Posted by: Jimmy () on Fri Feb 23 00:08:03 2007

> >>> Try to stay on point. We are not talking exclusively about bat-speed. We are talking about Major League swings and how they are created. Why do you deny that linear/directional forces are applied to the Major League swing?
>
> I agree with you that rotational forces supply more power and bat-speed to the swing, but why do you disagree with me that rotational forces along with linear/directional forces are the combination that quality swings contain. <<<
>
> Hi Jimmy
>
> You state, “Why do you deny that linear/directional forces are applied to the Major League swing? “
>
> I just explained how the angular displacement of the hands induces bat-head acceleration. Now it your turn to explain to all of us how “linear/directional forces” effect bat speed and the Major League swing. – This is important Jimmy, so don’t dodge this one.
>
> I am going to hold all your other posts until this point is settled.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack,

I must be on to something if you are this worked up over my posts.

The most important linear portion of the Major League swing happens through the hitting zone. This is where the hitter practices the combination of accelaration of the bat-head and directional length of the sweet-spot through the hitting zone.

The ideal contact zone or hitting zone depends on the location of the pitch. For this explaination I'll use the pitch right down the middle of the plate.

For this location the ideal contact zone or hitting zone starts just in front of the hitters lead foot and extends about a foot or so through a line towards the pitcher (depending on the size and leverage of the hitter) .

If the hitter can try to keep his sweet-spot on that line for as long as he can, while still continuing to apply THT, then his chances of hitting the ball on that sweet-spot are greater. When the sweet-spot travels into the hitting zone and is traveling too rotationally, the sweet-spot and the ball will have only one chance of crossing eachothers paths. When the sweet-spot crosses outside the hitting zone line then back across to the other side the
ball and the sweet-spot will cross at exactly two and only two points.

For example...Draw a line (path of pitch/hitting zone) with the edge of a circle (rotational path of sweet-spot) touching the midpoint of that line. Draw another line (path of pitch/hitting zone) with the edge of a circle (rotational path of sweet-spot) crossing at two
points on that line.

Now draw a line (path of pitch/hitting zone) with the long edge of an oval (rotational WITH linear/directional path of the sweet-spot) touching a longer portion of that line and you have what I am describing.

As far as the batspeed that the directional/linear force applies or takes away. I'm not sure. But I do know that batspeed means nothing if the hitter is not accurate with the sweet-spot. The hitter might swing the bat 100 mph but if the ball misses the sweet-spot, the
ball will go nowhere.

If batspeed were slowed down at all as a result of any linear action through the hitting zone (as you state), it is not a significant amount anyway. To sacrifice barrel accuuracy for 2 or 3 mph of batspeed is not a good trade-off. And I'm not sure if it even slows it down at all.

I've got to add in the backspin element as well. When the barrel stays on that hitting zone line through contact the ball does have a better chance to receive a force from the bat creating backspin which makes the ball carry further in the air. If the bat is traveling in too much of an arc through the hitting zone, the ball has more of a chance to receive topspin forces which makes the ball dive downward when in the air.

I hope this explains why a "linear/directional force and path" is practiced and used in the Major League swing.

Jack, I agree with you that rotational forces are a huge role in the swing, but the linear/directional element is what makes the difference between a below average hitter and a great hitter.

I still want to know why you deny that linear/directional components of the Major League swing exist? And we both know that I am not talking about lines that can be made with a straight-edge, so don't try to go to the video and state that there are no straight lines. I
am talking about the length of time that the sweet-spot is in the hitting zone.

With Respect,

Jimmy