Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Nov 13 10:40:16 2006

>>> Hello Jack

When I teach your principles and explain to others the message resonates better for me when I talk of rotation of the barrel around the hands at swing initiation. Pulling back with the fingers of the top hand ( even though it technically happens when you rotate the barrel and slot the elbow) loses people IMO

In other words, when we tip the barrel in prelaunch torque and think turn the barrel around with the hands as the shoulders turn then it all happens.

In my mind, the top hand is not concsciencely pulling backwards. I am using both hands to turn the barrel back on plane. It is hard to talk about hand action separately teaching a physical movement.

I totally agree in the principles and physics...you are correct

Linear is both hands going forward at swing initiation

Rotational is turning the barrel around which involves the top hands applying a pull force back. SO , I know it can be said at some point but not until I get it happening with other cues.

I think teaching it envolves AMPLIFYING the move with excessive prelaunch torque to the oppo gap....tipping the barrel forward and away from the body like Bonds.

The reverse path it must take and the resulting acceleration of the barrel into the back of the swing arc is seen and felt best for me. And YES..kids saw WOW!

The key to understanding THT( top hand action at swing initation is the key to learning to hit. Another key is how to set up THT with PLT. On balance I think the later is more important is teaching.

You know how long I have been doing this and even though I knew it was correct I can attest to the fact that it can take somebody hitting a ball using it correctly to buy in hook line and sinker.

I think BIG prelaunch torque is essential to understanding THT at all . Whether you chose to use it later is not as important as learning to EXPERIENCE the better ball flight quickly to keep them on task as they consider a change in their swing mechanics.

respectfully

Donny

Seeing 30 more feet with less effort is believing. And " seeing is believing" still. <<<

Hi Donny

I agree with you that teaching the principles of THT is easier for the student to grasp having them start with the bat cocked forward (like Bonds). Like you, that is the method I use when working with a student in person. I am there to correct mechanical flaws in their swing as they arise. However, most of my teaching is not done in person but though analysis of video sent to me.

I found that those hitters that perform Pre-Launch-Torque (PLT) correctly were performing well above players in their league. A good number of them have now graduated high school and are playing college ball. The problem is, most of the video sent to me showed serious flaws in how the hitter performed PLT.

The most common problem I found was the hitter did not sweep the bat-head from its cocked forward position back cleanly into the swing plane. They had accelerated the bat-head back to vertically. As they initiated shoulder rotation, the bat-head was cutting down through the swing plane rather than cleanly into it. This resulted in wrist binds and serious flaws in the swing plane.

I found that to correct their problems, it was more effective to have them start with the bat behind their head in the normal launch (bat in the swing plane). Then, apply THT as I demonstrated in the Pathfinder DVD. Some got it and some did not. For those that did get it, I was somewhat surprised to find they could hit the ball just about as hard as those using THT plus PLT.

Jack Mankin