Posted by: dfl (derma.13@hotmail.com) on Mon Jul 21 23:13:28 2008

> >>>,Could someone explain the concept of "a rearward force as the bottom-hand is
being pulled forward." I get the idea that the the bottom hand pulls forward, but not sure
that rearward force refers to pushing the bat. <<<
>
> Hi PMB
>
> In regards to the top-hand, it should not be “pushing the bat” forward as the swing is
being initiated. In the high level swings we saw in the derby, it was the pulling rearward of
the top-hand and the rotation of the forearm as the elbow lowered to the side that
accelerates the bat-head back toward the catcher from its launch position. – Below are a
couple posts from the Archives that explain this further.
>
> <a href="http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/91727.html">Rearward
acceleration - Key to high level swing</a --
>
>
> <a href="http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/14788.html">Envision the whole
path of the bat-head</a –
>
>
> Jack Mankin

If you focus on keeping your arm barred, wouldn't your hands naturally produce that torque? If both hands move forward, the lead arm will move out of that circular path and bend, no? THT and BHT seem like their almost part of that "auto-pilot" part of the swing you describe. The most effective way for me to think of the swing is just get the bat head in the sweeping position, keep the arm barred, and then rotate the shoulders at launch position. Hand torque seems to happen naturally for me.