Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Wed Jun 19 20:33:45 2002

Grc,
>
> Right, this is exactly what I'm talking about--pulling the hand
across the front of the body so that the wrist doesn't turn over
either upon or even after contact. I may be wrong, but I don't think
you ever saw that until maybe 5, 10 years ago tops--when the "new
breed hitters" came up. In fact, if you look REALY carefully at Juan
Gonzalez on tape, you will see some swings where he actually appears
to be holding the bat, at contact, so that the bottom wrist is almost
starting to face a little bit TOWARD the pitcher (i.e. such that the
handle actually seems to be braced against his palm, with his wrist
locked, at contact). I'm wondering (a) if anybody has evidence that
that would provide a stronger "platform" from which to hit, and (b) if
that somehow imparts extra backspin to the ball? (Letting go with the
top hand is not really relevant here, except to the extent that you
pretty much have to let go in order to swing like that.)

Hank Aaron hooked the handpath in front of the body more than just