Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Oct 5 01:11:43 2001

>>> I've upset many a coach who comes to ask me why I'm messing their kids' swing up. I've heard all their hitting theories and tips, and then when I ask them why, they tell me is because "that's the way they learned." For a coach to use the words "insane and ludicrous" just proves ignorance instead of keeping an open mind.

I don't believe the lead arm should straighten out, but when the hands are taken back to prime the swing, the lead arm will automatically straighten some. What I think you coach is worried about is "waving" the bat, which means swing the bat with straightened arms all the way through, which would make it incredibly tough to hit an inside pitch since your swing is so long and slow.

Your arms should extend and form a "V" at contact point, with hands facing "palm up/palm down", and your doorknocking knuckles lined up. Until this point, your arms and elbows should be tucked into your body. This will ensure that the massive torque you have built up with your hip and shoulder spin lies dormant until you are ready to explode. This refers to either outside or inside pitches. As long as your weight stays back and rotates around your "stationary axis", it doesn't matter whether you get an inside/outside pitch. <<<

Hi Ruben

Welcome to the site. Below is a post I made last month regarding one of your statements; “Your arms should extend and form a "V" at contact point.”

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“Whether the batter “walks away from his hands” or has an “inward turn”, both the linear and rotational batter have their hands back near their back shoulder (or armpit) as they launch their swing. Linear extension mechanics by definition has the arms reach near full extension at contact. Rotational mechanics brings the bat to contact with the back-elbow still near the batter’s side (in the “L” position) – a good 8 to 10 inches from full extension.

You tell me which is the longer swing.

I like asking linear coaches a simple question; “As the hands are extending farther and farther out toward full extension (the “V” position) – is the swing getting shorter and more compact?”

Jack Mankin