Posted by: Sam R. () on Mon Aug 7 18:57:58 2006

Hey Daniel,

You forgot too mention your college team and your 175 pound power hitter get to use top of the line "steroid substitute" Aluminum/titanium/uranium/barium (whatever?) bats with BIG barrels and 34 inches of sweet spots. A.K.A. "cheater bats"...so spare me the amazing power and batting average stories. Until College level kids starts using real manly bats your stats are meaningless outside your cheater bat world. Bottom line: Linear or rotational is irrelevant when it comes to using the cheater bats so you can give all the credit you want to your hitting instructor when it really should go to the endorsed FREE bats your team uses.
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I just finished my first season at William Jewell college. After refurbishing my swing I have done a lot of research on rotational versus linear hitting mechanics. Our coach teaches linear mechanics. I had my doubts at first, but after sticking with it I find that I have better plate coverage and an INCREASE in POWER! Many of the best hitters in our conference come from our team. All of them with sound linear mechanics. In fact, a couple of years ago our shortstop led the conference in homeruns (15). The amazing thing is he was no more than 5'10 175lbs. Certainly not a powerhouse. I just cannot buy into the fallacy that linear mechanics is for weak hitters.
> > > If anyone can sell it to me I would be more than willing to listen.
> >
> > Daniel,
> >
> > I am not sure if anyone can sell you on anything. Not meaning that in a bad way. If your coach is teaching the Linear swing and you see it is working for you then that is maybe the best. If you cant see what the guys in the Pro's are using rotation and hear that kids that are drafted having problems. In the minor's they have to re-learn how to swing the bat.
> >
> > Now not knowing how your current coach teachs the swing. You may be getting or receiving rotational advice or instruction and it could be called linear.
> >
> > Mike