Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Sep 5 19:37:03 2005

>>> Thanks for the reply, Jack. What you're saying is that the purpose of the thumb drill is just to keep the hands stationary while the hitter strides? So, if I kept my hands stationary BEYOND the shoulder, would that essentially accomplish the same goal? No bat speed would be lost? <<<

Hi Yesisbest

No, the purpose of the thumb drill is ‘not’ to keep the hands stationary while the hitter strides. That is referred to as “walking away from the hands.” The purpose of the drill is to keep the hands back during initiation and allow rotation to accelerate them – instead of using the arms to drive the hands forward.

I have no problem with the hands being beyond the shoulder – as long as it is shoulder rotation that accelerates them.

Jack Mankin