Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Jan 31 00:06:10 2006

>>> Shawn. Thanks for your post, but I just do not see the uniform acceptance of a standard of how to hit. Similar is not close enough in my book. There is a dramatic difference in how Sammy Sosa hits, compared to Barry Bonds. Sammy Sosa does not use the top hand torc from what I have seen. He would be more similar to Albert Bell without the wrist roll. <<<

Hi Guru & All

The Guru states, “Sammy Sosa does not use the top hand torc from what I have seen.” – Let us look at a clip of Sosa (http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/sosa_sammy2.mpeg ). Frame forward 20 frames (bat vertical behind his head). Watch the bat-head the next 5 frames. To generate that rearward acceleration of the bat-head, would you say Sosa’s top-hand is pulling rearward on the handle with the fingers (THT), or driving forward with his palm? – You be the judge.

The Guru states. “There is a dramatic difference in how Sammy Sosa hits, compared to Barry Bonds.” -- Now, let us take a look at Bonds (http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/bonds600.mpeg ) Frame forward about 6 frames (bat behind his head). Watch the bat-head the next 5 frames. To generate that rearward acceleration of the bat-head, would you say Bonds is using basically the same transfer mechanics as Sosa? -- You be the judge.

For a better understanding of the role of THT in the swing, look at --http://www.batspeed.com/media/THTHigh.wmv

Jack Mankin