Posted by: Observer (observer.2007@hotmail.com) on Sun Jan 14 18:48:14 2007

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> See www.teachersbilliards.com/hitzone/rhowardrays.gif. It shows Ryan Howard hitting a ball low and in by using a very diagonal, almost veritcal, swing plane.

I wouldn't draw swing plane or swing mechanics conclusions from a swing on a nasty breaking pitch. Looks to me if the ball hadn't broken hard downwards, the swing plane would be the shoulder rotation plane. When the ball does something unexpected and late, you do what you can and what you have to.