Posted by: JCAZ (joeteg@gmail.com) on Wed Apr 27 11:33:20 2011

I was watching some video the other day of Josh Hamilton and noticed that he really starts his swing with a vertical bat. So I grabbed a bat and started playing with different angles at initiation of the swing. I also found the following post on this site. I noticed a few things I found interesting and possibly helpful, at least with my two boys.

1)With a more vertical bat angle, the elbow seems to fall in and stay at the side easier through rotation. We have been fighting some elbow to belly-button tendencies in both boys.

2)It seems to make maintaining the distance between elbows easier also. It allows a smoother path for the lead elbow to work up and around the body maintaining a rotational swing.

With one of my sons, we have been fighting pulling back at contact with the lead shoulder. His lead elbow would stay tight to his body running his hands linear and he would then end up reaching for the ball and getting jammed on the inside. He would start good, but not finish well particularly on the inside.

3)It did seem as though bat speed was increased and effort reduced. For me anyway, and for at least one of my boys, it seems easier to create THT in this manner and stay connected.

I told both boys to start playing with a more vertical bat angle and let me know what they think. I have received only positive feedback from both of them at this point. Neither one has seen a game since the adjustment though, just practice.

So I guess time will tell if the adjustment helped or not. It really does seem to have helped create better rotation and over-all mechanics. Grab a bat and let me know what you think. I have a feeling this may be a little different for everyone, depending on body type and swing style.



> Jack,
> > I know on your tape you state that the bat should be at the same angle as the front arm at address. so many great hitters, Ruth, Williams, Aaron seem to have the bat more vertical. Wouldn't a vertical bat create faster THT at initiation? Simialar to a tree falling?
> >
> > Hi mb
> >
> > I would agree that many of the great hitters start with a more vertical bat. Some, like Bonds and Sheffield, cock the bat even more toward the pitcher. The reason I advocate keeping the bat in the plain of the lead-arm is because it is an easier position to accelerate the bat-head straight into the plain of the swing. Many hitters run into problem initiating the swing with tht by pulling the bat-head vertically back and down through the true swing plain. This causes wrist binds and a distorted plain.
> >
> > The great hitters have learned how to start with a vertical bat and still drop the bat-head into swing plain at initiation. But when these hitters fall into a slump, I often find they are accelerating the bat-head to vertically or are allowing the hands to drift forward while applying tht.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
>
> Jack thanks for the reply. You have charted a lot of hitters so I greatly respect your opinion. I see my 10 year old get a little "wild" with the vertical high bat. He tends to loose the plane easier than my 49 lb 8 year old PeeWee LLeagur, who holds the bat more in your manner and nearly always seems to be on plane. It is a sight to behold watching this little guy swing a 31"/25 oz. bat and consistently pull the ball hard, while I pitch at good little league speed. The major LL coaches at the field can't believe it. They all make their kids swing light bats or "they can't get around". I just smile.