Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Feb 22 12:01:58 2010

>>> Hi Jack,

As I've worked with my son recently practicing his swing off of a tee, it seems to me that in regards to THT, there's the element of force, but also the element of time. The hitter must not only apply rearward force with the tophand, but he must allow enough time for the bat head to sweep backwards and down before he initiates shoulder rotation. In the effort to generate maximum batspeed, I think the hitter may often tend to rush into the shoulder launch portion of the swing even as he applies THT. If the THT has not had sufficient time to act upon the bat, the bat will not be set up properly to achieve maximum angular displacement from shoulder rotation. When I get my son to allow the THT phase to work a fraction of a second longer, it seems to be more than compensated for by the increase in batspeed - a significant increase in batspeed. In short I would say that rushing causes a short circuiting of the swing that robs power and batspeed. Please comment on this - your experience, if you agree or disagree.

If you agree, do you have suggestions to help master this aspect of the swing? It is counterintuitive to a degree to not rush into the forward portion of the swing but rather to let the bat do more rearward traveling. Afterall, you're trying to drive the ball into the field in front of you. And it's even more complicated when timing a live pitcher is involved as opposed to simply hitting off of a tee. <<<

Hi Chuck

I would say we are in agreement. What you described is the reason I broke the mechanics that generate the bat's rearward acceleration into two phases -- PLT and THT. PLT uses only the actions of the arms to accelerate the bat from a cocked forward (wrapped) position rearward toward the normal launch position. This action occurs before shoulder rotation is initiated.

As you point out, initiating shoulder rotation with the bat still in a "wrapped" position leads to a number of problems - including timing. To avoid this problem, I use a 4-step procedure.
(1) Have the student attain a good launch position with the bat in the normal launch position.
(2) While keeping the lead-hand still, the batter cocks the bat behind his head (wrapped position) by rotating his top-forearm and hand (thumb rotates toward the pitcher).
(3) While keeping the lead-hand and shoulders static, rotate the forearm and bat back toward the launch position.
(4) As the bat's rearward acceleration approaches the launch position, initiate shoulder rotation while continuing to rotate the top-forearm and thumb back toward the catcher (THT).

Getting the timing of going from PLT into THT along with changes in the role of the top-hand requires a 'lot' of patience and practice. But the rewards of mastering it make it well worth the effort. --The over-head view of PLT to THT below, shows the batter starting with the bat already in the cocked forward or "wrapped" position.

PLT/THT -- Overhead View

Jack Mankin