Posted by: grc () on Fri May 31 08:26:33 2002

>> Jack could you give me a good explanation of the use of arms and hands in the swing. I get asked this a lot and why we should or should not need strong arms. Is it connected to the torque or to control all the power going through the bat or something else. <<<
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> Hi RQL
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> Of course strength is important in determining how much power a batter can develop with his swing. But, hitters using linear mechanics require more arm strength than rotational hitters. For this discussion let us set the circular hand-path aside look at how the two mechanics apply torque to the bat. For torque to generate bat speed, the hands must apply force from opposing directions. --- One hand pulling back while the other is driving forward is what makes the bat-head come around. --- But with LM, the batter is extending both hands in basically the same direction (both at the ball). This is a poor leverage position to apply torque and the batter does not attain a stronger leverage position until late in the swing where the lead-arm nears full extension and the back-arm has something to push against. So, not only does LM offer poor leverage, torque can only be efficiently applied over a short period of the swing. The batter needs strong arms to attain creditable (not great, just creditable) bat speed.
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> With RM, the lead-hand is constantly supplying a strong pulling force to the knob end of the bat. But that pulling force is coming from the rotating shoulder – not the lead-arm. It is not flexing and un-flexing. The lead-arm remains fairly straight across the batter’s chest and provides linkage to the lead-shoulder. Throughout the swing a good leverage position is maintained. The top-hand is always in a position to apply a force in the opposite direction of the bottom-hand. --- At initiation, as the bottom hand is being pulled around toward the pitcher, the top-hand is pulling back toward the catcher. Then at contact, the lead-hand is pulling back toward the catcher (the hook) as shoulder rotation drives the top-hand around forward the pitcher. So the hands are constantly in a strong leverage position to apply torque throughout the swing. --- Most of the energy is supplied from shoulder rotation.
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> LM would extend the knob while keeping the bat-head back (hands inside the ball), then explode to the ball at the end. That requires strong arms. With RM, torque is being applied over the entire swing (smooth, steady acceleration).
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> So are strong arms important? Yes, but better technique will trump more strength every time.
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> Jack Mankin
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> jack...."The top-hand is always in a position to apply a force in the opposite direction of the bottom-hand.".......i understand what you are saying AT INIATION & AT CONTACT......but, what about IN-BETWEEN?.....after iniation & before contact, how can the top hand be applying a force in an opposite direction of the top hand?