Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Jul 16 22:36:47 2001

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. <<<

Hi Coach

I'm certain that routine will produce the swing mechanics you are looking for. I just do not agree with them. A batter cannot transfer energy from his body rotation into bat speed with a straight hand-path. When the knob reaches full extension, they will have nothing left but torque to bring the bat-head around. Much of the bat speed they do develop will occur well after passing the contact point.

Coach, we are having a discussion on the cue "throw your hands at the ball." Would that be similar to your "explode the hands?" I have stated that "throw the hands" is more for developing a linear hand-path. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Jack Mankin


Jack Mankin