Posted by: Mac () on Sun Jan 19 08:12:41 2003

By linear, I refer to the concept that bat speed is derived from the batters forward weight shift and extension of his hands. Batters are instructed to direct their energies in a fairly straight line back in the direction of the pitcher. Liner mechanics has promoted terms like --- "Step into the ball" --- "Transfer your weight from back to front" --- "Keep your shoulder in there" ---
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> > Above, as you all know, is a statement made by Jack. The question that I pose to everyone is; aside from the fact that there have been many great hitters that have used the stride to generate bat speed, why does the quarterback, boxer, pitcher, all stride? Is everyone going to say that their stride has nothing to do with generating hand/arm speed?!! GIMME A BREAK! And for my money, Bonds and Sosa,both the product of AAA pitching, as well as drug enhanced physiques, don't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ruth. Call it what you want..linear, rotational, or somewhere in between. All I know is that I've seen miles of tape re. the greatest hitters the game has seen, and one thing is for sure,the swing is initiated with the stride, including Ruth.If you all want to say.."yeh, but they weren't generating bat speed by striding..*aka..linear*, be my guest.
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> > Always a pleasure.
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> > John c.
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> John C.
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> Just where did you read having a stride makes you a linear hitter? Stride v no stride has nothing to do with linear v rotational. A linear lower half is one that continues toward the pitcher AS THE BODY ROTATES. A rotational lower half stops all forward movement as the body rotates. You can stride (as many do) or not stride (Jim Edmonds, Nomar and others) and still be a rotational hitter. Bonds has very little stride yet has tremendous batspeed and bat quickness. I'd have to say the stride may contribute to batspeed but not much. Not nearly as much as the rotation of the hips and shoulders.
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> No, we're not going to say the stride of a quarterback, boxer, pitcher has nothing to do with hand speed. The stride of the boxer, pitcher, quarterback all help add to hand speed but it isn't near the provider than that of the rotation of the hips and shoulders.
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> As far as Bonds is concerned he is the greatest hitter of all time. No one has ever been feared like he is feared today. His batspeed and bat quickness have never been seen before. And, the numbers prove it. His personality is another issue, but his mechanics are the best that have ever played. Yes there is some diluted pitching today, however, many of the diluted pitchers still throw 90mph. Wasn't long ago that 90 made you the creme of the crop. 90 is now very average at the major league level. Almost all of them throw 90+. Yet hitter after hitter have no problem "catching up". Why?..........Rotational mechanics is one of the biggest reasons. Rotational mechanics offer the "quickest bat". And, as you learn to add batspeed to that quick bat, and add the power of a 90+mph FB, power numbers are going up and up. I would venture to say few in Ruths day threw 90+. Today almost all do. It takes 98-100mph before hitters struggle today.
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> It's a shame you've watched miles of tape and haven't "seen" the difference. Pay attention to the details as you read this site and then watch how much weight goes forward, after the swing is initiated, by a rotational hitter.

>>>Teacherman, 90 is very average at the major league level for one reason only; the Jugs and Stalker guns. 20 years ago all major league scouts used the Decatur Ray Gun and it got the pitch across the plate and the 90 out of the hand was now 84 mph. If you think that todays pitchers are throwing any harder than in the past, you have blinders on.Before you jump on someone about details, you should check your details on mph.>>>