Posted by: George () on Sat Sep 15 18:42:49 2007

> > >>> I believe the downward driving of the bottom hand has as much to do with accelerating the bat at 1st movement as the rear hand does with pulling back,This causes the flattening of the hands and the bat starting to swing. <<<
> >
> > Hi Rql
> >
> > I could not agree with you more. To generate torque, the forward pull of the bottom-hand is just as important as the rearward pull of the top-hand. The only reason I termed torque applied during initiation as “THT” was because the top-hand applies the ‘rearward’ force. The mechanics of all hitters supply a forward pull of the bottom-hand. However, only the mechanics of the better hitters produce torque by applying a rearward force as well as a forward force.
> >
> > With the average hitter, as the bottom-hand is being pulled forward, they are also driving the top-hand forward. For torque to be applied, the forces on the handle must be from opposing directions. Both hands applying force in the same direction (forward) accelerates the knob but produces little rearward acceleration of the bat-head.
> >
> > But as I stated earlier, the only reason I termed this torque THT was to point out the hand supplying the rearward force. The same is true for the term “BHT.” With BHT, the pulling back toward the catcher with the lead-shoulder causes the bottom-hand to apply the ‘rearward’ force on the handle approaching contact as opposed to the bottom-hand is being extended forward – like throwing a Frisbee.
> >
> > The bottom line is -- both THT and BHT identifies the rearward force found in high level swings as opposed to both hands extending forward as found with most average hitters.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >Jack,I think you misread my intent of the thread,the very 1st movements of the knob go from catcher toward opposing base of hitter,this is not a forward pull of the knob as I thought I have heard you profess.I believe that during these 1st movements the barrel is driven back or assisted in being driven back by the top of the bottom hand as the lead elbow works up,when done by a dominant right hand [lefty hitter,one that throws right and bats left or vice versa],the distinction and feel of bat being driven back is superimposed,but before the knob is ever pulled forward,I think by rotation,the hands are torquing but not just top hand pulling back ,but rather by a sophistacated,maybe double pendulum act of the lowe hand that drives the barrel back with the top part assisted by lead arm movement[elbow up] and then simultaneously the knob being pulled out and around to innitiate the chp ,but on a larger scale this is the finer points being created for swing plane while tilt allows the body to get into position for the fine plane adjustment to work,,by launch it is on autopilot and swingplane and radius has been set or is underway and not changing.


Jack. With regard to Rql's argument, let us say that I agree with your basic rearword acceleration theory (in starting the swing). In the case of a dominant hitter as RQL mentions, a Jason Giambi would fit into that category mentioned above. Giambi is a classic case of a hitter that uses leverage/tilt as he glides into the pitch by launching his hips to facilitate a tremendous upswing through the hitting zone. Note how when Giambi swings, his head dips significantly as he uses the power in his legs. See (MLB.com for homerun footage) especially the side view.