Posted by: Mark H. () on Thu Dec 6 10:24:39 2001

What do you think?
> >
> > Tom-
> > what is the 'open top hand'? The only top hand stuff I've heard C. Lau talk about is letting go on follow through. Do you mean something else?
>
> MD-
>
> Mr. Lau is in a much better position to explain this.From the reader's perspective,this is one of the most emphasized points in the book.To learn the feel of the swing and break the habit of tophand dominance,Lau recommends several alternative ways of using/gripping with the top hand.This promotes maximum extension and followthrough of the bottom hand arm.
>
> In his recommended drills,Drill#1 is the "open top hand" drill.The bat is gripped in the usual way with the bottom hand while in the top hand it basically just rests in the "V" between the thumb and base of the first finger with the open palm facing the pitcher.Since Lau is a proponent of the 2nd knuckle lined up grip,this results in the base of the thumb applying top hand torque in the initiation of the swing,at least that's how I analyze it.A lot of the teaching here is necessary to avoid the "wrist bind" Jack talks about(which results from a grip that doesn't allow the top hand to slip) as well as initiate the swing with tht.



Now that's interesting and makes sense. I think that bitter differences are sometimes just a matter of semantics and definitions of cues. Wish we could hear Charley and Jack discuss Tom's observation at length. I suspect the "at length" part could be a problem though. :)

Mark H.