Posted by: Curt () on Tue Feb 8 23:37:44 2000

>>>A friend of mine introduced me to your site and he has had several interesting discussions with you. One topic of conservation had to do with the "circular hand path" that you recommend. I think his understanding of this concept was that the hands move in this "path" on a somewhat horizontal plane. This would promote "casting" of the hands and cause you to hit "around" the ball.
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> I am fairly new to your site, but have now read most of the information that you have here. My understanding now, is that this circular hand path is more towards a vertical plane and this would have more validity. <<<
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> Hi again Curt
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> The path of the hands would not be horizontal as they should start at shoulder height and lower to about the belt at contact. --- Casting occurs when the hands take an angular path without a corresponding rotation of the shoulders.
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> Curt, a batter can get the bat out in front and pull a ball but there is no such thing as a bat “hitting around” or wrapping around a ball. That is another batting term at has been repeated so often that it is considered a “Truism” but test prove it to be a “Fallacy.”
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> Jack Mankin
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Jack,

Maybe using the terminology of "hitting around the ball" is just that, terminology. Maybe it actually can't be done. Maybe my definition of "casting" is inaccurate. What I want to discuss and understand is how the hitter can achieve as close to "true" backspin or topspin regardless of which field he hits the ball.

A former player of mine (at the high school level) is now playing in the San Diego Padres farm system. When he comes home during the off-season, I pick his brain to see what the professionals are teaching, hoping that I can learn something new. A major point of emphasis (as far as hitting goes) is what type of spin is imparted on the ball when it leaves your bat. Does it hook, slice, fade, or travel in a straight path? They discourage a batted ball that hooks or slices. They emphasize keeping your hands "inside" the ball, as opposed to taking your hands towards the ball. By keeping your hands inside the ball, you should produce a ball that travels straight or slightly fades. If you take your hands towards the ball (hitting around the ball; possibly just terminology), you will hook or slice. In my mind, the angle and trajectory of the bat, at contact, would vary, depending on which approach you take. The hooking/slicing ball will not carry as far as the one that travels in a straight path or slightly fades. I wish I had seats behind the Cardinal's dugout (Busch Stadium) when McGwire hit home run #62 in 1998. I am curious as to whether that ball had a hook or a fade. It definitely had topspin.

Have I made any sense?

Waiting for your reply,
Curt