Posted by: Jimmy () on Wed Jan 17 21:02:49 2007

> > > > To produce a line drive that has backspin on it, the barrel of the bat must not
work
> > from under the ball, it must work through the ball. A severe upward swing will
produse a
> > topspin (ground-balls), or backspin with too steep of a trajectory into the air (pop-
ups).
> > There is very small room for error in terms of quality contact with this approach. Do
we
> > really want to tell our players to try to have an upper-cut swing? Doesn't the swing
flatten
> > out on its own when quality contact is made out front?
> > > >
> > > > Please respond
> > > >
> > > > Jimmy
> > >
> > > Jimmy
> > >
> > > It is not an uppercut swing it is a swing that matches the ball trajectory. The ball
> > trajectory is always DOWN. In your description the bat only crosses the ball trajectory
> > which means you only hit the ball or you completely miss the ball (think of the letter X
laid
> > on its side, only one spot to make contact).
> > >
> > > To maximize your success in timing the pitch and making solid contact wtih the
ball the
> > bat needs to be matching the ball trajectory. The actual error for contact in this
scenario
> > is less then with a flat swing or a downward swing. True if your bat is one inch too
high or
> > one inch too low you will hit a pop up or a ground ball but in the X scenario your bat
has a
> > timing error of less then 5 inches or about 1 mph.
> > >
> > > What this means is if your judgement of speed (timing) is off by two mph you miss
the
> > ball. Can you judge the speed of the pitch by less then two mph regularly. I would
rather
> > have to adjust my swing by one inch over the length of the swing that has a 6-8 mph
> > room for error.
> > >
> > > Just my thoughts that are supported by many videos, scientific analysis, and
personal
> > analysis.
> > >
> > > DAve P
> > >
> > > PS Your statement is correct 'barrel of the bat must not work from under the ball, it
> > must work through the ball.' and to go through it you should be matching the flight of
the
> > ball. It is easier to go through something if you are lined up to it.
> >
> > Dave P,
> >
> > I'm sorry but did I ever state that the hitter should ever cross the trajectory? I thought
I said through the ball or trajectory. The problem with your scientific analysis is that when
the hitter tries to match the trajectory, he ends up working from benieth the trajectory. So
your little "X" example applies to your approach more than it applies to my approach of
working through the ball with a natural swing plane.
> >
> > Many hitters in the Big Leagues do try to swing down on top of the ball to create a
swing that actually does match trajectory on your video screen (Albert Pujols). Its all up to
the individual's feel within his swing.
> >
> > I was just asking the question because if hitters are matching trajectory while trying
to swing DOWN, doesn't this pose a problem for the hitters trying to swing UP to match
trajectory? And doesn't this effect the whole topspin/backspin idea.
> >
> > Jimmy
>
> Hey Jimmy
>
> Actually I did not see you state anywhere about matching trajectory in your statement
because you did not explain exactually what you were talking about. You said that the
swing levels out in front which is actually wrong because as the hands go forward of the
body unless you are swinging extremely down on the ball the bat is going up. Reach
forward with your hands and tell me if they go up. in order to get full extention of your
arms they must work up to shoulder height and therefore if they are passing by the body
any lower then shoulder height they must be going up.
>
> You stated 'I thought I said through the ball or trajectory. The problem with your
scientific analysis is that when the hitter tries to match the trajectory, he ends up working
from benieth the trajectory.' Did you not just contradict yourself?? Does through the ball
mean trajectory of the ball?? Since all balls are going down then the bat trajectory
(through the ball) must be going up.
>
> Matching trajectory means both bat and ball must be going on the same plane. You can
not match trajectory with your bat if your bat starts any direction other then the plane of
the ball.
>
> Dave P

Dave P,

Maybe you aren't understanding my point. The point is that if a hitter actually tries to feel
like he is matching trajectory, he actually doesn't. The barrel gets too flat too soon and
actually drops below the trajectory of the ball. I agree with you when you state that you
want to match the trajectory, but in order to actually do so the hitter should probably not
try to do so. Gravity already helps to flatten the barrel out prior to contact to match
trajectory without our effort to do so. And what about the pitches that are at the top of the
zone? Do you think a hitter should really try to get more lift on a pitch that is already
elevated?

One other problem that I have with trying to match trajectory is that 11 and 12 year old
pitchers have more of a downward angle to the plate than a 17 or 18 year old. So does
the hitter have to reshape his swing every level he moves up to "match the trajectory"?

Jimmy