Baseball Swing: Extend your hand?

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 08:52 AM

Full extension of the arms and hitting power seem to be synonymous to most batting authorities. Invariably, when a long home run is hit during a game, the commentator will declare; "Boy, he really got his arms extended on that one." Also, sports photographers apparently think that a batter with both arms fully extended is the only position worthy of being photographed. This is the position they will invariably use whenever home run power is the theme of the picture. Never mind the fact that when that frame was shot the ball had long since left the bat and was soaring somewhere over the shortstop's head. This would still be portrayed as the position responsible for the power in the swing.

I think most coaches would agree that the lead arm will be fairly extended as the bat makes contact with the ball. The question then becomes, what is the timing of the extension of the top hand and arm? --- Extension of the back arm at contact is mainly determined by the amount of torque applied at initiation and rotation of the hips and shoulders. If the shoulders and hips have fully rotated, bellybutton and chest are facing the pitcher, the back arm will have extended very little at contact.

But, if on the other hand, there is much less rotation, say the chest and bellybutton are more facing the second baseman, then the back arm will need to be extended further. Therefore, the only time the back arm of a great hitter will near full extension at contact is when he is fooled by the pitch and just waves at the ball or is swinging at a ball on outside part of the plate.

To reach outside pitches, the rotation of the shoulders must slow to allow the lead arm to cast out farther to get the meat of the bat on the ball. This will also cause the back arm to be more extended at contact. On pitches from the middle-in portion of the plate the back arm will NOT be even close to full extensions. It will be in the form of the classic "L" position as shown in the drawing. As illustrated, the back arm is far from being fully extended at contact. After the ball is well on it's way, momentum and centrifugal force of the bat will "pull" the back arm to full extension.

At contact, both the lead arm and leg are straight. While both the back leg and arm form the "classic L". The hips and shoulders will have fully rotated. The lead shoulder is now pulling back toward the catcher. This is the power position of the great hitter at contact.

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:03 PM

You sure wrote alot, whenever you shouldve simply said a batter hits mostly with his legs. And whenever he meets the ball with the correct extension the ball will travel farther.

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

You sure wrote alot, whenever you shouldve simply said a batter hits mostly with his legs. And whenever he meets the ball with the correct extension the ball will travel farther.

It's actually the coil of the shoulders and hips that produces the power. You can also hit homeruns without having to extend the bat.

**KataKlysm954** · 09-11-2006, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

You sure wrote alot, whenever you shouldve simply said a batter hits mostly with his legs. And whenever he meets the ball with the correct extension the ball will travel farther.

got told....

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Lee Delroy

It's actually the coil of the shoulders and hips that produces the power. You can also hit homeruns without having to extend the bat.

I have rarely saw a guy hit anything out whenever he gets jammed. Yes it does happen from time to time, but for the most part it doesnt happen.

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 07:19 PM

Where do you see Manny extending on this shot.

http://media.putfile.com/mannyhook

The hand path is always circular when hitting homeruns.

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:21 PM

Manny doesnt have to extend it on a fence thats like 290. Besides I cant watch videos on this crappy computer.

I have played pro softball for the past few years now and there really nothing you can tell me about a swing. Kinda wasting your time.

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

Manny doesnt have to extend it on a fence thats like 290. Besides I cant watch videos on this crappy computer.

I have played pro softball for the past few years now and there really nothing you can tell me about a swing. Kinda wasting your time.

Yeah, well it isn't what I am telling you, it's what the professionals do in there swing. Try and find one clip where the hitters hands aren't circular, and extending to the full on the shot.

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Lee Delroy

Yeah, well it isn't what I am telling you, it's what the professionals do in there swing. Try and find one clip where the hitters hands aren't circular, and extending to the full on the shot.

So your argument isn't that their arms aren't extended its more of an argument that their hands are circular throughout the entire swing?

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 07:29 PM

Does his hands look straight?

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:31 PM

Again I cant watch videos on my computer.

**Lee Delroy** · 09-11-2006, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

Again I cant watch videos on my computer.

I think you were taught the wrong mechanics.

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Lee Delroy

I think you were taught the wrong mechanics.

I was taught the wrong mechanics. Can't wait to tell the guys that one. I have a swing mechanics video that I made with a few guys off of my team. Now keep in mind its a softball swing but none the less its all about power.

**Double D** · 09-11-2006, 07:38 PM

There are 2 kinds of softball swings. 1.Tomahawk 2.Rotational Power.

So what kind of swing are you talking about.

**thefutureisnow** · 09-11-2006, 07:47 PM

If you go to any baseball clinic they will preach extension of the arms when contact is made with the ball. You want to have your arms extended just as the bat makes contact with the ball. Like another person said. You don't see to many big hits when guys get jammed. Professional athletes might have their own style that works for them, but I guarantee when they were 10 years taking hitting lessons they were taught extension. And extension of the hands is just one part of the mechanics needed for a proper swing. You have your pivot foot, hip rotation and finish. It takes years to build up the proper mechanics and become a great hitter.

**tucker01** · 09-12-2006, 06:42 AM

I always remember being taught bat speed not extension. We used to put the bat end on our belly and they other end touching the fence. Then would swing, for a compact tight quick swing.

**Lee Delroy** · 09-12-2006, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by thefutureisnow

If you go to any baseball clinic they will preach extension of the arms when contact is made with the ball. You want to have your arms extended just as the bat makes contact with the ball. Like another person said. You don't see to many big hits when guys get jammed. Professional athletes might have their own style that works for them, but I guarantee when they were 10 years taking hitting lessons they were taught extension. And extension of the hands is just one part of the mechanics needed for a proper swing. You have your pivot foot, hip rotation and finish. It takes years to build up the proper mechanics and become a great hitter.

99% of clinics do teach the wrong mechanics.

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