Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Jul 9 10:42:01 2011

>>> This is all relative to what the individual believes to be linear. The path that a pitcher launches a baseball into is a linear path, however there was an "arm circle" that created that path of the ball.

The best hitters try to create a linear path with their barrel through the pitch. They naturally create this with a hand path that is arced.

Not overly forced to be arced, but indeed arced. <<<

Hi Jim

At one time I also thought that in order to make consistent contact, the bat-head should take a more linear path in the contact zone. However, in viewing overhead clips of the games best hitters showed this not to be the case. Along with their hands, the bat-head also accelerated in a constant arc. In fact, these clips revealed that the body, limbs, hands and bat were all rotating in a series of accelerating arcs. I could find no linear movement anywhere in their swings - including the bat-head.

Note: I was so moved with what I observed that I entitled my Instructional Video, "The Final Arc" -- The Final Arc was the bat-head ("The Payload") circling outside the other accelerating arcs.

Below are a couple overhead views including one of the best contact hitters (Pete Rose) hitting an outside pitch. Note that the hands stay in a fairly fixed position in relationship to the body. It is the rotation of his shoulders that brings the hands around the swing plane.

Overhead - CHP & Plate Coverage

Rose - Keys to CHP

Jack Mankin