Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Feb 11 16:51:26 2006

>>> On this site, when you click batspeed research and go under mechanics that create bat speed link, it tells you that if you want to create torque, you have to apply force in different directions on your bat. You have to pull back with your top hand and push forward with your bottom hand. When you do this, it kind of forces your back elbow to tuck in (unless I am doing it wrong whcih can definitely be a possibility, if I am, please let me know when you psst a reply). If you thought about trying to tuck in your back elbow when you hit instead of thinking of the push and pull action, would it still give you the same results or no? I am kind of confused with this. <<<

Hi Mike

Every batter that starts with an elevated back-elbow lowers it to his side (or tucks it) during initiation. However, few attain adequate rearward acceleration of the bat-head. This is because they are driving forward with the palm of the top-hand as the elbow lowers rather than pulling rearward with the fingers. To apply a rearward force on the handle with the fingers requires the back-forearm is pulling rearward as the elbow lowers.

You stated, “You have to pull back with your top hand and push forward with your bottom hand.” – There is a major difference between the bottom-hand staying back at the shoulder and allowing shoulder rotation to rotate it forward (opposite to the rearward pull of the top-hand) and using the muscles of the arm to drive bottom-hand forward. That is why I suggested in the PathFinder dvd to place a playing card between the chest and lead-arm. It reminds you not to drive the lead-elbow forward or let the lead-arm cast away from the chest during initiation.

Jack Mankin