Posted by: Dave P () on Tue Oct 31 09:56:37 2006

> As some of you know I'm not a total devotee to the methods espoused at this site. I do have a lot of respect for Mr. Mankin and his willingness to offer a forum such as this. It is probably true that "rotational" mechanics produce the greatest bat speed. The question is whether bat speed is the most important aspect of hitting. My previous posts have emphasized timing, balance, the ability to go to the opposite field, and most important, the ability to control the bat in order to make solid contact. In my opinion (as well as many other respected teachers) solid contact is more important than 5 or 10 mph of bat speed and solid contact can best be accomplished, I believe, with an initial move of the hands to the ball prior to the rotation around the fixed front leg. Jack knows that I don't buy into videos since we don't know the location of the pitch; the type of pitch or the game situation. Anyway, does anyone know of a MLB manager who has spoken of the need to have rotational mechanics? Maybe Bochy...one other thing...I don't think we should be trying to develop hitters which emulate Kingman, Bautista, etc. jima

Jima

Question

If your hands go to the ball where does the end of your bat go??

Answer IMHO

It goes on the other side of the ball instead of to the ball. When a person preaches hands to the ball the bat is going in a direction that not through the ball but around it. I see more casting the hands caused by hands to the ball then any other phrase out there creating ground outs and weak fly balls.

Batspeed alone does not produce hitters but they do get noticed. Players who hit singles only have less of a chance of making it to the big show UNLESS they can play another position extremely well or run really fast. Please do not name me all the exceptions because I know that they are out there and I know that there are table setters out there also.

If you learn to achieve higher batspeed and know how to use it properly you will me a more effective hitter. Learning how to swing the bat, then learn how to hit the ball and then learn how to apply the swing. This seems to be the way that hitters are taught since most of them have there most productive years when they finally learn how to apply the swing. All swings CAN BE effective, but all swings are not created equal.

Dave P