Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Dec 6 05:50:54 2002

> What drills, if any, exist to simulate the kind of reaction time they are talking about - - a 65 mph pitch from 43 feet away)? Can reaction time or vision skills be enhanced?
>
> Doesn't a girl's reaction time (assuming 65 mph from 43 feet away) need to be better than or equivalent to a male's (assuming 90 mph from 60 feet)?
>
> Are there any ways to get the "rotational swing" down to 3 or 4 frames without compromising significant bat speed/power?
>
> How did Tim Salmon of the Angels pull off that unbelievable at bat against Rodriquez in the World Series where he fouled off about 5 pitches and took 2 or 3 outside pitches, then hit the homerun on the 8th or 9th pitch that was left over the middle half of the plate. It does not look like he did anything different - - did he? His swing was still the normal amount of frames - - no two strike swing or punch swing. He just had a good enough eye and enough bat speed to get it done. BOTTOM LINE: that's why he is playing pro baseball. What would the pro's do if the pitcher's mound was moved up to 45 feet and the pitcher's threw 70 to 75 mph.? Would that affect the offensive production? What adjustments would they have to make? Would rotational mechanics still work? TIME becomes a serious factor--how do you gain "more time"?
>
> I agree with the last post - - in theory it sounds good; but in practice, it is VERY HARD to do and MOST girls and probably most guys, do not have the athletic ability to do it. Or do they? Is it a knowledge problem? What is the answer? Do all you wise hitting gurus concede that "A great pitcher beats a great hitter"? Give us hitters an edge, we desperately need it in fastpitch.

consider that most women are stronger lower body than upper body/arms. Men have a greater genetic ability to gain upper body strength. It would seem more advantageous for women to use a rotational swing (more body) than men, though the men do it because its the most effective way to swing - we are all stronger in our lower bodies, men and women.
Yet fps often teaches an arms and hands swing - the typically weaker part of the anatomy for women. How come men with 16" biceps and popeye forearms don't use an arms and hands swing? if they can't do it effectively, how can women do it and against very fast pitching?

Ever notice that fps pitchers are very rotational, lots of lower body whipping a loose arm? do you think any of them would pitch faster if they just used their arm, no body? then why not 'copy' the pitchers and get your body into your swing as well?