Posted by: Jack Mankin (Mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Dec 16 17:09:59 2001

forgive me, but i don't understand everything that you mean.

first- what is "pinball" effect.

second- "A ball 6 inches past the plate is no closer to the strike zone than it was 6 inches in front of the plate." what is the point of that statement? do you mean that hitting an outside pitch that has traveled 6 inches past the plate gives no reach advantage?

third- "The reason the ball is hit farther back when using linear mechanics is because of the angle (or direction) the hands are extended.". i assume you mean in the direction of the first-base dugout but why is that the "...reason the ball is hit farther back..."?

fourth- "...linear extension mechanics..." i kinda know your definition of linear hitting, but what do you mean by "...linear extension mechanics..."?

finally- "With rotational mechanics, the contact point (in relationship to the plate) remains about the same. The radius of the hand-path varies for inside to outside plate coverage."
i know what you mean here and it's part of part II - hand position.


Hi Ray

Sorry I confused you

>>>“forgive me, but i don't understand everything that you mean.

first- what is "pinball" effect”<<<

My interpretation of the “pinball theory” is that a batter can better make contact on outside pitches by letting the ball get in deeper and hitting it to the opposite field. That may be a good rule (or necessity) for a linear extension hitter. But there are other options available to the rotational hitter.

>>> second- "A ball 6 inches past the plate is no closer to the strike zone than it was 6 inches in front of the plate." what is the point of that statement? do you mean that hitting an outside pitch that has traveled 6 inches past the plate gives no reach advantage? <<<

That’s right, the bat-head will have to go out just as far to reach a ball 6 inches past the plate as it would if the ball was 6 inches in front of the plate.

>>> third- "The reason the ball is hit farther back when using linear mechanics is because of the angle (or direction) the hands are extended.". i assume you mean in the direction of the first-base dugout but why is that the "...reason the ball is hit farther back..."? <<<

If the hands being extended at the pitcher is 180 degrees - then extending them at the first base dugout would be about 120 degrees. … sorry ray, maybe someone else can explain it.

>>> finally- "With rotational mechanics, the contact point (in relationship to the plate) remains about the same. The radius of the hand-path varies for inside to outside plate coverage." i know what you mean here and it's part of part II - hand position. <<<

Thank you Ray, I feel better now.

Jack Mankin