Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun May 6 07:00:09 2001

>>> Thanks for the video. One question that I did not
see addressed in the video or discussion boards is the proper grip. Middle knuckles aligned or something different? <<<


Hi Paul

Below is a post I make on the “grip” a few weeks ago. It may reveal why I did not stress knuckle alignment in the video.

>> One of the most important things to remember about the "grip" - is not to grip - at least not with the top hand mechanics used by the better hitters today. The angle between the wrist can constantly change during the swing. Too tight a grip can cause the wrist to bind (or roll) and a inconsistent swing plane.

Some of the major mechanical flaws I am seeing in reviewing players’ swings start with the grip. In fact, I found it necessary to add a video clip to the Swing Reviews explaining the problems a hitter gets into from gripping the bat to tight or wearing sticky batting gloves. --- When most batters initiate their swing with a high back elbow (to apply more top-hand-torque) the top of both hands are almost in-line. This means the angle between the wrist is from 145 to 180 degrees. But as the swing proceeds and the hands approach contact this angle decreases to about 15 degrees. If the grip is too tight or the batter’s gloves (or bat handle) will not allow the top hand to rotate (or slip) around the bat there is going to be a large build-up of pressure on the wrists. Something will have to give!! This causes a decrease in bat speed and the bat wobbles in through the swing plain. --- That's why Big Mac grips the bat very, very lightly with his top hand.

So, there is no one “grip” or “knuckle alignment” a batter can maintain from initiation to contact if he plans to use top-hand-torque (raised back elbow) to start the swing and bottom-hand-torque to finish it. The batter must hold the bat lightly with the fingers of the top-hand and allow the fingers to roll (or slip) around the bat as the swing proceeds. A normal grip of the bottom-hand will keep the bat from flying free. <<

Jack Mankin