Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Apr 7 14:07:50 2002

>>> Can you provide the best means in which to grip the bat while using rotational/torque batting techniques.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Bill
>
> moving this to April, hoping to get an answer from someone.
> Thanks,
> Bill <<<

Hi Bill

Sorry for the delay, I have been away most of the past couple weeks. --- The grip for rotational mechanics is quite different from that used with the conventional swing. Below is a post I wrote earlier on the subject.

Jack Mankin

##

"I believe we need to rethink the whole concept of the baseball/softball grip. In fact, the term "grip" can be misleading when referring to the placement of the hands on the bat. We grip an object to prevent it from slipping or rotating in our hands. But there is no one "grip" (no slippage) that will allow the batter to use top-hand-torque and have the bat stay on a good swing plane without serious wrist-binding occurring. --- The bat must be allowed to rotate or slip in the top hand as the swing progresses.

Most of the better pro hitters have a raised back elbow as they prepare for the swing. The raising of the back elbow brings the forearms or top of the hands almost in-line with each other. This means the angle between the wrists is approaching 180 degrees (140 to 180 degrees). But as the swing progresses and the hands are extended (or rotated) toward contact, the angle between the wrist is steadily decreasing toward 10 to 15 degrees at contact.

So batters who start with a raised back elbow and initiate the swing with top-hand-torque must have a "loose grip" with the top hand or face wrist-bind problems. --- Batters who do grip the bat too tight usually have waves in their swing-plane due to the binding of the wrist. --- Note: The bat can be gripped more firmly with the bottom hand.

Kent, lining up the middle knuckles (10 to 30 degree wrist angles) encourages a "swing down" or wood chopping type of swing. Attempting to initiate the swing into a more productive plane with this grip will cause a breakdown of the backside and force the back elbow inward toward the bellybutton. (Topic for another time).

Note: Wouldn't a term like "loose grip" be contradictory?