Posted by: Scott W. (stwinton@netzero.net) on Mon Jul 10 08:08:38 2006

> >>> Jack,
>
> I am a coach of youth baseball players and I have recently come upon your site. I am also an engineer and I think the concepts that you promote are very technically valid, however I am trying to find some way to translate these concepts to teachable methods. For example it does no good to tell a ten year old that he needs to do x-y-z in order to generate more torque, etc... They have a limited attention span and I have found that a few concise pointers will go a long way in improving the swing of a player at this age.
>
> Anyway, that is not the intent of this message. In reading through your articles, messages, etc. you seem to discount the "drive the knob" theory as more of a linear approach to hitting and I have to say that I disagree. I do not see any reason why this theory cannot be combined with the Circular Hand Path (CHP) logic using the principle that the path of the bat must follow the path of the hands. With the hands leading the bat in a circular path, the forces exterted by the rotation of the body and wrists will be transferred out to the bat at the time of maximum rotational speed.
>
> Centrifugal force will be maximized in much the same manner as casting a fishhing pole where the pole is rotated in a circular motion and the line receives the maximum force to be cast as far as possible.
>
> While I agree that instructing a child to drive his hands in a "choppping" motion or linear fashion would not yield the best results, it is not wrong to teach him to move his hands in a circular motion with the hands leading in front of the bat, hence "driving the knob"
>
> Your Thoughts?? <<<
>
> Hi Chris
>
> Welcome to the site. – You state, “While I agree that instructing a child to drive his hands in a "choppping" motion or linear fashion would not yield the best results, it is not wrong to teach him to move his hands in a circular motion with the hands leading in front of the bat, hence "driving the knob"
>
> It appears to me that the swing mechanics you would advocate in “driving the knob,” would be very different from the mechanics normally advocated with “knob to the ball.” I will place below a couple clips that show the difference.
>
> The first clip - http://webpages.charter.net/nickkio/HandstoBall/Linear05.mpg -exhibits the mechanics normally taught with “Knob to the Ball.” Note how the arm muscles are used to produce a linear (A to B) extension of the hands.
>
> The second clip - http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/Rose.mpeg – is an over-head shot of Pete Rose. Note that hands remain back (not extended away from the shoulder) and are rotated into a CHP.
>
> Jack Mankin


Jack...i gotta take issue...

"The first clip - ... normally taught with “Knob to the Ball.” Note how the arm muscles are used to produce a linear (A to B) extension of the hands."

Your linear clip is quite possibly is the worst swing I’ve ever seen! The majority of major college and pro hitting instructors teaching a form of linear hitting would laugh at that example...I get it if you need something to distance your philosophy and approach from but come on...that swing is ridiculous! I've never seen anyone that gross...and to claim that that is the model that WE linear guys in the baseball establishment strive for..?

It’s a stretch at BEST!