Posted by: Jimmy () on Sun Feb 18 12:29:14 2007

> >>> Yes. And Mike was a firm believer in the level cut as opposed to the slight upswing. Schmidt, Dave Winfield, Albert Belle and Lance Berkman are hitters who more likely fit the combined system approach. George Brett also used that approach, but had the ability to use the upswing when the situation called for the homerun.<<<
>
> Hi Jimmy
>
> At - http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/swings.html – there are a close to 50 clips of the games best hitters. If what Mike stated is true, we should see very few with a “slight upswing” at contact. If most have the bats on an up-slope at contact, his statement is
misleading.
>
> Jimmy, please point out those clips where the bat is not on an “up-slope” at contact.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack,

That is great that you can observe video and tell me what you are seeing, but the art of hitting involves different sensations in order to create the swing that you see. What you see isn't always what the hitter was trying to do.

Your example of Bonds being shocked when someone told him that he was swinging up is my point. He always felt that he was swinging down and he was actually swinging slightly upward. The swing will always be slightly upwards but this doesn't mean that the hitter
tried to do so nor does it mean he is a "rotational hitter".

The part of the swing that I think should stay away from being too rotational is through the hitting zone. If a left handed hitter makes the hard right turn with his barrel through the hitting zone, it doesn't matter if his swing was slightly up, slightly down, or level because he will be off the ball due to his barrel comming in and out of the hitting zone for a short period of time.

Jimmy