Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Jun 27 11:45:44 2001

>>> jack.....roby made the following post, and then came you-know-who.....but i think the post merits your comments.....""Bonds is a student who never stops learning," says Jaramillo. Barry told Rick Sutcliffe that he's learned to keep his upper half still, generate the thrust in his lower half, then throw his hands at the ball as if he's hitting a nail with a hammer."............now, jack, i know you generally don't like the cue of "throwing your hands at the ball", and i don't either...but....i find it hard to argue with bonds....how about you?.....respectfully, grc...... <<<

Hi grc

I think Major Dan summed it up well with his post. -- Bonds has as perfect a circular hand-path as possible. If, "then throw his hands at the ball as if he's hitting a nail with a hammer," is a cue that works for him how can one argue with it, but is it a cue that would help others, I doubt it.

The same is true for Palmeiro, a frame-by-frame clearly shows a good circular hand-path and lead shoulder pull (the hook). Yet, you could not find a more linear statement than "clear out the front side so the hands can come through." --- I think they are just reciting the batting talking points taught in their era. Ted Williams tried to give a truer description of the swing -- remember what the baseball elite said about him.

Jack Mankin