Posted by: Jimmy () on Fri Jan 5 09:34:29 2007

> > Hi guys,
> >
> > I like the car analogy. I think that the car definately needs to leave on time and needs to go the speed limit in order to have a better chance of stopping at red lights (bad pitches). Ideally that speed limit would gradually keep increasing and increasing until my
car reached it's destination, slamming into it, making an unbelievable sound, and absolutely destroying the walls of that building.
> >
> > I definately wouldn't just put the pedal to the metal right out of the garage to the destination, because I'll surely run red lights (bad pitches), and I'd surely lose control of my car and run off the road. Not to mention the lack of efficiency on gas as well as my
> > gear system this would cause.
> >
> > Jimmy
>
> Jimmy, do you believe in a "swing the bat as you turn" approach (bat starting early and aggressively) or "turn to swing the bat" approach (bat whips around the corner with great acceleration as the shoulders square off to the pitcher on middle-in pitch)?

Hi BobL,

If what you mean by the (bat starting early and aggressively) being a violent (high velocity) action at the top of the swing plane, than no I am not a fan of that approach. That approach lacks control and a poor swing plane to the hitting zone. But if you mean the
(bat starts early and aggressively) by the BAT STARTING its action EARLY and controlled with the hands along with the hitter having an AGGRESSIVE plan to an area of the strike- zone, than yes I do like this approach. I don't think I would call it "swing the bat as you
turn" though. If it needed a name, I would probably call it an "aggressive under control" approach with both the hitters mind (or plan) and physical swing.

It sounds as if you would advise the "turn to swing the bat" approach the way you describe it as having "great" acceleration. The problem with this acceleration is that it happens way
too early and accually decelerates before contact is made. And what about the middle- away pitch, your bat surely can't drive the ball on this pitch if you turn before you swing.

You also describe it as "whipping around the corner" as if this is a good thing to try to make happen. Wouldn't you want it to whip through the direction of the ball flight off the bat. Almost like the barrel is chasing the ball after contact is made for as long as your swing will allow it to.

You can also think of it as having the strength and balance in front of your swing ("turn to swing the bat") vs. having the strength and balance behind and through your swing (the
approach that I like hitters to execute).

Jimmy