Posted by: rickeyhen () on Wed Jan 29 10:59:21 2003

I just watched the final arc (2nd edition). A couple of questions:
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> 1) After top hand torque and the bat goes back to the catcher - what then does the top hand do -- does it push at contact or not? In watching MLB hitters it seems most of them "push with their top hands" through contact. And more times than not the "L" comes out after contact. What is "causing" this to happen?
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> 2) Jack says the shoulders turn to 105 degrees. Is that at contact? It looks as though Bonds' shoulders rotate all the was around - 180 degrees, but that is at finish. Jack said something about putting an object under the bottom arm pit - why is that? The MLB hitters I watch, anything under their arm would definitely fall out. When exactly does the bottom hand start pulling? Is it in the position the kids are doing the drills in?
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> 3) Lastly, can you be a "rotational hitter" and never use BHT? In other words can I rotate my torso and hips and move the bat in a circular hand path and only use THT or THT be the primary force - especially seen in right handed hitters. Right handed hitters seem to push with the top hand. A-Rod, Big Mac, Sosa, Sheffield.
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> It seems to me that whether you are predominatly top or bottom hand dictates your strategy at the plate and your strengths in terms of pitch location. Mike Scmidth in his book talks about being able to be and do BOTH. Is that possible?

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In watching Epstein's tape and what he does with his student, it seems as though the emphasis is on top hand push/extension - at least that is what Brandon (the student) -- rather than BHT which is what Mankin and John do with their students. BUT when I watch John's swing (the guy from the Astros), it looks like he has a lot of push with his top hand, even after he iniatiates THT. It was funny to hear that the Astros taught linear mechanics to this guy while he was in their system. I have followed the Astros for a long time and they have never been able to hit.

From watching major league hitters, it appears to me that the ONLY one who is predominantly bottom hand is Bonds; Jeter looks to be linear (inside/out swing). Have any studies been done to indicate which model is best; the top hand push or the bottom hand torque on the same batters using different points of emphasis?