Posted by: Dave P () on Sat Sep 9 13:23:16 2006

> >>> Hi Jack,
>
> I don't agree with your point of view.
>
> What initiates the swing is the hips, the upperbodies job is to stay connected to the body. It is the body rotation that causes the bat to come around and you need to connect the bat/arms to the body. <<<
>
> Hi Shawn
>
> The question is -- is a batter more likely to keep the hands back and bat/arms connected to rotation concentrating on “hips first” or concentrating on “accelerating the bat-head rearward” toward the lag position?
>
> Jack Mankin

Hi Jack et al

The problem from my teaching kids to go with hands back first is that they then tend to turn their hips back towards the catcher also creating an late swing because now the hips must turn further to get to the open position (will also contribute to hands flying away from the body). The idea is to load the hands at the same time as the stride happens. Most video that I see the hands are loading (staying still in relationship to the ground) while the stride is happening.

Over emphasis on either side of hips or hands will create problems within the swing. Each player may find different keys work better for their particular needs.

I agree with both statements that hips must rotate forward first and the hands must load prior to accelerating forward. The timing of the two movements happen at the same time.

Dave P