Posted by: jima (andyii@cox.net) on Thu Nov 16 17:37:36 2006

Chris, I agree...that's why we don't do "rotational" instruction anymore.

Hitman, where did you ever get the idea that some linear movement and rotation couldn't abide in the same swing? Maybe the issue is semantics (which it often is on this site of experts) but clearly I disagree with you...there are many teachers who have students move the hands laterally to load and also have the knee move in leveraging or lateral move to the toe while keeping the hands back. The hips and upper body stay square promoting a torque like relationship between the lower body and upper body...hands stay back; the back elbow relaxes next to the body to get connected. The lower half starts to rotate while the hands drive inside the ball...you continue to rotate around a fixed front leg with hands driving to contact. I agree that this style may not produce the same bat speed as pure rotation as taught here but I believe it produces more consistent bat control and plate coverage. Sorry about being so long winded. jima