Posted by: Coach C () on Sat Nov 22 00:00:01 2003

>>> Jack out of curiousity, to what degree do you believe the pre-launch bat sweep into the plane contributes to batspeed and could it ever diminish returns in accuracy, due to higher level pitching. I agree that it exists, but many are way more excessive and yet they are not always better hitters. Some that I view as not being excessive, but great hitters are Nomar and MCGwire. Some that seem excessive are Tejada and Aaron. Is the degree that one sweeps the bat into the plane a personal thing in your view? One could argue that this is the line between batspeed and bat quickness? Do you agree? <<<
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> > > Hi Coach C
> > >
> > > I would agree with Teacherman, I fail to see a distinction between “bat speed” and “bat quickness.” When we consider that the distance of bat-head travel from the launch position to contact, the quicker the bat-head gets to contact the greater the bat speed. – Bonds spends far more time during the pre-launch phase than during the actual swing. But bat quickness should be measured from launch (decision to “go”) to contact. Therefore, the time spent during the pre-launch phase should not be included when determining bat quickness.
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> > > Of course, there are hitters that use the mechanic incorrectly, but I do not know how a batter could have a more “excessive” pre-launch torque phase than Gary Sheffield. What limitation do you think it places on his hitting performance? – Is the pre-launch torque phase essential to becoming a great hitter? Maybe not, but there must be a reason why an overwhelming percentage of the hitters that can hit for both power and average exhibit it in their swings.
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> > > Jack Mankin
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> >
> > When the legs action is excessive, pre-launch bat-sweep normally is excessive as well. When the legs are quiet pre-launch is less severe. I think Gwynn, Carew, Boggs and Rose were quiet hitters......quiet with what? The legs. Could this be why great hitters often times express the need to feel fast hands. But what they are really feeling is slower legs. Slower legs shortens the swing, thus making us quicker, but not necessarily faster. There is a trade off Jack....more leg/hip/torso action more bat sweep (normally). Less/leg/hip torso action more consistancy and higher average. George Brett had very minimal bat sweep and today is still the best hitter I ever saw (after Bonds of course).
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> > Thanks,
> >
> > Coach C
> >
> > Hey Coach C,
> When you say "excessive bat-sweep" keep in mind that when the back forearm reaches parallel to the ground the hitters ability to get the bathead into the plane of the ball is not diminished because the bathead is going faster... so if THT causes you to create a different launch position each swing then problems, but if launch is from the same point each swing and the only difference is that the bat is now going 30mph your mechanics from then on are whats important not the THT... instead of hitting a grounder between 3rd and short that the 3rd baseman gets to, now you've hitting a nasty
> grounder that goes thru because the ball has picked up speed. a good hitter with more bat speed is a better hitter. no question about it.
> Happy Thanksgiving if i don't talk to you before then. and to the rest of you freaks too! :-) i'm thankful that you all get on here and share your thoughts. it's helped me tremendously, thanks, Rich


I do agree that more Batspeed equal better hits and your point about being on plane is well taken. However the idea of better batspeed equals better hitter is not true. Recently we measured my Son's batspeed (max effort) and then said let's take off 15 %. Everything is working very well and he is so relaxed that I wish I would have thought of it earlier. My thinking is to work on creating batspeed in dry swings (overload/underload), but giving him a swing speed for practice and games (which will gradually increase from the dry swing training). I want home runs to be an accident for him at this particular stage in his development. My focus is only ball flight, head movement, balance and tension free. If I asked him to give me batspeed one of those things would go bad and that's not good. At least not for an 11-year old IMO.

Happy Thanksgiving Rich, I always look forward to your comments. Even when they may mean I'm wrong.

Coach C