Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Oct 5 23:54:47 2001

>>> I agree with your statement that "bat speed is not stored-up", however, I do believe that bat speed is constantly being generated throughout the swing and any forward motion such as a "leaky head" or overstriding lessens this force. I appreciate your comments and critique fully and I do feel that although I agree with most everything you preach, why do you feel my swing is "linear" and not "rotational". Feedback is appreciated. <<<

Hi Ruben

Many coaches define linear or rotational mechanics in terms of the batter’s body movement. If the batter strides forward or shifts weight forward he is considered to be a linear hitter. No-stride hitters are thought of as rotational. But many of the batters that have a circular hand-path and use top and bottom-hand-torque may also have a fairly long stride. Many no-striders have a linear hand-path. So what determines a batter to be linear or rotational?

Although body rotation is the energy for the swing, the upper-body transfer mechanics that converts that energy into bat speed is really what determines whether the batter’s mechanics is linear or rotational. --- Knob first extension mechanics has the bat-head trailing behind the hands through much of the swing and the bat does not reach contact until the arms near full extension – those are the characteristic of linear mechanics.

A circular hand-path and the constant application of torque bring the bat to contact much farther back in the swing – those are rotational mechanic principles.

Jack Mankin