Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Fri Dec 7 18:25:18 2001

>>> I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that you buy into Epstein's "pinball" theory, which is that you swing exactly the same way on an outside pitch as you do an inside pitch, the only difference being where the ball is contacted. <<<
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> Hi HitMan
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> From what I wrote above, I would think that it would be evident to most readers that I do not agree with “Epstein's "pinball" theory.”
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> Jack Mankin

Tom's speculation:I think this goes along with Jack's comment last month that timing is more important than ball placement in determining the contact point.For the outside pitch,torso acceleration is slightly delayed relative to the inside location allowing top hand torque to swing the bathead out a little farther before the hips transfer momentum to the torso.This creates a higher load so that torso rotation then proceeds more slowly for the outside location.There is less torso turn by the time of contact.During this relatively limited torso turn the efficient transfer of torso energy requires the hands to torque the bathead near extension quickly then allow some casting of the lead arm prior to contact.The casting of the lead arm rapidly depletes the torso of energy(torso stops)so it is important to make contact before deceleration occurs.Timing would ideally create contact with the sweetspot perpendicular to the pitch.Slight "mistiming" either way would keep the ball in play.

Just waiting for the ball to get deep would theoretically give less batspeed with slightly late contact going foul.
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