Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Jan 8 17:19:38 2006

Hi Jack,

Do you have software that allows you to sync hitters to contact?

It is pretty easy to see when one hitter is starting their swing before another. I don't always save amateurs swings, but I will try to find a swing that shows a long swing and quick (short) swing.

Hi Shawn

I do not have that type of software. The Motion Studies computer software I worked with could give very accurate data but we did not have any high-level rotational transfer hitters in the pool that was available to study. A couple of the college players were fair but far from the major league caliber clips we like to use.

When it comes to video analysis, I found video shot from directly overhead to be the most useful in studying initiation to contact timing (especially at 60 fps). I taped a hundred or so games played in the old Astro Dome and copied all the overhead clips onto a separate tape. From that view, it was much easier to identify pre-launch movements and when shoulder rotation (and THT) begun to initiate the swing.

Jack Mankin