Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Fri May 24 16:30:08 2002

>>> In fact, with my daughter's instruction on video, we see her back
elbow forcing her hands away from her body at the start of the swing.
<<<
>
> Hi Scott
>
> I have batters who are accustom to extending the top-hand at
initiation start with the back-elbow lower and practice accelerating
the bat using bottom-hand-torque. With bht, the hitter should
concentrate on holding the top-hand back and allow the rotation of the
lead-side to torque (with a chp) the bat-head around. When the batter
can demonstrate efficient bht, I then have them raise the elbow some
and from that position instead of just “holding back” with the
top-hand, they can start “pulling back” as the elbow lowers.
>
> The important point to remember with the raised elbow is that; the
lowering of the back-elbow should always pull the top-hand TOWARD the
back-shoulder – definitely not extend the hands away from it.
>
> Jack Mankin
>
>
Scott-

A further breakthrough detail that Jack discovered is that the
direction of pull of the tophand is the key to setting up the swing
trajectories/handpath radius for inside out adjustment.This is one of
the hardest things-having kids stop extending the back arm at
launch(Lau's "top hand dominance") and transition to applying tht
while continuing to keep the hands back,stretch the rubber band and
start ther bat turning back to the catcher as the handpath arc
starts(launch).

Dusty Baker is the "maintain the box guy" ,but it isn't clear that he
is aware of what this means from his book.I think it is the relation
you and MIke describe with the one-piece torso/V in elbows that is
created when the(elevated) back elbow drops into the "slot" as launch
handpath arc starts.The elevated then dropping back elbow with the
right timing is crucial to creating tht.Also crucial is to understand
it is the back and shoulder muscles that accomplish this(load the
scapula to use a Nyman term),not the arm muscles.This tht isn't
crucial for the inside location/bht at contact swing,but becomes more
and more essential for the limited torso turn/wider handpath mechanics
for the outside location.

The other "V" is the power "V" after contact when the front upper arm
casts and both arms are at extension.As contact gets nearer and nearer
the power "V" for the outside location,it is more and more important
to retain connection with the lead arm and avoid pr