Posted by: The Hitting Guru (hitman3527@aol.com) on Wed Jan 11 17:37:49 2006

> >>> Jack Mankin. A few years back, Mike Schmidt spoke of a combined system that used rotational with some aspects of linear in order to produce a swing that used a slight upswing with a somewhat level finish. Are you familiar with his theory (book "The Mike Schmidt Study") and if so, what is your take on his findings. Besides Schmidt players who may have used a combined approach were probably Cal Ripken Jr., Dave Winfield, Gary Sheffield and Hank Aaron. Their finishing point appears to be more forward rather than pulling through and having a slightly backward finish like a Fred McGriff, Jim Thome or Ted Williams who had a complete rotational finish. <<<
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> Hi Hitting Guru
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> I agree with Shawn, Mike believes lead-side blocking of linear weight shift is necessary to produce good rotation. Although I do not agree, I understand why he, and many others, could come to that conclusion. I do not recall it if he thinks a linear component is necessary to transfer body rotation into bat speed. Other than during the stride, do you know of another linear component that he advocates?
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> Jack Mankin



A linear component that mike advocated was the level swing. Mike believed that he thought the level swing (somewhat of a tomohawk approach produced desired backspin in his book.) Mike stated that this approach created even shoulder rotation which allowed the bat to stay in the hitting area longer.

Personally I feel the sweeping of a slight upswing is more effective because the incoming pitch is coming at a downward tragectory. But a player who had the ability of a Mike Schmidt was able to use his approach to make it into the Hall of Fame. So whatever adjustment he made from his first couple of years must have worked. Schmidt was more of a line drive homerun hitter like Ripken Jr. and Dave Winfield who also had a somewhat similar approach and finish.