Posted by: Chuck (Chuck10112@gmail.com) on Thu Nov 13 11:23:19 2008

Rotational mechanics are actually much more natural and less restrictive than linear mechanics and I would find them to be easier to teach if a player hasn't been exposed to the stupidity that is linear mechanics. After being a linear hitter during most of my highschool years and switching to rotational hitting afterwards I've realized that the way I swing the bat now using rotational mechanics is very close to the way my 8 year old brother who hasn't recieved any formal hitting instructions swings the bat. Rotational mechanics doesn't have all of those restrictive staccato movements linear mechanics has. So I think it would come more naturally to a hitter. This is my theory on why alot of elite hitters come from countries in Central and Southern America. Most of those guys don't get the formal (i.e. linear) training at a young age that we get here in the States, so their swings evolve naturally and consequently fit the rotational model. Every hitting video I've watched, every website I've visited (besides this one and Chris O'Leary's), and every coach that I've played for teaches linear mechanics.

The process of unlearning linear mechanics and going back to the more natural rotational mechanics is very difficult because hitters are so use to the restrictive movements in linear mechanics. I would certainly say to save these player's swings as soon as possible. It's never to early. The longer they have bad mechanics the harder it will be to break free from it.