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Baseball Hitting Mechanics
There are probably as many mental images of the baseball swing as there are coaches who teach hitting mechanics. While differences in style may exist, one key point proves true - all great power hitters use similar rotational mechanics and weaker hitters do not. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to break the rotational batting mechanics swing down in order to demonstrate our methods of teaching each segment of the swing and the essential mechanics.
In order to realize why the rotational swing mechanics generate great power and bat speed, you must first have a clear understanding of the principles (or forces) that produce the bat's acceleration. Once you understand these forces, then we can teach the swing mechanics that most efficiently (and effectively) produce these forces.
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Linear Mechanics -Vs- Rotational Mechanics
Nearly all batting mechanics, whether taught by coaches or described in books and videotapes, are based on "linear mechanics." By linear, I refer to the concept that bat speed is derived from the batters forward weight shift and extension of his hands. Batters are instructed to direct their energies in a fairly straight line back in the direction of the pitcher. Liner mechanics has promoted terms like: "Step into the ball," "Transfer your weight from back to front," "Keep your shoulder in there," "Pop your hips at contact," "Throw the hands or heel of the bat at the ball," and so on.
We will show examples and discuss with you compelling evidence that those players who have become the truly great hitters like Barry and Sammy or Williams and Ruth did not use "linear mechanics" to achieve their greatness. The smooth powerful swing of these top quality hitters is the product of "rotational mechanics." Their swing generates greater bat speed much earlier in the swing. Describing rotational mechanics will require a new set of terms, like: "Rotation around a stationary axis," "A circular hand-path," and "Applying torque from initiation to contact."
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Mechanics that Generate Bat Speed
Many tests have shown that rotational mechanics are far more efficient than linear mechanics in developing bat speed. In order to understand why this is true, it is important to understand the forces acting on the bat.
Other than the effects of gravity, drag (due to airflow) and other minor factors, there are two forces acting on the bat that create bat speed:
Circular Hand Path (CHP) - The transfer of the body's rotational momentum that occurs when the hands are taken in a circular path.
Torque - Torque is applied at the handle of the bat by the push/pull of the hands/arms/shoulders.
Circular Hand Path
The bat will undergo angular displacement (i.e., bat speed) when the path of the hands is also undergoing angular displacement (i.e., a circular hand path). In other words, as long as the path of the hands stays in a circular path as the body rotates, the circular hand path will transfer the body's rotational momentum into bat-head acceleration.
In technical terms, we often refer to bat-head acceleration generated from the CHP as the "Pendulum Effect" so as to distinguish it from the "Crack of the Whip" theory. (We'll take a brief digression to better explain this topic.) A pendulum is simply an object that swings freely back and forth in a circular arc (i.e., pendulum clock). However, in the baseball swing, there are two pendulums:
1) the lead-arm swings the hands in a circular arc
2) the end of the bat swings around the hands. This is referred to as the Double Pendulum Effect of a CHP. A double pendulum consists of one pendulum attached to another.
Linear mechanics is much different in that it does not rely on a circular arc (or Pendulum Effect), as it is based on a theory that when the hands are extended in a straight line, the bat-head will suddenly accelerate to contact like the crack of a whip ("Whip Effect".) However, this theory is flawed since there is no whip effect in the baseball swing (a bat is not flexible like a whip), and consequently, efforts to produce a whip effect has stalled many hitters progress for decades.
A substantial portion of a good hitter's bat speed is derived from the circular path of his hands (think of swinging a ball on the end of a string). As long as we keep our hand in a circular path, the ball will continue to accelerate in a circle. However, if the path of the hand straightens, the ball on the end of the string loses angular velocity and trails behind the hands.
The same rational applies when a hitter is swinging a bat. If the hands are kept in a circular path, the bat will continue to accelerate. But if the hands straighten, the batter loses the circular path and the bat will lose speed. With a straighter hand path, the bat-head trails behind the hands well into the swing. This is often referred to as "knob of the bat first" and results in poor bat speed.
Torque
Torque is the result of two forces being applied to an object from opposing directions that cause the object to rotate about a point. Forces in the same direction may cause the object to accelerate, but will not cause the object to rotate about a point (no angular displacement). For example, when loosening a lug nut with a 4-prong tire wrench, you push down with one hand while pulling up with the other (torque). However, if you push down (or pull up) with both hands, you would not cause the nut to rotate (no torque).
Torque is applied in the swing by the push/pull action of the forearms and hands. The bat-head is accelerated from torque when the direction of force applied by the hands is from opposing directions.
To reach maximum bat speed, the batter must apply torque from initiation to contact and keep the hands in a circular path.
Average hitters' usually have very little circular hand path in their swing (no pendulum effect) due to the straighter hand-path. As a result, average hitters rely mainly on torque to accelerate the bat-head. (Remember, there are only two forces acting on the bat - a circular hand path and torque. If one of the forces is missing, the batter will have to rely on the other force to move the bat.)
For a batter to attain his maximum potential, his mechanics must make efficient use of both - CHP and torque. Great hitters generate great bat speed because their swing mechanics efficiently apply torque at the handle that compliments the their circular hand path.
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Rotation and the Stationary Axis
It has long been accepted that in order to develop power, the batter must have forward body movement during the swing. It was also believed that in order to develop the required kinetic energy for the swing, the body (axis) had to move forward 12 to 18 inches. But over time most coaches have conceded that a hard, aggressive move is not only unnecessary, but it can be counterproductive. Today, these coaches recommend a short soft stride, but still maintain that a weight shift is essential.
Many coaches do not understand that there is a clear distinction between the body's forward movements to prepare the launch position and the body’s rotational movement during the actual swing. Most hitters will stride forward as they prepare to swing. However, before the actual swing is initiated (hand acceleration and body rotation begins) the batter will come to full balance and there is no further forward movement of the body. Lateral and rotational movements of the body do not occur at the same time.
Test after test concludes that the forces required to accelerate the bat head into its arc are not generated from lateral movement of the hands and body. The bat's rate of angular displacement (bat speed) is derived from the amount of torque (push/pull action of the arms) and how much of the body’s rotational energies are transferred (via a circular hand-path).
The batter has rotated (inward turn) to the launch position and completed his timing step. The inward turn leaves his hips leading the shoulders by about 20 to 30 degrees in the launch position. His front toe has been planted and forward motion has slowed to a stop -- he is ready to initiate the swing. Now, assume that a line has been drawn down through the batter's head and through the center of the body, and into 6 feet of concrete. This will be the axis the batter will rotate on.
Rotating around a stationary axis (neck and spine) is a "ground-up" movement where the muscles in the knees, hips and torso are all fired in unison to drive rotation. The lead knee and leg rotate and straighten to drive the front hip in an arc back toward the catcher at the same rate the back leg rotates the back hip around toward the pitcher. Both hips rotating evenly allow the axis to remain stationary. Using the large muscles of both legs will maximize the power of rotation.
After the inward turn, the hips will continue to rotate ahead of the torso and shoulders. This is not due to sequential timing of mechanics (stride – rotate hips while keeping shoulders closed – swing). Although the torso muscles are also contacting, the hips continue leading the shoulders because the upper-body must overcome the inertia created by accelerating the bat-head back toward the catcher. Accelerating the bat-head in an arc back toward the catcher (rotational) develops a much greater load than sliding the bat’s knob lengthwise at the pitcher (linear). Thus, shoulder rotation will slightly trail hip rotation.
Therefore, when a batter uses a “one piece rotation,” I know that his or her shoulders kept up with the hips because there was little or no load for rotation to overcome (indicating linear transfer mechanics). Due to poor linkage or mechanics, the batter does not generate early bat speed. The load was overcome by the batter sliding the knob at the pitcher. Under this low load condition, the shoulders can rotate right with the hips.
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Wrist Action or Torque
Most coaches think the wrist play an important role in producing power and quickness for the baseball swing. But the muscle groups that flex and un-flex (abduct and addult) the wrist are a comparably small muscle group and could have only a limited impact on the generation of bat speed. Therefore, differing observation can be drawn research of what appears to be the "snapping of the wrist."
Consequently, the use of the "snapping of the wrist" theory is effective when quickness is an issue, thus reducing the power of the swing itself.
For a ball to be hit over 400 feet, the bat head must be accelerated to a speed in excess of 70 MPH in less than 5/30 of a second. About half that speed is developed in the last 1/30 of a second. The large amount of inertia that must be overcome to accelerate the bat head 35 MPH or more in 1/30 of a second requires far more energy than the muscles in the hands, wrists and arms can produce. That kind of energy (about 3 torque HP) must come from the large muscle groups in the legs, back and shoulders.
The question then becomes; how is the energy transferred from the large muscle groups of the body up and on out to the bat head? I'm not going to cover the entire sequence at this time (omitting the initiation mechanics of the swing), but confine my remarks to the mechanics that appear to be wrist action or snapping of the wrist just prior to contact.
To briefly explain the mechanics of how the large muscles are involved in this transfer just prior to making contact. --- The large muscles in the legs and back have rotated his hips and shoulders to a point where the belly button and chest are now facing the pitcher. The lead shoulder is now starting to rotate back in the direction of the catcher. This means that the lead arm, and thus the bottom hand, are now being pulling back toward the catcher as the bat approaches contact. --- At the same time the rear shoulder (and top hand) are rotating around toward the pitcher.
This "pulling back" of the bottom hand as the top hand is being "driven forward", generates a tremendous amount of TORQUE on the bat. Torque is the result of forces being applied to the bat from opposing directions that causes an object (the bat) to rotate about a point between the two hands.
So, in the swing of a great hitter, what appears to be wrist action is actually the "push - pull" action of the hands generating a large amount of torque. This torque was developed from the large muscle groups and causes the bat head to be greatly accelerated. --- If the batter does not initiate the swing with torque and rotational forces, he will not be able to obtain the position of power required to apply maximum torque to the bat before contact. This is especially true for pitches on the outside part of the plate.
NOTE: Mechanics that would have both hands being thrust forward (both applying forces in relatively the same direction) produces much less torque. --- This type of mechanics just can not generate enough bat speed and power to produce a great hitter.
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Lemoyne Youth Athletic Association
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