Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Aug 26 16:16:25 2006

>>> Jack, you and I have discussed my feeling that great hitters need to have some lateral move to adjust to changeups, curves, etc. You also know that I agree with you that some rotational mechanics must also be involved in order to increase bat speed....I just don't like labels, since I don't think they always fit. Anyway, I do trust your judgement. Maybe you can help me with my 13yo. He's developed a horrible habit of "wrapping" the bat when loading...it causes his timing to be off and his swing is way too long. It also causes his first move to be the opening of his lead shoulder as a response to the "wrap". I'd prefer that he load using his hands to push the bat directly back, with a little shoulder turn...I don't care how much we work on it, as soon as he sees live pitching he goes right back to "wrapping". He says that he can't feel it although he sees himself doing it on video. What do you think? Drills? Right now we just work on the tee. Thanks. Jima <<<

Hi

Hi Jima

Before we start drills and adjustments to his swing, we should first make sure your concerns are actually problems. Your main concerns seem to be “his first move to be the opening of his lead shoulder as a response to the "wrap". I'd prefer that he load using his hands to push the bat directly back, with a little shoulder turn...” and “a horrible habit of "wrapping" the bat when loading.”

Let us first address “wrapping.” In the normal launch position, the bat is in the swing plane and about perpendicular to the flight of the incoming ball (pointing toward the third base dugout). However, many (if not most) of the best hitters have the bat cocked forward or “wrapped” behind their head during their pre-launch loading. As an example, look at one of the best hitters to play the game, George Brett ( http://dmcmillan.topcities.com/GBrett86oppoHR.mpg ). I have some clips of George where he has his bat wrapped behind head so far that it pointed toward the second baseman.

Note in this clip of Bonds ( http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/Bonds01.mpeg ) how far forward his bat is cocked (or wrapped). But also note how he uses his arms and wrist to sweep the bat behind his head into the swing plane before he fully initiates shoulder rotation (Pre-launch Torque – some refer to it as giving the bat a “a running start”). And that is a key for batters that wrap the bat or cock it vertically – the bat must be sweep back into the swing plane to the normal launch position before shoulder rotation is fully initiated and the hands start arcing forward.

Now let us address your statement; “his first move to be the opening of his lead shoulder as a response to the "wrap". I'd prefer that he load using his hands to push the bat directly back, with a little shoulder turn...” – Jima, your best hitters do not use the actions of the arms to accelerate the hands. The push/pull action of the arms is to cause the bat to rotate about a point between the hands (torque). The hands are accelerated into a CHP from the rotation of the shoulders.

Since it is shoulder rotation that accelerates the hands, we will note that the best hitter’s lead-shoulder starts rotating to fully initiate the swing. Let us revisit the Brett clip (http://dmcmillan.topcities.com/GBrett86oppoHR.mpg ). Note that his arms do not drive the hands back toward the pitcher. His shoulders start to rotate ‘before’ his hands arc forward. His hands stay back and allow shoulder rotation to fling them into a circular path. – Also note the same thing in this overhead view of Rose - http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/Rose.mpeg .

Jima, I would suggest that before making adjustments to his swing, you first video tape it and see where the mechanics he exhibits differs from those of the best hitters.

Jack Mankin