Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Aug 22 18:10:10 2005

>>> You don’t need me to tell you this, but you are a good man.
You piss me off sometimes when you ignore me, or answer for me, or give up on a discussion by “agreeing to disagree”, but two things I am indebted to you for – you have taught me, and you have allowed me to have a voice.

That said.
Your quote:
“I find no discrepancies in what I stated and the principles contained in http://www.batspeed.com/research08.html & http://www.batspeed.com/research10.html. Therefore, it would be helpful Ray if you would point them out.”

At
http://www.batspeed.com/research08.html
you write:
“Torque is the result of forces being applied to the bat from opposing directions that causes an object (the bat) to rotate about a point BETWEEN the two hands.”

And at
http://www.batspeed.com/research10.html

the figure in the lower right hand corner shows a batter with green arrows for the top and bottom hand that I assume are indicating the direction of force for each hand, and from the picture, one would also assume that they are applying force from opposite directions “about a point BETWEEN the two hands”.

Further, at
http://www.batspeed.com/research10.html
you give as an example:

“when loosening a lug nut with a 4 prong tire wrench, you push down with one hand while pulling up with the other (torque).”

Again this is an example of two hands applying force in opposite directions about a pivot point BETWEEN both hands.
I don’t see these as examples of an “oar lock”.

If I were to envision an “oar lock” example, I would not see a pivot point between the hands, rather one hand acting as the pivot.
Oar lock = pivot.
Pivot = one of the hands.
Oar lock = one of the hands.

And at:

http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/output/22688.html
you agree.

Your quote:
“The right hand would then be serving the function of the oarlock.”
I mean it’s your website, and your theory, but don’t you see how confusing this can be to a reader. <<<

Hi Ray

Thank you for the compliment and I agree there is some ambiguity in how I have described the position of the axis the bat rotates around. If I were to sum it up, I would say that during middle portion of a good rotational swing, the axis is more between the hands. -- If, during initiation the batter is applying THT, the bottom-hand remains more back at the shoulder as the top-head is pulled around it. Therefore, the axis would be closer to the bottom-hand. – If the batter uses BHT to bring the bat to contact, the bottom-hand is being pulled around a slower moving top-hand (the “hook” in the hand-path) and the axis is closer to the top-hand. -- If the batter uses linear extension mechanics, the batter is constantly trying to drive the top-hand past the bottom-hand and the axis will be closer to the bottom-hand from initiation to contact.

Jack Mankin