adducted.