Posted by: coach (coach@coach.com) on Mon Jul 16 20:37:34 2001

>>> The way I see it is that its not really linear against rotational or visa versa. You should explode your hands to the ball in a linear fashion but a hitter should also bring his shoulders and hips around with the exploding hand movement to the ball. If the shoulders and hips come around with the quick hands then rotational part of the swing will take place. I think hitters should know about the linear theory and the rotational theory and that the combination of the two is key to create a good swing. <<<
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> Hi Coach
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> What if a hitter does not explode his hands straight at the ball? Suppose he keeps his hands back and lets rotation accelerate his hands in a circular path? -- What advise or drills would you use to straighten him out?
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> Jack Mankin
>

Jack,

I use Tee work to work on proper swing mechanics. Just make sure the hitter is taking his hands quickly to the inside of the ball and make sure his shoulders and hips are going around as the hands are exploding to the inside of the ball. I use over emphasis technique to get a young hitter to feel what its like to explode your hands to the inside of the ball. I point out that the knob of the bat is the end of the bat by your hands. I will have him in slow motion take the knob of the bat to the ball on the tee and touch the ball with the knob of the bat. Then I have him speed up his motion of touching the knob of the bat ,from a proper hitting stance, to the ball on the tee. Then after he gets the idea of what I mean by exploding his hands and the knob to the ball, I tell him to then start turning his shoulders and hips with his hand motion to the ball and make sure that they all (Hands ,Hips, Shoulders) come around together working as one to get the best speed and power. I also explain that the quick turning of the hips and shoulders will bring the head of the bat into the strike zone and make contact with the ball. I am working with 7 and 8 year olds, so the detail is on their level. I use a bucket of about 50 balls to hit into a juggs instant screen with a tee or side toss. I try to get each kid about 100 swings a practice 3 times a week.