Story on Christie Orgeron

[shof]

_ Have ya'll noticed that some of our kids have their hands separated on the bat--about and inch or 2???? It must go along with the non-follow through!!! I recently had a great conversation with a Karate dude about contact over a period and power---his point was kind of with the girls that longer contact did not lead to more power---where are the PE guys on this???---that was meant for the kinesiology guys!!!!! _

I recall this discussion last year during the WS. Essentially they said it gave the girls better control of the bat; especially against high fastballs/riseballs. It is definitely NOT a power grip. I don't think Holly T used the split grip.

Shof

[J-Town Cajun]

http://www.mikeepsteinhitting.com/

Here is a link to the hitting philosophy that the UL softball team uses. The main difference is that a more rotational swing is used vs. a liner swing. So yes the trunk and legs are turning vs. sliding. Best example from a major leaguer is Barry Bonds though steriods may have helped.

[J-Town Cajun]

_ Have ya'll noticed that some of our kids have their hands separated on the bat--about and inch or 2???? It must go along with the non-follow through!!! I recently had a great conversation with a Karate dude about contact over a period and power---his point was kind of with the girls that longer contact did not lead to more power---where are the PE guys on this???---that was meant for the kinesiology guys!!!!! _

I will take a stab at it.

Physics equation for power is: Power = Force/time. So the shorter amount of time a force is applied the more power you have.

As for as the split grip, my best guess is that while you will lose some leverage by shorten the lever arm (bat) you definitely gain control and it takes a shorter amount of time to get the bat into/through the hitting area. Now you will lose some wrist action with the split grip as you have much less wrist play and you will lose some power because you are nolonger able to supinate the left arm and pronate the right arm (right hand batter) through the hitting area. With the mike epstien philosophy of hitting the split grip will not effect the power as much because most of the power and swing speed is created by rotating the legs and trunk vs. swinging the arms.

My credintials are I once did a hitting thesis paper for an upper level biomechanical class (Dr. George) scored an A , master degree in Physical Therapy, and I love this kind of stuff (sports ergonomics).

If someone is more intuned with this hitting philosophy please feel free to share your knowledge. I would like to hear it.

[Boomer]

I used to watch Gerry George at Jesuit High School climb the rope like a monkey------got a scholarship to (I want to say Mich. State) for gymnastics---great guy --a Blue Jay Hammer!!!!! ho ho ho!!! But I think that all of you are wrong--I am a follow through dude!!!!!