Posted by: rql () on Tue Feb 27 08:35:41 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.
> >
> > Of course I am saying this with all do respect that the lower body is moving correctly.
> >
> > 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
>I have been around this site for many years and have appreciated the wealth of ideas that have come from here,I will say that hands are the leaders,but realize that most all leaders [generals in war] stay behind the front lines.They direct the body to power the swing so they can get the barrel through themselves to the ball at the right time.They fine tune the swing plane after the posture sets the basic 90 degree spine to bat angle.The knob rotates immediately as it works from back at catcher to oppo dugout and then each position player,[1st 2nd ss 3rd,for a righty.I played for many years with some great hitters ,none of us ever thought of our elbow,I believe a better cue is to rotate the knob at and inside of ball,this keeps the[hand/eye coordination,the knob to ball idea ,and staying inside the ball ]all in the proper functioning of the cues.Hands are king the body is the slave,Letting your eyes show your mind where and when to have the hands to be on time and trainging the body how to get it there is of high importance.
For years I felt how so much force was felt [resistance]in the linear moves to push the bat into the zone and usually with hands leading barrel,and though you stay in line with ball longer so much drag is happening it hinders the swing greatly,not until I started learning to pull the ball did I find that the great swings seemed to be like when a hitter hits the ball on the nose,nothing felt but smoothness,Smooth acceleration ,let hands be king but let body lead the way out in front while the hands try to catch up[100] by contact,please realize how the hands and elbows as hinges adjust the swing from outside to inside [radius]