Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Jul 15 21:03:18 2001

>>> GRC my mistake with the name above and I'm not advocating using the arm to throw the hands I'm advocating a cue if it works for someone to clear the hips and throw the hands,however what is actually happening is the hips open allowing the shoulder turn and then the arms and hands torque yet it feels like the hands are being thrown.Teach the process but in the end a hitter can't focus on the whole process so the beginning and end works for them,even though the middle is essential as well they just have it on auto pilot.I think Bonds idea of hitting a nail with a hammer may be his idea of putting that small sweet spot on the ball,helps his hand eye coordination. <<<

Hi RQL

I agree it is helpful to have a simple cue that can produce the entire motion we are looking for. But to most coaches, "clear the hips and throw the hands" has come to mean that the batter should "freeze the shoulders" and use the arms to throw the hands.

What would you think of the cue "sling the hands?" Which means the batter would keep his hands back and allow shoulder rotation to sling the hands to the zone. This would entail using good lower and upper body rotational mechanics. It should also produce the proper angular hand-path while keeping the arms and hands in a good relationship to the rotating body. --- Your thoughts?

Jack Mankin