Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Jun 24 15:49:54 2001

>>> Jack,
Based on your comments that most hitters generate speed to late in the swing, do you advise teaching hitters to generate as much early speed as possible using THT? <<<

Hi mb

The quality of the swing is decided in the first 2 or 3 inches of hand-path acceleration. The trajectory of the bat-head and the directional vector of the hand-path at initiation will determine the batter's mechanics for the balance of the swing. When the correct torque and rotational forces are applied, the rate of angular displacement of the bat-head will stay in sync with body rotation and hand-path. Full shoulder rotation and bottom-hand-torque will now take place automatically.

When the swing is initiated with incorrect forces -- The balance of the swing is an exercise in compensation. The batter gets behind the power curve and can never recover -- well, maybe somewhat, with a -11 bat.

Incorrect forces at initiation = top-hand thrusting forward instead of pulling back. -- hand-path directed more toward 1st base instead of perpendicular to ball flight (lead-elbow collapse).

Jack Mankin