Posted by: Chris O'Leary (chris@chrisoleary.com) on Tue Feb 6 11:08:45 2007

"What is everyones take on these? Bent knees, or straight up? High back elbow, or low back elbow? Wide stance, or narrow stance? Hands high, or hands low? Many of you will probably say it is just what you prefer, which I agree, but I just want to see if anyone believes that one way is the only way, and why? Thanks a lot!!"

Bent Knees and Wide Stance = Definitely yes. They help you swing with your entire body (e.g. your hips and torso) and not just your arms and shoulders. They also improve your balance.

High Back Elbow = Maybe yes. I generally like it because it can help a guy look and feel more aggressive. It's also what Pujols does. However, there have been multiple guys (e.g. Ted Williams) who didn't do it, so it's not an absolute. I think it largely depends on the players hands. If his hands are high, then his elbow should be higher and vice versa.