Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Feb 9 13:09:37 2000

>>>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.<<<

Hi Curt

I think it would be a mistake to develop batting mechanics based on the type of spin that would be imparted into the ball. To hit the ball hard and consistently, good mechanics should deliver the bat inline with the pitched balls line of flight. Since an 85 MPH fastball is angling downward at about 11 degrees, the bat should be angling upward about 10 to 15 degrees. If the swing was a little high on the ball it will leave the bat with “top spin” making the ball dive. A little low on the ball will impart “back spin” and the ball will carry farther. --- So Mark’s ball must have had “back spin.”

Good mechanics should also bring the bat perpendicular to the ball’s line of flight at contact. The “hooking or slicing” of the ball is determined by the bat head being ahead or behind at contact. --- Yes, an “inside out” swing will deliver a ball that slices, but the power and bat speed you give up makes it not the best choice.

Jack Mankin