Posted by: Jim (jwelborn@lexcominc.net) on Thu Aug 2 21:07:56 2007

> > >>> With Griffey he has a long swing[pretty flowing swing]his body style and long limbs allows him to get off the plate and pull balls well away from him and therefore he must have extension forward in his lead arm as he hits ball well out front. On a ball he goes the other way that is outer 3rd of plate he must have extension but the lead arm is more perpendicular to ball that those he pulls, nevertheless he still carries linkage and chp to create batspeed. Bonds is opposite, close to plate shoeter arms and bat and more flex in lead arm on many balls pulled. i think the flexing of lead arm is the adjustment made for the barrel to go out to the balls away[straight lead arm] and bent more for inside pitches drawing the hands inside the ball which allows ball to stay fair and not hitting around the ball. <<<
> >
> > Hi Rql
> >
> > I agree with your analysis of Griffey’s and Bonds’ swing. However, it does raise the question of how one defines “extension.” To me, extension is when a flexed elbow is straightened to extend the hand farther out (like a boxer’s jab). Therefore, if the batter’s lead-elbow remains at a fairly fixed angle during the swing, the arm is not being “extended” to hit the ball out in front. The lead-arm has just been rotated farther around past perpendicular to the pull position.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >Jack the longer I study hitting the more I find that the same words can have different meanings based on there being different styles,the linear meanings for extension are a source of power for the swing,while in rotational before contact extension is the adjustment to set barrel radius for different pitch locations .After contact, extension happens [powerV]as a follow thru and wrist roll.We can pick apart so many words and drills that have different applications and meanings based on the style that we adhere too,and for the novice can become quite confusing.We both have the same general idea on the swing ,sometimes I read anothers question at a possible different view in what he is asking or how to come across to it.



rql and Jack,

I believe there frequently is misconception of the role that extension plays in the swing. I agree with the definition of extension being the straightening of the forearms at some point during rotation. Extension serves as a control over rotation and therefore a control over batspeed.

When no extension occurs, connection to rotation is maintained to the extreme and bat speed is maximized, forcing the bat to accelerate and get to the position required to pull the inside strike. This can definitely be seen in the Griffey clip.

The introduction of extension at the proper time has the effect of moderating batspeed and changing the angle of the bat head to the line of the pitch. This is the mechanism required to hit the outside strike to the opposite field. The bat is slowed just enough to allow the ball to get slightly deeper into the contact zone without changing the speed of core rotation. This cannot be seen in the Griffey clip because this pitch was not away (note the movement of the catcher's mit). It would be great to see a clip analysis of Griffey hitting an outside strike to the opposite field. I'm sure we would see him introducing more extension and less (but not eliminated) curved hand path.

If extension is carried to the extreme, it will occur too soon during rotation resulting in what I consider to be "casting". The caster typically has a very straight front elbow at contact and looses the ability to control bat angle. We'll never see Griffey doing this!

A tiny amount of extension applied at the right time when hitting the "down the middle" pitch enables the hand path to follow just the right curve to maintain the bat head on the line of the pitch longer as it's being released through the contact zone. This increases the the chances of making contact and is helpful for young players whose eye hand coodination isn't quite on Griffey's level.

In essence, extension slows batspeed but creates a means of control over bat angle and timing. To work it must be applied correctly.

I've been away for a while. The new analysis software looks like a good value. Keep Teacherman in line.

Jim