Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Mon Dec 10 13:08:43 2001

In the section of this website entitled "Mechanics that generate bat speed" it shows a hitter displaying the circular hand path. His top hand starts back toward the catcher? Huh? Shouldn't the swing be at a downward angle? The knob of the bat leads, right?

Tom -
The idea of the top hand starting back toward the catcher is counter-intuitive. However, the opposite would be the top hand pushing forward toward the pitcher. If the batter did this, he would have to swing down, as you said. However, he would be swinging with his hands and arms to do this.
The idea of rotational mechanics is that the body gets the shoulders turning into the pitch. If the hands are left back (not pushed forward) the shoulders will bring them around and the bat with them.
The knob of the bat cannot remain pointing at the ground. As the shoulders pull the arms/bat into the swing, the bat flattens and drops into the swing plane/plane of the pitch. As a result of this action, the bat barrel trails the knob at first. If this is to happen, the top hand must lay back, not push forward.
The knob of the bat however, does not continue toward the pitcher. Rather the circular hand path, created by turning the arms/bat with the shoulder turn, pulls the knob in a circular path, actually starting toward the first base doughout, and turning across the field around past third base (circular).
A common cue from linear hitting is to pull the knob to the ball. This is not the same as the circular hand path. Instead it is a straight hand path being pushed forward and down. It sounds like that is what you are describing.
Rotational mechanics are fundamentally different than that.
Hope this explanation helps.