Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Apr 4 12:21:33 2004

>>> Dear Jack,
>
> In your instructional pamphlet, you offered an excellent decsription of THT: one should envision the top hand "circling around the bottom hand." Using this logic, is it safe to assume that BHT is the bottom hand "circling around the top hand."
>
> Since I have received your booklet, I have had ample time to concretize some of the abstractions pertaining to torque.
>
> Now,r I am not suggesting that what I am about to posit is conjured by my imagination, since I am well aware of the facts that different posters may have used various terms to describe the same biomechanical actions far before I attempted to articulate them myself. Seen in this light, I in no way, deserve any credit for suggesting a query that is, in a likelihood, not indigenous to me, since I am simply a theoretician seeking answers.
>
> Here's the cues that I believe would help individuals understand the correct torque (s) to use in the different strke zone locations:
>
> 1) Inside Pitch--use pure BHT, and envision "the bottom hand circling around the top hand."
>
> 2) Middle of the Plate--use BHT and THT, and envision "both hands circling around each other."
>
> 3) Outside Pitch--use pure THT, and envision "the top hand circling around the bottom hand."
>
> Do I have the right idea, Jack? Please clarify any misconceptions.
>
> Sincerely,
> BHL
> Knight1285@aol.com

>Hey BHL,

It seems that the key to BHT is getting the top hand in the palm up position as quickly as possible using the CHP.

Once in that position the forces that apply BHT can be exerted in conjunction with the already accumulating forces of the CHP.

THT has to be used inorder to create a smooth, ever accelerating transition into the uncocking of the wrist(which assist the pull of the front shoulder on the knob of the bat)towards the pitcher. it's THT that rotates the palm up.

It doesn't matter the location of the pitch... all we want to do is get our hands in the best position to unleash BHT!!!!

My definition of BHT involves more angular displacement of the bathead than Jack perhaps would agree with. BHT for me begins when the palm is up and the bathead is lagging at it's furthest point and the force of the wrist uncocking toward the pitcher is initiated into the "Final Arc".

If you don't apply THT you end up with a linear swing and no CHP.

Your 3 cues are an interesting point of view that could help clearify the swing to someone that isn't quite feeling it yet.

regards, Rich
P.S. i think BHT is the KING... if you unleash it with THT and CHP behind it you've created some serious batspeed!!!!! oh, and also the inward coil will kick start the whole thing :-) <<<

Hi BHL & Rich

Both of your posts show great insight of rotational transfer mechanic principles. I find nothing that I would disagree with. I would only add that torque is being applied at the handle to accelerate the bat-head from pre-launch to contact. Although it requires both hands to be applying force from opposing direction to induce torque, I used the terms “Top-hand & Bottom-hand” only to identify the most active hand at that point of the swing.

During initiation, the bottom-hand remains fairly stationary at the back shoulder while the top-hand is being pulled around it (THT). And as Rich points out, once the top-hand has rolled to palm-up, we can see the bottom-hand being pulled around the slower moving top-hand (BHT). The application of torque is continuous throughout the swing regardless of which term we use.

I think many people are not able to see Top-Hand-Torque being applied because they are not able to distinguish between the individual movements of the hands from the movement of the hands as a unit. At initiation, the hands (as a unit) are being accelerated by shoulder rotation around toward the pitcher. Therefore, they see both hands as being accelerated around toward the pitcher. It is hard to detect that the actual direction of force of the top-hand is being pulled back toward the catcher during initiation.

Try thinking of an axis of a wheel, spinning around another rotating wheel with a stationary axis (like the earth rotating in its orbit around the sun). The hands (as a unit) are rotating around with the rotating body. But inside that unit is an axis that the hands (and bat) are also rotating around. In other words, the hands are rotating around each other as the unit rotates around with the shoulders. -- Bet that only got your heads spinning.

Note: The hands (as a unit) may undergo an angular displacement of 90 degrees to contact while the displacement of the bat-head,“The Final Arc”, may exceed 200 degrees.

Jack Mankin