Posted by: skip (piks5@sbcglobal.net) on Wed Mar 28 06:13:54 2007

Some hitters -- my middle son is one -- hit the ball hard/far by generating trmendous bat speed. But this swing, by virtue of its speed, is handicapped by being on the plane of the ball for only a nano-second. Timing is extra-critical. One of his teammates, quite successful, generates less bat speed but keeps the bat in the plane of the ball for quite a while as he coasts out to a front-foot finish. (He's talented, and does hit the ball hard/far). Timing is less critical for him.
Here's the question: does THT/CHP lessen this downside of a high-batspeed swing? I think it might. As soon as THT tugs the bat into a semi-horizontal position, the bat is more or lesss in plane with the ball as CHP begins and then flings the bat head-out. Compared to linear or down-to-the-ball approaches, IMO this get the meat of the bat in the path of the ball earlier in the swing, with therfore higher chances of contact if timing is a little late. Not ideal, since full B.S. is not yet reached, but at least allows decent contact. Any truth to this?

Skip