Posted by: Ronnie (rwynn@comsouth.net) on Tue Oct 5 20:00:02 2010

> > This is a very deceiving type of hitting. I have been a hitting coach/instructor for the past 15 years and have always taught knob to ball, hands in front of chin at contact, hips to hitting zone, etc. Watching the video here and battling for about 2 years over this I cannot accept this teaching.
> >
> > Younger kids may get away with this style because the ball being pitched is not moving extremely fast or there is no movement on "offspeed" pitches at a young age. Once these kids hit high school and beyond, they do not know how to hit to the opposite field very well...we end up breaking their bad habits and having to explain exactly how mature of a swing this "rotational" style is.
> >
> > Albert Puljos is used as an example...ok, yes his video shows this "rotational," but Puljos also uses what you call "linear," which also use rotational hips. By mature, I mean most high school players are not able to adjust and change swings to match their count.
> >
> > I agree there is more torque with this hand path, but this hand path IS NOT successful in every count and every pitch. This swing is about the home run, not for a team average style of hitting.
> >
> > Ted Williams is also brought up in this discussion, but different era and style of pitching...have you seen some of the "successful" swings back then? Ok, off my soap box...last thing - plese check out www.sportskool.com and find Tony Gwynn's videos, also Ripken baseball...these are solid swings for average and opportunity to hit the long ball, after mastering seeing the ball and hitting for average.
> >
> > Thanks for your time everyone.
>
> That's the point I was trying to make last month. Actually, I think Ted Williams himself ascribed to what would be the "linear" type of hitting. I say this only after watching a viedo of him describing and discussing this in an interview I saw on youtube. I first saw the interview LAST YEAR mind you. So, that means I've just begun to understand what he is saying. He talks about looking to hit the ball inside out and not outside in. He says that "The quickest way to get to two spots is in a straight line." Don't take my word for it. I challenge anybody- listen to the man say it for yourself. Go on youtube and look for the interview with s lady named ann liquiri. You'll see....

Hi Rick,
I am glad you joined in to discuss what defines linear and rotational mechanics because these do confuse many of us.
Please explain what you see as linear in Pujols' swing. I don't see him as being what I call linear in any of the video I have seen. Your reference to a hand path that is not successful on every count and every pitch is interesting. Please tell me what pitch that you believe can not be hit with a circular hand path that can be hit with a linear path. One of the most important adjustments for kids to transition to is the early bat speed that rotational mechanics bring, this also allows the hitter to read the break on the ball because the hitter can let it travel closer to the plate before committing his swing which also allows him to relax knowing they can't throw the fastball past the hitter. Then he can look off speed knowing the pitcher can't get the fastball by him.
Thanks,
Ronnie