I noticed that like all ML batters, when they load, their bats point towards pitcher (45 degrees, or something). How important is this to have in your mechanics? If it is, why is that so?

If one doesn't do it, what does he lose?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Catch43:
I noticed that like all ML batters, when they load, their bats point towards pitcher (45 degrees, or something). How important is this to have in your mechanics? If it is, why is that so?

If one doesn't do it, what does he lose?

Thanks.

You gain read time and adjustability.

Some form of angle is important to establish a circular path to contact.

As an experiment, hold a bat at the angle that you feel comfortable. Forget about the bat in your hands. Now at approximately the same time, lean into opening the front hip and fire your hands to extension right over the center of the plate.

Let me know what you feel and then what adding hip turn would add to it.

Quincy, I don't get how what you said has anything to do with angle of the bat after the load.

Maybe I don't understand what you are saying to do...Please explain what "lean into opening the front hip" means...

I just noticed that I drop my hands way too much before launch. I also noticed that I don't really **** my hips back before launch. I think the combo of this really reduces my power. I still hit the ball hard, but when I think of power lost, I can kick myself. Here's a video of me getting solid contact but the mechanical errors are still very visible. I flew out to center field here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDcbMrcncKM&feature=user

I took down that video and replaced it with one that shows the same swing in regular speed and then slow motion, for better analyzation. Thanks for your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVCapKxKa4E

quote:

Originally posted by Catch43:
I noticed that like all ML batters, when they load, their bats point towards pitcher (45 degrees, or something). How important is this to have in your mechanics? If it is, why is that so?

If one doesn't do it, what does he lose?

Thanks.

Do you mean like this?



The bat slot will affect the X-factor stretch. This occurs because the barrel is placed in a loaded position that allows the hips to get ahead of the hands without conscience thought of doing so.

The more vertical the barrel slot and the longer the barrel is maintained “out of plane” the more segmentation the batter will have.

Looking at the video, it appears that you are swinging to a contact point in front of the plate.

Try to extend your arms into the swing at a contact point over the center of the plate. The bat speed generated will cause contact to take place in front of the plate.

It looks like you made contact a bit too far out front. By setting your contact point over the plate, you will allow the ball to get deeper, yet still be able to make good contact.

So are you saying that the bat needs to be vertical, rather than horizontal, before the swing? What are the differences between having it horizontal vs. vertical?

So if that's true, how come not all hitters hold their bat in a vertical position?

I'm not disagreeing with you at all BlueDog, as I'm sure most people in this forum are more qualified as a hitting coach than I am. I also agree that most good hitters hit with a vertical bat (as my son does ;-) ). My question is simply that why won't all hitters hit with a vertical bat if it is known to be better?