Posted by: Bart () on Sat Oct 5 10:51:09 2002

>>> I was curious to the que that Lau uses, "rotate hips while pulling
> the knob to the ball" I've tried it many ways and I've figured if you
> grip the bat lightly with the top hand, and you let the bottom hand
> "level out" before pulling, than it seems that Tht is created. I'll
> have to hear from Jack on this but, Can THt be created without a pull
> from the top hand rather letting the bottom hand level out from a near
> vertical position before pulling it through, your thoughts?
> > The Hitman <<<
> >
> > Hi Hitman
> >
> > After the back-elbow lowers to the batters side, the knob (and the
> bottom-hand) rotates around the top-hand. It is the pull from the
> rotating lead shoulder (through the lead-arm) that supplies the pull
> on the knob-end of the bat. The knob never moves linearly, it is
> constantly turning. Because at this point of the swing, the
> bottom-hand is arcing around the top-hand, I call it
> “bottom-hand-torque.” --- Note: As you know, torque is when forces
> from opposing directions cause the bat to rotate around a point (in
> this case, that point is the top-hand).
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >
>
> More "cue madness"-
>
> IF body action is similar for golf and hitting at the particular time
> when coiling finishes and uncoiling starts,then as Epstein "cues"
> it,the opening of the hips pulls the torso around while it is still
> stretching/coiling."Heel drop" seems to be a good "trigger"/cue for
> this reversal in direction.
>
> Unlike golf,the "backswing" needs to be minimized in hitting(Hank
> Aaron).I don't like the Epstein "cue" couterrotation because it seems
> to create too much backswing.
>
> I do like the Nyman concept of "scapula loading".
>
> Bart's preference for "cocking/uncocking" can work,but the cocking
> uncocking needs to be with the big muscles which also raise and lower
> the elbow,not with the wrists or you get "wrapping" and a tendency to
> lengthen the swing.
>
> Jack's leave the knob where it is and move the bathead description is
> similar to Epstein's "flat hands" and "scoop sand with the top hand"
> cues.
>
> Jack also points out the importance of loading the hands in behind the
> head (use the big muscles).The "torque" idea seems very important(to
> the non-scientist) because it gets the bat turning around an axis
> close to the handle which seems to improve "bat quickness"(get to top
> speed quicker when bat angle is favorable) at the expense of ultimate
> batspeed(max batspeed can be higher with "longer" swing,but later when
> bat angle is less favorable for inside pitch or with more extension
> which cuts into reaction time for outside pitch).
>
> The bat should be "uncocking" while the last bit of coiling/stretching
> is created at "heel" drop.Posture should be set with the bat turning
> "on/in plane" when hip deceleration starts.
>
> Now there's a mouthfu

Tom, I have observed that in general, maximum coiling/stretching has been achieved at front toe touch, with bat angle still being cocked about 30 degree or so. During the one to one & 1/2 frames between initial toe touch and front heel plant, the bat has uncocked about 30 degrees or so, putting the bat in a near vertical position. Also the hips have rotated about 30 degrees or so, and this is the "torque position" illustrated by Epstein.

Of course, at some point in their stride many hitters achieve a bat angle of even 45 degrees or so. In these cases, though, I have noticed that even as their hands are still going back they will at some point start an "early" uncocking motion. generally in these cases, by the time toe touches the bat angle will be about 30 degrees and at heel drop about vertical. This is important because apparently at toe touch, if the bat angle is much more than 30 degrees (let's say 45 degrees)there will not be enough time for the bat to be uncocked & a quality swing completed. HOWEVER, there have been SOME major leaguers who, at toe touch will still have the bat cocked at as much as 45 degrees. The one who immediately comes to mind is Griffey.