Posted by: Kurt (curtislo@charter.net) on Thu Jan 26 13:12:02 2006

> Hi Kurt
>
> You raised a number of questions in your post. I will select a couple and give you my take on them.
>
> >> “Many of the top hitters say they are linear, but the way you and epstein explain it, they look rotational”<<
>
> The best way to study the angular displacement in the hand-path is from an overhead clip. I have a hundred or so of these clips I taped from games in the old Astro Dome. Three things were evident from that viewpoint regarding hitters who hit for power as well as a high average. (1) They all attained greater rearward acceleration of the bat-head through the lag position (THT). (2) They all keep the angle of the lead-elbow in a fixed position to contact (more pronounced CHP). (3) They also exhibited a more pronounced hook in the hand-path just prior to contact (BHT).
>
> I am sure that most of these hitters would say they are linear and take their hands to the ball. They would have no clue of what you were talking about if you brought up THT, CHP, or BHT. And, even if you explained these terms to them, they probably do not believe that is what they are doing. Maybe Mike should ask another question – Do these hitters actually say what they exhibit?
>
> >> “He must have monkey arms, with his front arm across his chest and a slight bend in the elbow the hand/fist is about 8" past his body/shoulders and having problems with the top hand and getting it to feel remotely comfortable.” <<
>
> As any shirt manufacturer can attest to, arms come in a variety of lengths. While some good hitters can barely reach the opposite shoulder, some, like Williams and Griffey Jr., can reach well past it. Therefore Kurt, I see no problem with your son’s hands extending past his back-shoulder. Remember, for a given rate of angular displacement, the wider the radius of the hand-path, the greater the bat speed induced from the pendulum effect. That is one reason why some hitters, like Big Mac, moves back a few inches from the plate and addresses most pitches as outside pitches.
>
> The important thing for your son to remember is, in order to generate a CHP and obtain the maximum pendulum effect of the bat-head, he must keep his lead-elbow in a fixed position during rotation. If he starts with the lead-arm fairly "straight" position (Griffey Jr.) – then keep it straight. If he initiates the swing in a more “boxed” position (Bonds) – then keep it boxed.
>
> Note: What straightens out the hand-path and kills the hook effect is when the batter initiates the swing with a “boxed” lead-arm and then extends (or straightens) the arm to contact. Or, he allows a straighter arm at initiation to flex and then un-flex to contact. -- You can not have the bottom-hand hooking back if it is being thrust forward.
>
> Jack Mankin

Thanks Jack, by boxed I assume you mean the front arm has an "L" look to it also? And the bend in the front arm has to stay that way until contact. If I am correct in my assumption is there more space between the front arm and the chest during the lag, or is it a greater CHP with his larger forearm causing this, or is he still moving his hands forward?

Thanks again,

Kurt