Posted by: Jerry (perfact11@hotmail.com) on Sun Feb 25 20:34:13 2007

> >>> Thanks Jack on a post you made about the difference between rotational hitting and linear hitting position.
>
> I think it is coming clearer to me, but again I want to try to keep it simple, drill wise.
>
> Here is my thought for a rotational hitter. What if I was to say just as a swing key, when the upper body starts to rotate, rotate your forward elbow to the ball, and finish naturally? Remember I said rotate forward elbow not throw elbow towards the ball.
>
> All I am saying is look at the action that has to happen to the upper body without thinking about hands, it seems to me that the rear elbow will automatically be brought into position and the hands have no choice but release the bat into the ball. Everything has to follow the front elbow in a rotational swing.
>
> Try a few swings and tell me what happens. I know to some of you more accomplished hitters and coaches you may laugh. I will admit I am stabbing in the dark for a good swing key for a rotational hitter. But the hands are taken fully out of the equation because they will release into the ball due to the swing path of the front elbow in a rotational direction that the hands have to follow because of the rotational force.
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> Of course I am saying this with all do respect that the lower body is moving correctly.
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> Like I said I am just a beginner who has heard all kind of drills that not everyone agrees with. This is what intrigued me from the beginning of my quest to find a correct drill/swing thought for hitter that cast there hands after hearing the normal swing drills don't work.
>
>
> Here is my thought for a rotational hitter. What if I was to say just as a swing key, when the upper body starts to rotate, rotate your forward elbow to the ball, and finish naturally? Remember I said rotate forward elbow not throw elbow towards the ball. <<<
>
> Hi Jerry
>
> You state, “Here is my thought for a rotational hitter. What if I was to say just as a swing key, when the upper body starts to rotate, rotate your forward elbow to the ball, and finish naturally? Remember I said rotate forward elbow not throw elbow towards the ball.”
>
> I would say you are on the right track. It is important to keep in mind that it is shoulder rotation that rotates the lead-elbow around – not the muscles of the arm. The elbow should remain at a fixed angle all the way to contact. The main function of the arm is to provide linkage to the rotating shoulder.
>
> Jerry I would recommend practicing your drill with a heavy bag to stop the bat at contact. That way, you can check out the batters contact position – was the back-elbow still back at the side at contact (“L” position) & etc.
>
> Jack Mankin

OK swing key is to "rotate shoulder and front elbow as one unit," of course.

I know that this move is not any good if you don't have a good lower body move to time it all with.


Again thanks for your patients with me, this spread new light on my quest. If you remember at the beginning of the thread that this all started because 70% of the clinic were throwing there hands after watching there video. I guess now looking back at this that I was looking for a swing key I could easily relate to or understand since I am a beginner to all of this and try to sit back and let the coaches do the coaching.

I am very afraid to mess with my own sons swing at this time because he is smashing the ball. But if I could just suggest try this swing thought for a few swings and if the idea feels comfortable. He could work on the swing key along with some t and the bag drill to get the timing down.


I am just trying to keep it simple in my mind and his only. I am not out here to change everyone around me. Just thought it interesting that a lot of kids young and older were making the same mistake and the drills for casting did not seem to help. Or just maybe they did not work on them long enough, I don't have a clue.

In a passing note I got to talking to the coach who was doing the swing analysis of the student’s swings on all levels, between age groups. Was asking him, the best pitch to throw a person with this swing fault...

He told me and said even if the ball was hit that it would be either a pop up or a weak hit to the opposite field.

I told my son if he had a chance to try pitching to that location and sure enough that was the case, pop ups and weak hits, he became a believer.

His win percentage went up immediately because of good location. Not curve swerves gyros or knuckles ball just fast balls with good location.

Respectfully yours and thanks again for a swing thought and product line.

Jerry