Posted by: rql () on Tue Sep 11 19:52:06 2007

> Hi All
>
> I have often pointed out that the very best hitters generate their exceptional power and bat speed with transfer mechanics that first accelerates the bat-head rearward to and through the lag position (bat sweeping past the catcher). With these mechanics, they have already generated considerable bat speed in the rearward portion of the swing plane before they direct their energy toward the ball.
>
> The bat-head arcs through about 180 degrees from its launch position behind the head to contact. The bat first moves rearward 90 degrees to the “lag” position, and then 90 degrees from the lag position to contact. The reason the bat first moves rearward 90 degrees to the lag position is because a batter CANNOT generate maximum bat speed with a static bat at the lag position. Great hitters generate great bat speed because their mechanics is accelerating the bat-head around the entire 180 degrees.
>
> Notably, most average hitters use upper-body mechanics that simply take his hands and knob toward the ball without first generate bat speed by taking the bat rearward toward the catcher. Driving the knob forward causes the bat-head to just lower and trail behind the hands.
>
> Shawn stated many times in his analysis video that there is no rearward acceleration of the bat-head and that the bat only accelerated downward. Of course the bat lowers downward into the swing plane, but it also moves rearward. Shawn discounts (or misunderstands) the force applied by the top hand as the rear elbow lowers into the slot, even though video analysis clearly shows the bat moving rearward when this occurs.
>
> There is no point in further discussing this with Shawn, but you be the judge: is there rearward acceleration of the bat?
>
> <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~ben_2004/plttht.wmv">Shawn’s Analysis</a>
>
> <a href="http://www.batspeed.com/media/Sosa_Launch2Lag.wmv">My Analysis</a>
>
> Jack Mankin

>>I am going to propose something in the sake of learning,as food for thought.All the discussion seems to be directed at the top hand pulling back and the rear elbow lowering to create the PLT if I am following this,but if you watch your sosa video from the very 1st frame that barrel moves back from center of his head in the freeze frame the lead elbow is working up,it is assisted by a lead shoulder muscle group ,which drives the bottom of the bottom hand up and the top of the bottom hand is driving down,this I feel is greatly assisting the top hand along with rear shoulder tilt to get the barrel going back or rearwards,but I also feel this movement is what gets the knob changing direction from toward the catcher to the opposite base [3rd for leftys.Actually I feel it is very difficult for the top hand pulling back to get the knob to go out toward the opposite base to work the outer 1/2 of plate, it feels more like its natural direction works the knob more in like for a inside pitch .I do think there is something to the torque idea but I think if you look closely you will see that the lead hand and elbow are moving from the 1st movement of the barrel back,and they are initiating the path and the radius that will be needed to be set so the swing can be on autopilot for tilt and rotation. I think that any batspeed that is gained by this is great but it is a by product of the greater need to set the bat in line for proper plane and radius and allow it to do it within the time constraints.