Posted by: () on Thu Mar 6 06:11:36 2003

>>After 37 years in this game, I have still never figured out what a LINEAR hitter is or who teaches it. I see posts every week about linear vs rotational, but no one has ever given me an explanation or pointed out a book that teaches linear hitting. Who teaches it and what is it. I know what it says in the dictionary. Does any one know?<<<<
>
> Hi Doug
>
> If you have not been a long time visitor to Batspeed.com, it is understandable that you may not be familiar with the Linear vs
Rotational controversy. We may not have coined the terms, as 55 speculated, but we were at the forefront in pointing out the difference in the two terms. Therefore, I will try to give a short,
lear definition of the two mechanics.
>
> Linear mechanics has been taught by most (probably 98%) of the batting instructors for decades. “Linear” refers to mechanics that promote an inline (A to B) thrust of the hands straight back at the pitcher. It may be referred to as “quick hands”, “knob to the ball” or similar batting cues where the muscles in the arms are mainly used to accelerate the hands away from the back-shoulder toward the pitcher.
>
> With Rotational mechanics, the muscles in the arms are not used to accelerate the hands. The hands stay back at the shoulder and are swung (or flung) into a circular path by the rotation of the body. --- The bottom line --- Linear mechanics produce a straighter hand-path – Whereas, Rotational mechanics produce a more circular hand-path.
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> Note: Regardless of the length of stride, all good hitters rotate around a stationary axis. Therefore, length of the stride or amount of weight shift has little bearing on whether or not a batter is Linear or Rotational.
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> Jack Mankin
>
>
> Jack-

Jack-

Ted Williams in his book "the science of hitting" took the "rotational" position 40 years ago.He slammed batting coaches of the day for concentrating to much on the wrists and not enough on "rotating".

ANYONE that uses their arms to produce power is doomed in baseball.As soon as the arms are engaged or "flexed" the batter is virtually shutting down the power created by his body.I can't imagine any decent "linear coach" teaching that power is derived from the arms.

Charlie Lau(who would fit you're decription of a linear coach) always promoted a "tension free swing".Their is no such thing as a "tension free swing" if the arms are used to create power.