Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 29 11:40:02 2006

Hi Jim

Good post.

You state; “I believe it is more accurate to say that at this point in the swing the energy for the top hand torque is being generated by the lowering of the back elbow and transmitted through a rigid wrist. This efficiently accelerates the bat head toward a position that will line it up the line of the pitch. It also enables the hands to move to a palm-up, palm-down orientation that is essential for the second phase of hand torque.”

I have stated that the rearward force of the top-hand results from the pulling rearward of the forearm – “like an archer pulling back on the bowstring.” I used this anology to point out that top-forearm should apply a rearward force rather than driving the top-hand forward during initiation.

You, and other coaches, believe it is the lowering of the elbow that pulls the top-hand rearward. I guess it is a, “which came first – the chicken or the egg” question. – Did the pulling rearward of the forearm cause the elbow to lower. – or – did the lowering of the elbow pull the forearm (and top-hand) rearward? In my swing, I have found that “pulling the forearm rearward” produced the best results.

One thing you stated; “transmitted through a rigid wrist” is key to understanding THT. Far to many believe that the top-wrist must “uncock” for THT to be applied. The wrist must remain “rigid” for the rotation of forearm-wrist-hand to apply torque to the handle. – There is no cocking or un-cocking of the wrist as the twisting action of the forearm induces a rearward force through the top-hand.

Jack Mankin