Posted by: coach13 (halour@netscape.net) on Sat Jan 6 09:58:42 2007

> > Hi Dave I agree with you these blanket statements and cliches that the linear believers hang their hats on are weak and often self serving. I recently had the Head Coach of a college in Lousiana host a hitting camp in her home town in Nebraska. (she was home for
> the holidays) When she played college ball she changed from the linear disconnected concept to the rotational connected swing and became one of the best hitters in college. Her batting average was .402 and her slugging percentage was .779. She said she would
> never have set these standards using a linear swing. I believe that the number one reason that pitching dominates in womens softball is because of the linear swing concept. It is human nature to resist change, but with the advent. of digital photogrophy some people
> look only for what they believe, and ignore reality. I also agree some players have less than perfect swings but can become successful, usually because their athletecisim overides the
> flaws. Not every one has that luxury and must depend on the basic fundimentals, biomechanics and physics to get the desired result. I might also note that this tremendously successful player and now a head coach made a statement that "as soon as you start using your arms this disconnects your arms from your body." In other words the
> hips start the swing. Thanks for letting me add my two cents.
> > coach13
>
> Hi coach13,
>
> Please read my post responding to Dave P. and you will see that I am not advising a strictly linear approach. I also think the coach that you used as an example could have had more offensive production if she hadn't been strictly rotational. Disconnection of the hands from the body is what gives you more barrel control along with power. This is why when you use a hammer to a nail (which you need to control with as well), you disconnect the use of your hands from your body. Your body doesn't move with your arm and the hammer head as you swing it.
>
> I do agree that pitching dominates fast-pitch softball because of the way hitting is taught. Strictly "linear" swings will never produce the most consistent quality at-bats, but neither will strictly "rotational" swings. It is a combination of the two that is the most productive in game situations. So who is aking "blanket" statements in this discussion. I don't think that it's me.
>
> Jimmy


Hi Jimmy

Ok you talked me into it I will use blanket statements as you do.

1. Why do linear hitters hit into so many double plays?
answer- because the swing plain is more of a downward path and
they generate less bat speed so they have less power.
2. Why do linear hitters strike out so much?
answer- because they cant catch up with the fast ball.
This requires them to start sooner and makes them
vulnerable to off speed pitches. The swing plain allows
little margin of error for being late or early on a pitch.
3. Why do linear hitters pop up so much?
answer- they dont match the plane of the ball. The ball is
traveling in a downward path the bat is traveling in a
downward path if they hit it on the bottom of the ball it
pops straight up.
4. Why do linear hitters rarely get extra base hits.
answer- because they disconnect from the power that the core
muscles procuce.
Jimmy your example of using a hammer with your arm is a good example.
If I wanted to break a rock using a claw hammer how many blows would
have to be delivered to break a rock 12 inches in diameter? VERSES
using a sledge hammer and using the core muscles as the source of power.
In boxing if we compared the knock out ratio between the jab and the hook I wonder which punch has the best knock out ratio.

PS I asked the coach if the combination of rotational and linear would have demonstrated better results for her. She said the coaches she knows that have tried this have had less than desireable results. Well there you have it Jimmy some blanket statements. I have one passing question can you present a linear hitter that has a career batting average higher than .402 and a career slugging percentage higher than 700?