Posted by: Melvin () on Fri Sep 7 12:58:54 2001

What is the movement that starts the top hand torque? My son is left handed and I can't tell from the tape exactly how to begin the "torque". Is it a "downward flip" of the wrist, or is it a "counter rotation" of the wrist, or is it combination? or am I completely lost?
> >
> > Also do any of you have opinions of an exercise that will make the correct motion happen faster?
>
> Jack points out in his tapes and on this site that the top hand's fingers pull back toward the catcher while the bottom hand remains stationary (doesn't pull forward). This starts the bat barrel arcing so it can have momentum when it arcs into the swing plane itself.
> Jack and I have discussed in the past the relationship of the back elbow to tht.
> It is my belief that the back elbow pulls down toward the ribs and this action causes the fingers to exert tht on the bat handle.
> In working with my students, I refer to this as the 'power elbow down' technique. I don't think Jack agrees with this.
> Make your own judgment. But watch Barry Bonds, Carl Everett, Gary Sheffield, etc. The hitters who 'rock' the bat in some way, or point it somewhat toward the pitcher, end up pulling the barrel back as their back elbow comes down toward their side.
> It is my impression that hitters do not intentionally pull back with the fingers of their top hand, ie, it is not a conscious action. But the bat waggle and elbow down action combine to do what they don't realize they are doing.
> Just my take on it.

Hello

The last analysis seems spot-on. The hand pull/elbow down action it seems also takes care to ensure that the elbow stays somewhat wide of the rib cage, wider for outside pitches than inside ones that is. On inside pitches, it seems the pull draws the back elbow almost behind the body, dropping it nearly into the hollow above the kidney. No question, this early arcing of the bat back separates the good hitters from the others. Good hitters pull the bat back and rotate, while others push their hands at the ball. In any case, fine observations.