Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Jul 18 16:07:07 2001

>>> if the ball's path is 10 to 15 degrees downward and A.Rod tilts his axis toward (not away from) the pitcher, how does he get his swing plane to be online with the path of the ball? <<<

Hi Ray

Sorry for the delay in my reply. - The plane of the swing is not solely dependent on the angle of the rotational axis. Good hitters are able to have a 10 to 15 degree up-swing in the contact zone because they accelerate the bat-head on a downward angle back behind them (at the catcher). The arc of the bat-head then bottoms-out and starts upward into the contact zone. --- If the batter shoves his hands forward ahead of rotation, the bat-head will be angling downward more in front of the batter. It will not bottom-out and start upward until after the bat passes through the contact zone ("swing down on the ball").

Most batters find it easier (and more consistent) to produce the proper swing plane when the plane of the rotating shoulders is on the same plane as the swing. Both are angled upward at about 10 to 15 degrees if the batters' axis is tilted back. The plane of the rotating shoulders of a batter with a more vertical axis is more parallel to the ground, not the flight of the ball. But this does not mean they cannot develop the proper swing plane. They would just need to pull the bat-head down behind at a sharper angle (in relationship to the shoulders). --- This is very evident when viewing A-Rod's swing from behind.

Ray, since the thread is older I will post it at the top also.

Jack Mankin