Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Sep 28 14:05:12 2005

>>> Is it possible to have the hands too far back when coming to the launch position? When I come to my launch, you can see about half of my top hand behind my head, and the bat alomst wrapped around my head, can this be detrimental in any way? At launch I have my shoulders turned inwardabout 25-3o degrees I'm guessing, my hands slightly above and behind my back shoulder, should the hands be more forward, in front of my back shoulder instead, ort is this all the batter's personal preference? I just feel I can get more early batspeed with my hands back more, and it feels natural. <<<

Hi Dougdinger

How far back the hands are brought and much the bat is wrapped are two separate issues. During the inward-turn, the batters can “hid the hands” from the pitcher while having the bat in the normal launch position. Or, wrap the bat farther behind his head. How far a batter can successfully wrap the bat depends on his pre-launch and initiation mechanics.

Most batter’s mechanics drive the top-hand forward during initiation. This means they are applying a forward force on the handle with the palm of their top-hand. This forward force will drive the knob forward without accelerating the bat-head rearward toward the normal launch position. The farther they wrap the bat, the farther their hands (and knob) must extend before the bat-head slides over to the lag position. Obviously, this would not produce favorable results.

Great hitters, like George Brett, can successfully wrap the bat because their pre-launch and initiation mechanics pulls rearward with the fingers of the top-hand rather than driving forward with the palm. Pulling rearward with the fingers accelerates the bat-head rearward to, and through, the lag position with little forward progression of the hands.

Jack Mankin