Posted by: Jim D (j-monro@hotmail.com) on Thu Mar 4 18:23:04 2010

> > > Have been teaching both my boys(ages 10 and 12) the rotational swing over the past year. For the most part they are coming along fairly well. However both have issues with the back elbow leading their hands upon rotation. It sure appears to be the dreaded "bat drag". Are there any specific drills or set-up positions(bat grips, hand positions, etc.) that can help reduce/correct this problem. When we've done the swing in slow motion off a tee it isn't there, but anything at speed or live brings it out.
> >
> > ******************

> > Hi gmo,
> >
> > As a follow-up to what Ronnie has said, I gave my boy a tacky wide receiver glove for his bottom hand and a smooth soft suede glove for his top hand. This allows proper alignment of his knuckles
> > (bottom hand 2nd, top hand 3rd) and hand seperation (approx. 100 degrees) at the launch position. This facillitates proper knuckle alignment transition i.e. from bottom hand 2nd, top hand 3rd, to... knocker knuckles and 0 degrees of hand seperation as he comes thru the swing plane to contact.
> >
> > Top hand, bottom hand, and full swing drills on the heavy bag will allow the hitter to see his mechanics at work and allow him to observe his body parts positions at contact. The "Tee" and soft toss will never provide this kind of feedback.
> >
> > I hope this helps...
> >
> > Jim D
>
> Appreciate the input. Unsure what you mean by "100 degree hand separation between hands at launch position." Are they hands not touching each other at launch?

Hi gmo,

The angle of seperation at launch as well as at contact, is most apparent when viewing the forearms. It is the product of both forearms in relation to one another. The angle also exists between the hands, but as the hands are the intersect components in the angle, they are very close to each other, making the angle more difficult to discern.

Hold the bat with both hands. Keep your bottom hand fixed and rotate your top hand to different knuckle alignments without flexing your wrists. Observe the changing angle between your forearms.

When holding the bat in the launch position, the angle that is formed by both forearms as a result of their connection at the hands on the bat, will be approx. 100 to 130 degrees. as you come thru the swing plane to connect, the angle decreases, and will be approx. 10 to "O" degrees at contact.

Also: Jack's definition of "BAT DRAG" is perfect. i.e. Lead shoulder rotation being depleted prior to contact. This leaves the bat lagging behind the rotational pull of the lead shoulder.

If you have the boys do the top hand drill on the heavy bag at speed, they will be able to see the positioning of all of their body parts at contact, but in particular to you concern their back elbow. If the back elbow is running ahead of the back hand and in toward the belly button, they get to see it. Of course slow mo playback will give them the same feedback. Gotta love the heavy bag.

Jim D