Posted by: The Hitting Guru () on Fri Oct 27 12:49:31 2006

> > Hi BHL and Jack,
> >
> > I have tracked BHL's analytical and argumentative writings since 2004, when he decided to prove to other individuals that Jack's hitting system is erroneous. Curiously aware of BHL's musings, I scanned over some other BHL queries and arguments, some of which preceded this century. Apparently, this gifted scholar / writer expends an enormous amount of time attempting to debate Jack's lower body cues, and render them problematic. But I request that Jack allow me to point out some errors in BHL's thinking. Let us start with his views on pull hitting, which he terms PFO.
> >
> > BHL argues that one must use the pull field to clear fences on home runs. While I agree that most home runs are pulled, I submit the follow question to BHL: why bother? According to Jack's scientifically proven research, balls hit squarely at contacts with batspeeds equal or exceeding 75 MPH will clear every fence. This solves timing and power problems for batters, BHL.
> >
> > Our scholar also impresses upon others that the back leg is the most important element in the swing. To paraphrase a past BHL post, the posterior calve must slant towards the pitcher, whereas the posterior thigh must angle towards the vatcher. Although Jack's "Get Your Arms Extended" diagram illustrates this, BHL fails to realize that the "L" at contact does not dictate the swing itself; this position, instead, is effectuated through the proper use of THT. (I like Jack's cue: "keep the knob head back, and accelerate the hands around it.") BHL, proper THT automatically gives you a proper CHP, and creates BHT and the "L" in the back leg too, providing that you keep your weight back, stay connected, and apply THT throughout the swing. In Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, leagues value baseball techniques over raw talent, and the same could be said for Jack's systematic approach to hitting.
> >
> > Although I admire BHL's tenacity and intelligence, sometimes his appreciation of good instruction merits rethinking. BHL, do you know how many hitting sites charge money / require membership to belong? Their instructive systems also just repeat conventional baseball voices (ventriloquists?) and capitalize off others' growth. On the other hand, Jack charges nothing, and answers all questions equally, regardless of whether or not Joe Public or Jane Doe buys his materials.
> >
> > By the way, I was helping out at my Congregation with their Halloween party when a lumbering hitter challenged a smaller hitter--both slo-pitch players and Congregational members--to home run derby (10 outs). The first man stood 6'4," and weighed 250 LBS, whereas the other man stood 5'7," snd weighed 145 LBS. Well, the first hitter grunted, used linear mechanics, and hit five balls over a 320 foot left field fence. He rubbed his back after exiting. The smaller hitter, though, cleared the 350 foot centerfield fence four times, and hit another eight over the 335 foot left centerfield fence. This Congregational member also had the disadvantage of being fed numerous pitches up and in; yet, he still turned on them.
> >
> > So BHL, tense up and earn power of a transient sort. Or follow Jack, and gain consistent power to all fields. One final thought: BHL use your writing ability to assist those who cannot comprehend PLT, CHP, THT, or BHT.
> >
> > Thanks for providing free information Jack; please be at liberty to comment on anything I said Jack, or BHL.
> >
> > Warmest Wishes to Both,
> > Light Went Off
>
> Hi Lights Went Off,
>
> If you mishit a ball to centerfield it is in out; if you pull it, it has the chance to sail over the fence. Please look at my material more carefully before jumping to conclusions about them. I appreciate your input though. Let me just leave you with a thought--in Mar. 2004, a light went on, I became immensely popular, and some individuals offered testimony to the success that they had with using my method.
>
> Sincerely,
> BHL
> Knight1285@aol.com
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With regard to the BHL pull theory it has its merits, though I would not recommend it for everyone. On its surface, it definitely makes sense to use the shortest way to reach the fences. But a limitation lies in the fact that to pull the ball one has to hit the ball well out in front of the plate. And when offspeed and outside pitches are thrown in the same at bat, the hitter has to gamble that he can still cover the entire plate. In addition, the hitter has to be able to keep the pitch in and or off the plate inside fair.

Thus for those who have not learned the fence drill and or how to keep inside strikes fair it leaves them with a much smaller portion of the field to use. With this being said the hitter who will benefit most from the BHL theory are hitters who are very selective in which pitches they can best pull. This means the hitter has to maximize their strike zone and be able to lay off pitches that are not conducive to hard hits and be willing to take walks.

So for the hitter who is willing to let the defense over shift because of his one dimensional approach, he can rest assured that the higher caliber the opponent the more he will see his average suffer. And when that hitter is not at the very top of his game he will be an easy and consistent double play and strikeout candidate.

But although I feel the above are factual, some players such as Tony Bautista, Joe Carter, Dave Kingman, and Jason Giambi have reaped rewards and contibuted as big run producers for their respective teams by not using the opposite field.