Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 14 16:04:58 2001

>>> thanks for the response and answer.
batman brought up a point, earlier, about the distance the toes are placed from the plate. since, distance that you place your toes (in relation to the edge of plate closest to you)when taking your stance is critical to proper plate coverage (inside, middle, outside), what would you say would be an appropriate distance/range for someone of "average" size swinging a 34 inch bat?
or how do you instruct your students when speaking about taking your stance in the box?
thanks, ray porco <<<

Hi Ray

I do not encourage the batter to think of the optimum distance from the plate in terms of inches. I have the batter assume the correct contact position – hips fully rotated with the lead-shoulder pulling back toward the catcher – lead-arm straight – back-arm in the “L” position with the elbow still back at the batter’s side. With the bat perpendicular (hitting to the center of the field), the sweet part of the bat (4 to 5 inches) should cover the center portion of the plate.

Many batters initiate the swing with the lead-arm flexed 30 to 40 degrees. If that degree of flex is maintain to contact, the hand-path and thus the sweet-spot of the bat will stay in tighter and cover the inside portion. Hitters who start with a straighter lead-arm will need to pull the inside pitch or allow the lead-elbow to flex in order bring the sweet-spot in tighter. --- Note: most batters that start with the lead-elbow flexed will straighten it as the swing proceeds to cover the middle portion of the plate.

As we have discussed many times, the degree of shoulder rotation and the direction of tht will need to allow the lead-arm to cast out wider (away from the chest) for outside pitches.

PS : Others may wish to weigh-in on this, so I am also posting it to the top of the page.

Jack Mankin