Posted by: Dave P (cdpaetkau@telus.net) on Sat Jul 26 01:36:05 2008

> > >>> Jack - those videos are very helpful in explaining and showing BHT. I have pictures of my son at the lag and contact position that I believe show my son is using CHP, BHT and lead shoulder pull-back effectively. I am looking forward to the THT videos and any comments you might have on how to teach it. Thanks. <<<
> >
> > Hi Dave
> >
> > I will show clips of the principles involved in applying THT early next week. In the meantime I will give you a preview of important points in effectively implementing the mechanic.
> >
> > Other than gravity, there are two main factors involved in generating the bat-head’s rearward acceleration. (1) Torque induced from the top-hand applying a rearward force as the bottom-hand is pulled forward by lead-shoulder rotation. (2) Torque induced from the rotation of the back-forearm (and hand) as the elbow lowers. -- Hold the bat at the launch position with only the top-hand. Note that by holding the hand up in a fairly fixed position, you can accelerate the bat-head rearward by rotating the forearm as the elbow lowers.
> >
> > One of the major problems I find with hitters THT mechanics (MLB included) is they reply to heavily on rotating the forearm without the top-hand applying a rearward force during initiation. This results in the back-forearm driving down and forward toward the batter’s side, which creates slack in the lead-side. Lead-shoulder rotation is now mainly used in taking out the slack rather than doing work. This action depletes most of the shoulder rotation with little left for applying BHT.
> >
> > Note: The above illustrates the importance of a key transfer principle – The role of the forearms and hands are to remain back and apply torque. The acceleration of the hands and arms around the swing plane is powered by shoulder rotation.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
>
>
> Hi Jack. Thanks for the feedback. I am trying to incorporate the principles in my swing. The problem I had was that I was hitting the ball deep but foul. Another problem I had was that I was so focused on the BHT/THT that I was having difficulty using it as a natural part of my shoulder turn. This in turn led to me swinging more across (Konerko) rather than swinging through and getting extension.
>
> Therefore the side view of the hands I felt would be helpful to all as my only way to apply the torque led to a swing in which my entire body torqued with more emphasis on the upperbody (exagerated Jim Edmonds).
>
> THG

Hi THG and Jack

From the side video of the two players that you showed Jack the player who had poor upper body mechanics and in your opinion bad torque also started with bad lower body mechanics also. So was it the lower body that caused the uppper body to be in a bad position.

If you look at the poor mechanics of the kid on the left his front knee is still bent for his whole swing including contact which makes it almost impossible to rotate your upper body on an axis that does not move forward or backward depending on where the weight is moving with the lower body. His whole lower body is collapsing around his front knee instead of rotating around the spine.

Also Jack it would be great to see a video of where both players hit the ball at the same location since the player on the left hit the ball way out front and his arms are already extented to hit the ball. Of course this ball did not go as far as this only proves that poor mechancis is not a good as more efficient mechanics. I have a hard time seeing that THT and BHT are the only reason the hits were not equal. I am not saying that there is not either tourque in the swing but this example lacks in proof that it is the only difference between a poor and great swing.

A swing is a result of every part of the body working together to achieve a result of hitting the ball hard. If one part of that swing starts to stray away from being effiecent in its movement it takes subsequent movements to compensate for the previous movement or continues to go away from effiecent movements. The swing is the sum of the parts when put together in the right sequence. To compare what each sequence contributes to the swing you must get everything to that moment the same so you can compare the difference. This of course is very hard in a movement that is so dynamic but it is possible.

Dave P