Posted by: () on Mon Sep 30 18:14:23 2002

It seems like no matter what I do with my hands or where I position my elbow, my bat still seems to pause just about when my heel lands. It makes me mad that the major leaguers can do it without even knowing about it, and despite the work I've put into it, still can't get it. Are there any future plans for a THT training aid Jack?
> > > > > > > > > > > The Hitman
> > > > > > > > > > >>HITMANiF YOUR KNOB IS AT THE CATCHER AT TOE TOUCH AND YOUR ELBOW COMES DOWN AS THE HEEL COMES DOWN THEN YOUR BARREL MUST BE MOVING.tHINK OF A CABLE FROM YOUR LEAD HEEL TO YOUR ELBOW,WHEN THE HEEL COMES DOWN IT PULLS THE ELBOW DOWN AND THINGS ARE UNDER WAY.RQL
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> > > > > > > > > I have always heard that if you think knob to the ball everything will fall into place.This will shorten your stroke.More compactness will allow your wrists to flick at the last possible moment.Hope this helps.
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> > > > > > > > There is a product called "pro cut" that attaches to the bat handle. It's supposed to help in meing short to the ball. As a matter of fact, I think it's endorsed by ex-major leaguer/ex-Rookie of the Year Jim Lefevbre.
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> > > > > > > Sal I guess I shouldn't be tto quick to be critical of a product I'm not familiar with.Let's just say I'm always a little skeptical of any new product.Usually they are just gimmicks. I think the best investment is time an energy. there are several drills out there that will help develop a short-to-the-ball swing.Webball has some great info. as a matter of fact, Webball is where I discovered the link to this site.
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> > > > > > Excuse me but being short to the ball has nothing to do with flicking your wrists. The wrists contribute almost nothing to the swing. I agree you need drills to help stay inside the ball with a short compact swing (almost like A to B but not exactly)but please don't diseminate bogus information about the wrists.
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> > > > > I wasnt suggesting that there is any power in the wrists. But the fact of the matter is, uncocking the wrists happens to be the final act of the swing (isn't that what Jack refers to as the "Final Arc?)
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> > > > I have first hand experience with "knob to the ball" and the hitting mechanics here at batspeed and the two aren't compatible. My daughter just moved to an 18U Gold softball team with a coach is a "knob to the ball" advocate. He is considered one the best hitting coaches around so he knows how to teach it.
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> > > > Let me say I had my reservations because she started using batspeed mechanics last year and rose to the elite status of her division especially in the power department. But to be a good team player she gave it a shot and was very dissapointed this weekend, she knows something is wrong. In watching her there was without a doubt a reduction in batspeed through the hitting zone with this technique.
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> > > > Anyway "knob to the ball" tends to promote a linear movement at least in a portion of the swing. While swinging with the hands rotating in a circular path around the body is different.
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> > > "knob to the ball" tends to promote a linear movement at least in a portion of the swing". Some people take this term to literally. For example, you can't fly "straight" from New York to Athens and you can't drive "straight" from Boston to Pittsburgh.
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> > Mabey this will help explain, http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/bonds/flash.htm
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> > Watch bonds swing here and notice that he draws the bat and hands around his body in a circular motion. Notice that he never fully extends his arms straight out at the pitcher (knob to the ball) then flicks his wrists to bring the bat through.

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> Knob to the ball does not mean fully extending the arms straight out at the pitcher. Also,although the wrist action is the final phase of the swing, this is not to say that it is the wrists that bring the bat around in the first place.

Hi knob to the ball simply is starting the swing in the direction of the pitch instead of sweeping the bat arround.