Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Apr 3 21:39:34 2007

>>> I thought the fence drill was detrimental to good rotational mechanics? and how would this drill develop a better swing plane? <<<

You are correct. Advising your son to practice the “fence drill” and “leading with the knob to the ball” will stall, and reverse, the progress made practicing sound rotational principles. Both drills promote keeping the bat-head dragging behind the hands well into the swing. By then, the bat does not attain good acceleration until after passing through the optimum contact zone.

Below are clips of the concepts Guru is promoting.

Clip of fence drill -- http://firstpickclub.com/video/fencedrill.mpg

Knob to the ball -- http://www.quickhands.net/pics.html

Jack Mankin