Posted by: GEV (site1@pacbell.net) on Mon Jul 18 14:21:17 2005

Jack, the drill of hitting a basketball as you have said should not be confused with hitting a heavy bag from a results standpoint. Hitting a basketball, and only should be done from off a tee, should result in giving the hitter stronger hands, wrists and arms.
When a pitcher throwing relatively hard to a hitter who has not developed sufficient strength in their hands and wrists the bat will "spring" backward at point of contact for an instant then go forward with follow through.
Hitting a basketball off a tee is one way to develop hand and wrist strength so that the bat will not deflect backward at contact.