Posted by: Marvin () on Mon Nov 18 20:40:00 2002

I hear a lot about how a short, compact swing is good and a long swing is bad, but I have yet to hear a good description of a short or long swing.Can someone tell me what makes a swing long or short?
> > > > >
> > > > > Rotation makes it short. Linear makes it long. Rotate to contact v. pull knob to contact. Hitting the ball deep in the zone v. hitting the ball "out front".
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for trying but frankly that answer is not very informative.I'm looking for specifics, not a regurgatation of the pros & cons of "linear" and "rotation".
> > >
> > > Marvin, I think what most coaches consider a "long" swing is a swing where, early in the swing the bat arcs out excessively; some call this "casting". The problem with this notion (and I agree that "casting" is bad) is that many coaches use the same remedies for curing casting to make a swing that is NOT too long & NOT casting but with the objective of making the swing "shorter". Fact is, there is a point of in-between, where the swing is not too long & not too short.
> >
> > That's a little better but please describe the "point of in-between".In addition, you have described with some vagueness what a "long" swing is, but what does a "short" swing look like?
>
> Like this.
>
> http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/bonds/flash.htm

Thank you, that was a REAL big help. Why don't you just tell me to observe any major league hitter? Now SERIOUSLY, can anyone tell me or not tell me what a "long" and "short" swing means? I don't want to sound hostile, but it seems like many of you always have an opinion on everything, so it would seem like you would have an opinion on a term that is so comonly used. SPECIFICS, PLEASE!!!!