Posted by: Red Dog (gwils@brdwlaw.com) on Thu Aug 5 07:00:15 2010

I disagree that the A-B linear hand path is the quickest to the ball. The same batter using both methods (linear and rotational) will be faster using rotational mechanics, ie. circular hand path. In my opinion, if a batter, swinging rotational, brings his hands forward or towards the ball, he/she will destroy the circular hand path they are trying to achieve. Some of the kids have been swinging linear for so long they can't stop the hands from coming forward and controlling the bat head. To swing correctly using rotational mechanics, the batter uses the top hand to torque the bat back toward the catcher or as I like to say, "gets the bat in the slot position during PLC". We don't want a strong top hand in the rotational swing. Don't forget we have an inward turn of the shoulders and we hide the hands from the pitcher which helps create the circular hand path when we rotate. I am not sure how you get a circular hand path if you don't execute the inward turn and hide the hands. Back to the swing - The bottom hand pulls the bat around by the rotation of the front shoulders/side. The front arm is locked in a slightly bent position at PLC and stays in that same configuration during the swing. The batter is tight in the front arm pit making sure the arms are connected to the body. The batter then merely rotates through contact with the ball. THE HANDS DO VERY LITTLE -- THEY SHOULD BE QUIET DURING THE SWING. If the batter is trying to move his/her hands in a circular motion, he/she is in trouble. You don't move the hands like you move them in the linear method. Keep the hands back and pull them around with the rotation of the body. If the batter stays connected in the front arm pit and pulls the batter completely around using rotation of the shoulders, they will get the hook-in-the-hand-path that Jack talkes about. This is caused by the front leg straightening and the completion of the rotation of the shoulders while we stay locked with the front arm. My experience is that the batter cannot roll over if he swings correctly using rotational mechanics. You will see batters roll over when they are fooled by the pitch and are way ahead of the ball but that is timing not hand path. This is the way that I understand the rotational mechanics. Remember, that batters rotate using linear mechanics so if your son or daughter is rotating that does not mean they are using rotational mechanics. Take Jacks advise step by step and you will see what I mean. Watch the MLB Players swing in slow motion and you will see it every time. If I am wrong or have misspoken Jack, let me know so my son can continue to improve his swing. I hope this helps.