Posted by: Chuck (jcsherwood8458@sbcglobal.net) on Fri Apr 16 08:54:35 2010

Hi Jack,

In your overhead video analysis of John Elliot with the arc of the bat shown in various colors you discuss PLT and more. I believe that you define "launch" as the point when the shoulders initiate rotation and in no way is there any intent to relate this to the decision to swing. Can you discuss the process of reading the pitch and the decision to swing or not, as it relates to PLT? Obviously the batter begins reading the pitch as the pitcher releases the ball. If we eliminate the obviously bad pitches where the batter gives up early on, on the close pitches does the batter begin some PLT as he makes the final decision to swing? Or rather, is the pitch speed and location read, and the decision to swing made before any PLT is applied? OR with a particular hitter, does it vary slightly from swing to swing such as if he guesses the pitch just right? I understand that some hitters use more PLT than others but let's consider those that are in the middle.

Thanks,
Chuck