Posted by: mb () on Wed Jun 6 20:33:14 2001

Jack,
> I know on your tape you state that the bat should be at the same angle as the front arm at address. so many great hitters, Ruth, Williams, Aaron seem to have the bat more vertical. Wouldn't a vertical bat create faster THT at initiation? Simialar to a tree falling?
>
> Hi mb
>
> I would agree that many of the great hitters start with a more vertical bat. Some, like Bonds and Sheffield, cock the bat even more toward the pitcher. The reason I advocate keeping the bat in the plain of the lead-arm is because it is an easier position to accelerate the bat-head straight into the plain of the swing. Many hitters run into problem initiating the swing with tht by pulling the bat-head vertically back and down through the true swing plain. This causes wrist binds and a distorted plain.
>
> The great hitters have learned how to start with a vertical bat and still drop the bat-head into swing plain at initiation. But when these hitters fall into a slump, I often find they are accelerating the bat-head to vertically or are allowing the hands to drift forward while applying tht.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack thanks for the reply. You have charted a lot of hitters so I greatly respect your opinion. I see my 10 year old get a little "wild" with the vertical high bat. He tends to loose the plane easier than my 49 lb 8 year old PeeWee LLeagur, who holds the bat more in your manner and nearly always seems to be on plane. It is a sight to behold watching this little guy swing a 31"/25 oz. bat and consistently pull the ball hard, while I pitch at good little league speed. The major LL coaches at the field can't believe it. They all make their kids swing light bats or "they can't get around". I just smile.