Posted by: Jay (popefam5@hotmail.com) on Mon Oct 23 08:58:24 2006

> > > I have really been studying this whole concept and have come to a few conclusions about myself and my swing. First, I do seem to be using rotational mechanics, but I have located a couple of places where the can be improvements. May I contrast two different swings. In high school I was a very good hitter. Avg of .400 lead the area in rbi's and doubles...again a good solid hitter. However, there was my counterpart who was AMAZING. The numbers weren't real different, but when he hit the ball it was like a cannon going off. He practically topped off the trees and dinged cars in the parking lot. After MUCH analyzing I have located the two biggest areas of difference.
> > >
> > > My swing, though rotational, was more of a sliding into things. Easy fluid movements before launching and when I came into the zone the bat was more level with the ground vs the angle you show on the DVD with the bat tip down and angling up to the lead elbow. The result...line drives into the gap with an occasional one lifted out of the park.
> > >
> > > His swing started with what I refer to as a small loop in the top. When I imitate this it feels like I generate more speed even before I launch (the bat is already moving therefore accelerates much easier). I don't feel like I have quite as much bat control, but it feels like the bat is moving much faster. The result is that Todd hit the ball 400+ feet on occasion and had the scouts following him around:)
> > >
> > > My question is this: Am I accurate in my assumption that a slight change in the angle of the bat should result in a different trajectory? and Secondly, could this small loop at the top of the swing really result in that much more power?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Jay
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Well let us put it this way, Paul Oneil was 6 foot 4 weighed about 210 and Ted Williams was the same height and about the same weight. Both were strong men, but Ted who used the loop had a lot more power.
> >
> > Another example, Joe Morgan (loop) 5 foot 7 160 pounds was able to hit 20+ homeruns. Guys now a days David Eckstein, Sean Figgins same height and weight cannot hit 20 homeruns even with the advent of weights. (Food for thought)
> >
> > Ryne Sandberg 40 homeruns (Loop) led the league in homeruns one season when second basemen were 'punch and judy' hitters.
>
> > a slight change in the angle of your bat won't work. what you need to figure out is the change in the angle of your spine and the subsequent rotation around it. that will change the trajectory of the ball's flight. good luck Rich

Thanks for the responses! The "Loop" examples were great. Can you clarify what you mean by the angle of the spine?