Posted by: () on Fri May 24 08:49:16 2002

Patriot-
>
> Thanks for participating.My nonprofessional personal opinion
is that the rotational swing if optimized(adhere to underlying
mechanical principles described here)is best for power and
average and less strikeouts.The problem is that it isn't widely
understood enough for it to be optimized.
>
> This statement is in danger of being a self fulfilling
prophecy,because the methodology is to examine in visual/video
detail what might be different about the great hitters who hit for
power and average.Strikeouts may be even more related to the
mental side than these.My opinion is that this is an accurate
statement and not a bias of how things are studied,however.I
believe this because what is described is what has evolved over
a century of major league experience and is now more open to
analysis because of video.What has evolved is the best human
biomechanical solution to the problem of hitting the
baseball,and human biomechanical solutions tend to be self
reinforcing/everything gets better together sort of things or they
don't survive,just like evolution.The key is understanding what it
really is that someone like Barry Bonds is doing to hit for power
and average and on get on base and avoid strikeouts.
>
> Once you come up with a theory like Jack's,then you have to
re-evaluate what you are doing and make sure you aren't
violating any principles that might be holding you back.
>
> Certainly you can be more certain of good contact if batspeed
is low.You can almost always get a piece of something if you are
bunting for example.But how effective is this at generating runs?I
no longer believe generating maximum batspeedrotational
mechanics) means a tradeoff resulting in low average/high k's.I
believe if you have low average/high k's it's because mechanics
are suboptimal or mental approach is lacking.Certainly,some
players will be great because of level of talent/hand-eye
coordination/strength,etc.,but power and average for a given
individualcan both peak if one's potential is reached with good
rotational mechanics and a good mental approach.
>
> Here are a couple of interesting hypotheses/principles that
seem to hold up.Hitting is primarily a timing task.Timing error
must be minimized.For human biomechanical
ballistic(acceleration to release too quickly for conscious control)
motions,timing error is minimized by shortening the path of
motion(path of sweetspot from launch to contact)and by
traversing this path as fast as possible(?counterintuitive).When
you execute the given path with maximum
effort/intensity/batspeed,the duration of the swing from launch to
contact is easier for the body to predict when it sets it's
automatic/subconscious muscle actions in motion to make
contact.Thus timing error is minimzed and power and average
are maximized by "shortening the swing" and maximizing
batspeed.
>
> You maximize batspeed by generating power with the body and
efficiently transforming this into batspeed/turning(not dragging)
the bat/creating angular displacement of the bat.Power
generation is via summation of velocity/kinetic chain/transfer and
conservation of momentum/hips leading the hands/rotation
around a stationary spinal axis.The result of this is to energize
the torso.
>
> You transform this into batspeed by what Jack calls good
"transfer mechanics" -driving the hands in a circular path by
connecting the hands tightly to torso rotation and applying torque
by turning the bat about a point between the hands.The bat will
drain energy out of the torso in a way that translates into
turning/batspeed(not dragging)only if the handpath remains
circular or tightening/connected to the torso.The bat must also
be swung out in the plane perpendicular to the spine to permit
good transfer.This plane needs to match the contact zone of the
pitch which needs to be set by posture correction before the
bathead fires out(goes ballistic).Hence:
>
> The hips lead the hands
>
> The plane of the swing matches the plane of the pitch
>
> The hands stay in.
>
> Furthermore,it is desirable to make contact in all cases roughly
perpendicular to the flight of the ball resulting in hitting up the
middle or to the pull side to maximize the chance of good contact
producing a fair ball.
>
> So how might some traditional baseball coaching advice be
improved to optimize rotational mechanics and improve both
power and average?
>
> Don't push the hips open from the back side.This is not the
way the body likes t have the hips lead the hands.This changes
the way the muscles stretch to generate power and messes up
timing.Think of encouraging separation and stretch by pulling
open with thr front side triggered by front heel drop.
>
> Don't try to hit to the opposite side.This cue probably helps by
encouraging a circular handpath/keep the hands in,but it can
cause bat lagging and just the opposite by extending the hand
path and pushing the swing causing great batspeed variability.
>
> Don't literall "let the ball get deep" for the outside pitch.This cue
works by delaying torso turn for the outside pitch,but ideally you
want less torso tuen but the bathead further out so you get
maximum batspeed by hitting the outside pitch up the middle or
to the pull side.Trying to go with it will cause too much
variability.Each swing should be as similar as possible.Always
maximum effort and intensity or the body gets confused/can't
predict swing duration.You can shorten the swing for two strikes
by how you set up,but still swing all out.See Epstein's thoughts
on swing planning consistent with these type mechanics.
>
> See Jack's truism page for a bigger list.
>
>
Wow!

Good stuff with your comments. You really are preaching to the
choir though as I truly believe this stuff already. As I was reading
(and re-reading) I was mostly nodding at all of your comments. I
definitely think this is the best swing to reproduce time and time
again.

However, think through these comments and let me know your
thoughts. Scott B., your thoughts as well.

I don't think we can expect our hitters to live in a "golf" world kind
of mentality. A golfer can execute a swing time and time again
because it doesn't move. We(our players) don't have that luxury.
Our players will be hitting some good change ups and breaking
balls with tight spin. The pitchers game plan is to often times
have the ball move away from the hitter. I guess what I'm saying
is there is an "emergency" element in a swing that can't be
dismissed. Take a look at some baseball cards if you get a
chance. There are some picture perfect swings out there but
there are just as many if not more ugly swings. Why? I believe
because they caught this "emergency" swing on camera.

I work with hitters all the time on a rotational swing. Generate
bat speed and be firm at contact. HOWEVER, if he throws
something nasty and you can't recognize it early(I think there are
pitchers out there working just as hard at developing this aspect)
don't be afraid to adjust.

Thanks for your time and I really enjoy talking hitting at this site,

Patriot