Posted by: Maximum () on Fri Aug 3 13:40:51 2001

FJ,
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> > > > > Wouldn't it make sense to simply read the website and learn this stuff, rather than informing us that you are just the "average Joe A."
> > > > >
> > > > > Coach Tom
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> > > > Tom,
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> > > > Wouldn't it be make sense for you to put up a post that addresses the issue instead of pointless statements that don't make any sense? If I wanted to study the whole site to learn this one fact I wouldn't have asked the question. Plus, I didn't ask you, I asked Jack.
> > > >
> > > > FJ
> > >
> > > FJ,
> > >
> > > I guess I agree with you, Tom was a bit tacky. But at the same time, I would encourage you to read everything on here and Epstein's site and Setpro. If you are going to spend all that time coaching kids, you might as well spend a little time this winter reading. :-) Probably enjoy coaching that much more next spring. Good luck and good reading.
> > >
> > > Mark H.
> > >
> > > PS Since other Marks are posting, I guess I better start using Mark H.
> >
> > Mark H.
> >
> > Let me give you an explination since, unlike tom, you seem to be a polite person. What I said is that I might know the mechanics that Jame calls Linear and Rotational but by different terms. So, I asked for a breif definition so I could decide. The key word was "brief."
> >
> > But since Jack didn't respond and two other people took time to respond with negative comments, I guess it was some big breach of discussion board etiquette. Sorry. But, maybe you guys should get a job or something so this stuff isn't that important to you.
> >
> > FJ
> >
>
> > frank...for whatever it's worth, i'll give you MY view as to what the terms "rotational" and "linear" (aka "weight shift" mean......and maybe in due time, jack, tom.guerry, rql, major dan, ray, et al will respond as well.......first of all, in my opinion, all major league hitters have characteristics that could be considered rotational as wellas linear......i think what distinguishes the two types of swings is a matter of degree.........in general, rotation = more hip action and less reliance on upper body (arms, etc).....weight shift = less reliance on hip rotation and more reliance on upper body.......wade boggs might be a good example (and rql watched him play so perhaps he could give his take on boggs): boggs (or for that matter, gwynn, carew among others) feel more comfortable taking an inside pitch to center or left field (their opposite field).....this involves perhaps 10 or 15 degrees less of hip rotation, contacting th eball closer to home plate, taking the bat in a straighter path to the ball, and hitting the middle or inside part of the ball..............a rotational hitter such as mcgwire will hit the ball farther out in front of the plate, have more of a circular hand path , will have more hip rotation, will contact the ball on the "outside" part of the ball, and will pull the ball to his pull field, left field..............maybe another way of describing it is that the rotational hitter will get more "hip" into the ball, where as a linear will sort of "push" the ball to opposite field.................again, i think it would be helpful for the heavyweights to respond, because these terms do mean slightly different things to different people.........perhaps only when we all can agree on these terms will we then be able to discuss the merits of using rotational mechanics to hit the inside pitch, linear mechanics to hit the outside pitch, and mike schmidt'd "hybrid" method to hit down-the-middle pitches................respectfully, grc......
When you use "rotational" mechanics, your back elbow is at your side, front arm is extended across your chest, and you use your upper body's rotation around a stationary axis to deliver the bathead. That is as clear and understandable as I can write about rotation.
"Linear" is when you rely on strength to hit the ball. You shove your hands straight at the ball. Hope that helps!