Posted by: The Hitting Guru (hitman3527@aol.com) on Thu Feb 16 10:39:13 2006

> Hi Guru
>
> Before we can have a productive discussion of linear or rotational mechanics, we must first have a clear definition of the terms. – This site has always maintained that there is linear movement of the body during the stride. However, that linear movement occurs ‘prior’ to the actual swing being initiated. Prior to the initiation of the swing, linear movement ceases and the body rotates about a stationary axis. – There is no linear movement of the body once the swing is initiated.
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> Therefore, the length of a batter’s stride (or lack of stride) or the amount of weight shifted prior to the swing has no bearing on whether his transfer mechanics are linear or rotational. Below is a post that explains how this site has defined “linear” and “rotational” from its conception in 1999.
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> Jack Mankin
> ##
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> Re: Re: Linear vs rotational?
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> Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Mar 5 22:49:26 2003
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> >>> After 37 years in this game, I have still never figured out what a LINEAR hitter is or who teaches it. I see posts every week about linear vs rotational, but no one has ever given me an explanation or pointed out a book that teaches linear hitting. Who teaches it and what is it. I know what it says in the dictionary. Does any one know? <<<
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> Hi Doug
>
> If you have not been a long time visitor to Batspeed.com, it is understandable that you may not be familiar with the Linear vs Rotational controversy. We may not have coined the terms, as 55 speculated, but we were at the forefront in pointing out the difference in the two terms. Therefore, I will try to give a short, clear definition of the two mechanics.
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> Linear mechanics has been taught by most (probably 98%) of the batting instructors for decades. “Linear” refers to mechanics that promote an inline (A to B) thrust of the hands straight back at the pitcher. It may be referred to as “quick hands”, “knob to the ball” or similar batting cues where the muscles in the arms are mainly used to accelerate the hands away from the back-shoulder toward the pitcher.
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> With Rotational mechanics, the muscles in the arms are not used to accelerate the hands. The hands stay back at the shoulder and are swung (or flung) into a circular path by the rotation of the body. --- The bottom line --- Linear mechanics produce a straighter hand-path – Whereas, Rotational mechanics produce a more circular hand-path.
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> Why does rotational transfer mechanics out perform linear mechanics? – Because there is a “pendulum” effect that accelerates the bat-head when the hands are taken in a circular path. There is no “whip” or “pendulum” effect that occurs from a straight extension of the hands.
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> Note: Regardless of the length of stride, all good hitters rotate around a stationary axis. Therefore, length of the stride or amount of weight shift has little bearing on whether or not a batter is Linear or Rotational.
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> Jack Mankin



Jack. Your points are well taken. But what I am trying to really do is draw a connection with rotational hitting, batspeed, and the power produced when applied toward an individual batter.

As pointed out in the connecting posts a lot of concepts are miunderstood by batting coaches as well. And what works often cannot be explained properly and in terms that most of us can understand. Further a lot of success coaches are actually more valuable in getting the player to gain his confidence whether his mechanics are the best or not.

Though you make reference to the fact that the stance and lower body are not a main concern, the fact is that the balance in the swing has a bearing on the end result. A George Brett hitting out of his stance with a two hand follow through is not effective and would throw him off balance. Therefore in order for the rotational transfer mechanics to be optimally effective for maximum power, he has to have a combination of stance and swing.

I do not know if you had the opportunity to read and or follow up on my post regarding Don Mattingly. But I was trying to breakdown why he was so much more effective to the pull field than to centerfield or leftfield. I believe he used rotational hitting, but it did not seem nearly as effective to the off field. Maybe it had to do with his open stance or his hitting out of a crouch on occasion. And since Don was a player of moderate size, I believe he makes a good study to prove the effectiveness of rotational or linear.

A far as the productiveness of discussion, I would prefer your incite now and the rest I will dwell on during my study of your above comments.