Posted by: Jerry (perfact11@hotmail.com) on Sat Feb 24 20:01:15 2007

> Hi Jerry
>
> What Jimmy just stated comes right out of the linear handbook. Read his statements below carefully.
>
> ##
> “And to add to that the front shoulder will also "fly" if the hitter is trying to make it fly. Occasionally even the best hitters will unwillingly fly with their front side because of trying to do too much with a pitch or "overswinging". Overswinging is usually the cause for young kids.
>
> No matter what the reason is, the "flying front shoulder" is is a bad habbit that causes many poor results within the swing. (mainly the bad habbit that you are trying to fix).
> ##
>
> Years ago, I taught these same linear principles Jimmy preaches. “Keep your shoulder in there” – “Drive your hands to the ball” – “Etc, etc…” Therefore, when I first started taking notes for my study of the swing, I found that a frame-by-frame view of the best hitters swings did not match what I had taught. I found that trying to justify those linear principles with what I was seeing was like trying to fit square pegs into round holes – they just didn’t fit.
>
> Jerry, as an example, frame this clip we have been studying of Griffey ( http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/Griffey01.mpeg ) forward to the frame just before he initiates rotation
>
> The linear rule states --“Don’t fly the lead-shoulder” – Now, advance the frames forward slowly. -- As I stated earlier, when I first started taking notes of the best hitters frame-by frame, I noted that the lead-shoulder started rotating before I saw the hands coming forward. The arms did not extend the hands forward while the shoulders “stayed in-there”. In fact, it was shoulder rotation that brought the hands into view. Not only did the shoulder rotate during initiation, it continued to rotate all the way to contact. – See my problem. There was no way I could justify what I had taught -- to what I saw.
>
> Now, let us examine Jimmy's next linear rule.
>
> ##
> “When he swings the bat with his top hand only, he should try to drive the bat to and through the hitting zone while trying his best to keep his front shoulder from rotating outward. The aggressive thought and action of driving and extending his top hand through will make it easier to keep the shoulder from flying. As a result, the "elbow in the slot" position that you have mentioned will happen naturally (As Teacherman has stated in his previous posts).”
> ##
>
> Jimmy states, “When he swings the bat with his top hand only, he should try to drive the bat to and through the hitting zone.” – For this analysis of his statement, use - http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/griffey_ken1.mpeg – This clips also illustrates another flaw in what I had taught my players. Linear rule, “drive the top-hand to and through the hitting zone.” – Frame this clip forward to where he is ready to initiate his swing. As you frame forward, note that once the back-elbow lowers to his side, it remains back at this side (not extending forward) all the way to contact. It was shoulder rotation that drive the top-hand forward – not the extension of the arm.
>
> Note that the extension of the arm (out of the “L” position) that Jimmy refers to, occurs after contact and the ball is well on its way. Extension at that point has no influence on ball flight – or on “contact area.”
>
> Jack Mankin

Thanks Jack on a post you made about the difference between rotational hitting and linear hitting position.


I think it is coming clearer to me, but again I want to try to keep it simple, drill wise.

Here is my thought for a rotational hitter. What if I was to say just as a swing key, when the upper body starts to rotate, rotate your forward elbow to the ball, and finish naturally? Remember I said rotate forward elbow not throw elbow towards the ball.

All I am saying is look at the action that has to happen to the upper body without thinking about hands, it seems to me that the rear elbow will automatically be brought into position and the hands have no choice but release the bat into the ball. Everything has to follow the front elbow in a rotational swing.

Try a few swings and tell me what happens. I know to some of you more accomplished hitters and coaches you may laugh. I will admit I am stabbing in the dark for a good swing key for a rotational hitter. But the hands are taken fully out of the equation because they will release into the ball due to the swing path of the front elbow in a rotational direction that the hands have to follow because of the rotational force.

Of course I am saying this with all do respect that the lower body is moving correctly.

Like I said I am just a beginner who has heard all kind of drills that not everyone agrees with. This is what intrigued me from the beginning of my quest to find a correct drill/swing thought for hitter that cast there hands after hearing the normal swing drills don't work.


Respectfully yours