Posted by: Bart () on Thu Nov 28 07:41:51 2002

Hi Gentlemen
>
> A very good discussion on the question: “Does maximum bat speed occur at full extension.” There were so many replies that we ran out of room on the page. So, I am continuing it as a new thread.
>
> I would just like to interject a couple questions to your discussion. -- For those that hold the position that maximum bat speed occurs at full extension, is it true for in-side as well as out-side pitches?
>
> Do you think the “hook effect” has an impact on bat speed? If so, does its maximum effect occur “at” or “before” full extension of the arms?
>
> Your thoughts,
>
> Jack Mankin


Teacherman: you said Nyman did not say maximum batspeed is achieved at full XT. Here are his exact words: "From everything I know about biomechanics, the greatest bat speed is achieved when a player reaches full extension AT contact. But this extension must be the end result of having "unloaded" the body PROPERLY."

You made the comment that dry cuts achieve greater batspeed than game cuts. But what would be more relevant is to compare batspeed of game swings, full XT vs. game swings, non-full XT. Or, perhaps batspeed of dry cus, full XT vs. dry cuts, non-full XT.

You assert that full XT achieves greater batspeed than non-full XT, but say that due to "trade-offs" (e.g., needing to be "quicker" in a game situation)that maybe full XT is not possible/advisable. You say that paul is making the same assertion. (1) What scientific basis is there that you achieve greater batspeed with full XT? (2) Paul does NOT make the asssertion that you attribute to him. Again, he said
"From everything I know about biomechanics, the greatest bat speed is achieved when a player reaches full extension AT contact. But this extension must be the end result of having "unloaded" the body PROPERLY." He does talk about trade-offs & so forth. He does say full XT needs to be achieved "properly". But he clearly says "the greatest bat speed is achieved when a player reaches full extension AT contact." What he does NOT say is what is the "proper" way to achieve full XT.

Again, I am not aware of any scientific studies showing which achieves greater bat speed, full XT or non-full XT. But the clips do SEEM to indicate about a 1/2 frame longer of a swing with full XT. And about 90 per cent of the major leaguers do NOT achieve full XT. Therefore I lean toward the non-full XT theory.

By the way, my original post noted that Paul's statement seems to be a major departure from his earlier teachings. At first the responses suggested that Paul was simply being taken out of context and that he and Jack really are saying the same thing. Read the statement again, they are NOT saying the same thing.