Posted by: Saat () on Mon Dec 17 19:53:12 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
> >
> >
>
> jack,
>
> your quotes, "...sorry Ray, maybe someone else can explain it.""
>
> and
>
> "Thank you Ray, I feel better now."
>
> were they meant to be sarcastic or am i reading you wrong?
> not that you can't be (i certainly deserve it sometimes), just would like to know.
>
> jack again, - your telling me that hands extended only 120 degrees vs. 180 degrees will hit the ball farther back. i understand and i agree. but, what is the "reason" for letting the ball get farther back when using linear mechanics. are you implying that (based on what you term "linear extension mechanics" [would very much like a definition])linear hitter's can't hit an outside pitch even with the front edge of the plate?
>
> thanks,
> ray porco

Frame # 25 through # 48 of the Williams clip would be a pretty good description of what I have been talking about. I can't give you the address of it's source, but it is a side view of Williams that came from the clips Tim Olson made available recently. As you can see in these specific frames, Williams is making the necessary adjustments to hit the inside part of the outside pitch, and his swing is far from "linear". (By the way, linear means straight, as in a straight line; maybe someone should come up with a better description). Also, notice his bat angle in frame # 48, about 3 inches before contact.