Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Feb 11 18:16:35 2010

>>> Of course with a linear hand path theres no pendulum. No discussion about that.

I'm talking only about high level hitters with a chp.

I was talking about mainly pendulum effect because there are instructors(nyman, englishbey) who teach that the swing is only chp and the double pendulum effect(only pull the knob in a chp which causes the bat to whip) and state that torque doesn't exist. Adair I think also states that the swing is only chp and pendulum.

SO my theory was a hybrid theory(only working with chp of course) that states to torque the bat in the beginning(englishbey suggests that there are no torquing forces at any point of the swing and it's only a centripetal force driven doublle pendulum) and then try to not restrict the bat after sufficient centripetal force is created. <<<

Hi Dominik

With all the conflicting concepts out there, I can well understand your dilemma. I have not reviewed enough of Englishbey's material to form a judgement. You might want to study Adair's book a little closer. He writes that the hand-path is only circular in the first 3/10s of the swing. He believes the path then straightens out and the balance of the bat speed comes from a "crack of a whip" transfer of kinetic energy. -- Tests show that transfer is a fallacy.

I would point out that Nyman not only discounted handle torque, he originally discounted bat speed being generated from a CHP as well. I find it somewhat ironic that for years one his disciples placed numerous posts on this Board proclaiming the nonexistence of torque while maintaining the bat's acceleration stemmed from shoulder rotation. What makes this ironic is that he now has a site that claims handle torque is key and discount shoulder rotation.

However, the good news is that coaches like yourself are taking the time to study those concepts and draw there own conclusions. I would just add that I find it more productive to look for clips that might challenge my concepts rather than those that support them. -- One final question. If the bat speed generated earlier in the swing were restricted approaching contact, would not the hardest hit balls be to the opposite field?

Jack Mankin