Posted by: Teacherman () on Tue Dec 17 14:01:22 2002

> > >>> Even the old "knob to the ball" works if the knob is turning while the hands are still staying back and connected.<<<
> > >
> > > I agree with you, the bat should undergo a good amount of angular displacement before the hand-path is accelerated. What forces would you say are acting on the bat that cause the knob to turn before shoulder rotation and the hands arc into their path?
> > >
> > > Jack Mankin
>
> Tony Gwynn offers his explanation while breaking down Bond's swing on the USA Today clip -- Gwynn says it is the force supplied is with the "bottom hand" pulling the bat through and in his analysis he says and sees and advocates pulling the bat through without "much arc" and he even says that Bond's bat moves in a parallel plane/flat plane vs. an arc.
>
> He also says "the top hand is going along for the ride".
>
> Gwynn has the credentials as one of the greatest hitters ever; now an analyst on ESPN and head college baseball coach.
>
> How is his explanation/analysis/experience refuted?

If Tony Gwynn knew what Barry Bonds was doing he would have hit like Barry Bonds. That USA Today analysis by Gwynn on Bonds is one of the worst commentaries I've heard. For him to say basically all Bonds does is pull the bottom hand through is an oversimplification. Have you heard what Bonds says about Bonds? He talks about catching the ball with his top hand. Talks about taking bp where he catches the ball with a glove. He talks about replacing his shoulders etc etc etc. There are many factors involved but the most efficient rotator of all times is Barry Bonds. Pulling the bottom hand through may add some bht to his swing but there is much more to Bonds or else he'd have Gwynn numbers. I might listen to Gwynn if he were explaining Boggs or Carew but please.......not Bonds.