Posted by: Shawn () on Mon Mar 5 11:55:52 2001

It's easy to identify hitters that use rotational mechanics because most of them do. I'm still waiting to hear about one that doesn't.
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> Most also use weight shift as well--some more than others. Just because McGuire releases his top hand doesn't make him a weight shift hitter. Just because Aaron had a healthy stride sometimes does not make him a weight shift hitter.
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> I know in the past there have been more pure weight shift hitters than today's game. There are many hitters today that stride to a pre-bent leg and than use the extension of the leg to drive rotation.
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> In reality, there are too many permutations to clearly classify hitters under either type--although I would say there is a trend to less aggressive weight shift (back to middle rather than striding into the front leg) and smaller strides.
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> Many times we argue about terminology (we use different words to describe the same thing).
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> Tim
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Hi all,

Lets not blame Lau completely for the 60, 70, 80's. Remember his book came out in the early 80's. There are some things that might affect a hitters ability such as no shoulder rotation. Hitters were actually doing this before Lau came on the scene. And many of the problems with back foot hitting (squashing the bug) and the straight up stances, no/little shoulder rotation, hard strides (jumping), top hand dominance, and rolling the wrist were addressed by Lau Sr. and now his son JR.

It's a wealth of information to anyone interested in the art of hitting.

I watched Guidry (?)of the Yankee's' strike out 18 Angels 1978 (pre-Lau) and Clemens strike out 20 Mariners 85 (?) recently on Classic sports. Batting averages for both teams involved were very poor. For both games I would put the cumulative batting average at .225 for all teams involved.

Lau was not the reason for the terrible swings displayed. I have to wonder how these hitters even made it to the majors. They displayed any/all the common faults you would see in LL or in Fastpitch. Lunging, swinging and striding, collapsing, poor swing planes, poor launch position, hands coming forward, rolling the wrists, complete back arm extension with little/no shoulder rotation (torso).

These guys were either afraid of shoulder rotation, or they had no idea that the bat must 'arc', 'rotate', between the hands. Simple swing around the head/spine (keeping the hands back). That the swing is a pull/push action and not just push.

All the hitters mentioned swing/arc the bat from a balanced/axis. Griffey uses weight/shift and his stride to set up his axis and rotation, Very fluid and natural. Alex is very similar, natural rotation and uses his striding action to set-up the swing.

Mac is a totally different hitter than Alex and Griffey. Massive torso, legs, arms, often his hip cock and stride (very short) is described as a weight shift. Very focused rotation, or pumping action, weight shift, whatever you want to call it. Comes off the backside strongly with his massive trunk/torso (shoulder/arms included) too arc the bat.

I once heard that the stride sets up rotation. Call it weight shift, hips rotation, anything thing you want. And then remember where are the hands when the stride touches down? Is the lower body creating the base for the upper body before the hands start to work?

One thing very interesting is Mankin preaching (begging, ?) that you don't shift the weight and swing at the same time (drive the hands forward). It's very interesting how this 'small detail' can sap power and quickness and lead too a lose in balance and way too much extension out front (hands coming forward).

Don't blame Lau or confuse simple instructions as shift the weight from the backside to the frontside and poor hitters. It's simple not completely true. I've heard Nomar's swing explained the same way many times. I don't believe Lau Sr. or Jr. are completely wrong, there is no completely linear system and they don't suggest there is. Sr. may have taken the weight shift to far to defeat the backfoot hitters and dominate top hand, too much against the hips and at the same time knowing their importance. He simple didn't explain it thoroughly or well enough. Jr. has bridged this gap and is more what we see in hitters today (combination) that all great hitters used.

Lau was against the idea that you forcefully hit off the back foot, keeping all the weight back. And hit with a strong pushing action. This is simple 'driving the hands' and is the thoroughly explained by Jack as a major flaw even in his rotational model.

Shawn