Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Dec 4 14:48:23 2008

>>> Jack

Got your DVD and it really helps with tryng to understand your methods. Visual works best.

I only have a few concern or questions.

I coach a Girls fastpitch team, and in fastpitch the ball plain goes up from the release point vice down like in hardball. Should not the Arc of the swing be in a more level plain from lauch to finish vice an upward swing as you dmeonstrate in the video? At contact you mention the lead elbow is up and bat head down below the hands. Doesn't this position at contact, promote an upward swing through the strike zone? Wouldn't the contact zone for the girls be very small in fastpitch with your method? They would have to be almost perfect. Would it not be best to keep the elbow level from start to finish or only slightly raise the elbow at finish to generate less loop in the swing ARC for fastpitch? I'm trying to learn your system and teach it to the team this winter. I find your reasoning and logic to hitting quite interesting. Does everything your saying apply to fastpich or is there some modifications that must be done?
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I hope you can comment on my question and Janna's comments. What she is decribing sounds like linear and that the rotational swing, CHP, won't work in softball. <<<

Hi Carl

Welcome to the site. --- A bat does not care what is it being swung at, it can only react to the forces being applied to it. The efficiency of a swing mechanic to generate bat speed is the same for both fastpitch and baseball.

The same is true for the swing plane. The trajectory of the lead-elbow, hands and bat must all be on a higher plane for balls (baseball or softball) up at the letters and travel on a lower plane for balls at the knees.

Therefore, I am not sure why one would think the mechanics that generate the correct plane for hitting baseballs up in the zone would not work on high softballs. Also, I am not sure why Janna would think a CHP would work with a baseball bat but not a softball bat. I will place below a few video clips that addresses some of these issues.

Carl, the Sosa clip shows how the lead-elbow, hands and bat should be in the same plane. The Giambi clip shows the same but on a pitch up at the letters. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Sosa - Good swing plane --

Giambi – High Pitch --

Janna, the first clip below shows one of our CHP & BHT drills from “The Final Arc II”. The last two clips show swings of girls in the WCWS. What do you see that shows you why you think our drills cannot work in girl’s fastpitch.

Aaron/Julie from Final Arc 2 --

Balko and Mesa CHP – not driving hands --

Men/Women From College WS --

Jack Mankin