Posted by: Dennis W. () on Wed Feb 21 23:32:08 2007

It depends how the bat is angled at contact.
The rear elbow is tucked at the side of the body near the abdomen (all pitches) while the front elbow works upward (in the rotation). This is how the batter keeps inside the ball. Initiate contact early on inside balls, later on outside balls. As the bat is coming to contact, the batter introduces torque at the wrists (causing bat to rotate) as the 90 degree angle to the ball decreases it picks up additional speed. Ultimately the angle at which contact is made determines where the ball goes. Before you disagree, try it. Then play pinball and observe what happens when you 'swing' early or later to inside/outside (pin)balls.