Posted by: Coach Chuck (maroonbear2002@yahoo.com) on Fri Feb 2 22:52:06 2007

Captain Kim,

I don't think you understand the difference between linear and rotational mechanics. Bond's front arm is bent and stays bent throughout the swing. This is probably because the pitch is running in on him. If he were swinging with a linear style his front arm would straighten to contact, not stay bent. Look at the distance Bond’s lead shoulder travels before contact. There is nothing linear about this swing. Your prejudice against Bond’s is obviously clouding your thinking.

Chuck

> Barry Bonds in below link looks like the picture before he was bloated from steroids:
> http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro?p=17&n=1&m=12&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9
> He's using rotational mechanics (straight leading arm, rotating body) Rotational
mechanics, as you know, generate greater power than linear
>
> And then I saw this gif picture which is definetly Barry Bonds on steroids
> http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro?p=16&n=1&m=12&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9
> Judging by his bat angle and bent lead arm, he's using linear mechanics.
>
> My thought is that, before he was on steroids he used rotational mechanic to generate
power. After he saw some power effects from steroids, he turned to linear mechanics to
facilitate contact w/out a lot of strikeouts. Linear mechanic sacrifices power, but Bonds is
juiced with power.
>
> Just my wild guess on Bonds's mechanical change. Any comments?