Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Thu Oct 18 09:01:36 2001

Jack, or anyone who wants to take a shot,
> >
> > How would you characterize Ichiro's swing or swings?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mark H.
>
> Must be linear. Which is probably why he is halfway to 1st base after he swings.

Ichiro has a very different set of mechanics but I would not consider them simply linear. He dives into the field - big weight shift. But he keeps his hands back and leads primarily with his hips - not his head or feet or hands.
At the end of the 'dive' he rotates into the ball. His goal is to hit grounders to the left side. His hands turn with his shoulders (rotational) but late - well after his body has started forward. I think he uses the forward body momentum to start his body turn. He then turns to pull his back side around with the bat following the shoulders. That lets him slap the ball on the ground to the left side. For him a routine grounder to the SS's right is an infield hit.
IMO there is a significant rotational component to his swing. He transfers 'something' through his torso to his shoulder turn. His shoulder turn brings his bat around (chp). He does not push his hands at the ball. He rotates around an axis - stable but moving forward - not your typical or orthodox stationary axis. But it is a compromise to get him out of the box quickly.
He's not much like the typical swing in MLB. He's interesting, isn't he.