Posted by: Roger Moore (rmoore@doe.state.nj.us) on Thu Jun 28 12:32:16 2001

Hi Jack: Using your animation in the "hitting mechanics" section as a guide, I assume you advocate having a relaxed back elbow at the point of stride foot contact. When you use the term "flat elbow", I assume you mean one that is almost, if not exactly, pressed against the side of the body closest to the catcher. Emphasizing that makes intuitive sense to me. But what about having the back elbow up at a point that a 90 degree angle exists between the top hand's forearm and the corresponding side of the body; i.e., an inverted "L". That seems to me to be a position that will keep the hands from being explosive to the point of "ideal" contact with the ball. It seems to me that the ideal location for the back elbow, in terms of explosiveness and quickness is somewhere between 30 and maybe 70-75 degress. It seems to me that a position such as this reduces rigidity and tension. Don't most of the effective hitters in the game get their back elbow to a position such as this at the point of stride foot touchdown. I haven't seen many videos of Ted Williams. But what I have seen leads me to believe that he loaded up that way. Does your tape and have reviewed it, but don't recall any discussion of the most effective position for the back elbow. Thanks, Roger Moore