Turning the barrel

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Jan 13, 2012
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Since jbooth and a few others have asked about turning the barrel, I'm starting a new thread to help answer the question. Turning the barrel is (simply put) getting the bat from vertical to flat so the rear leg/hip drive the barrel to contact. The pressure sensation must be in the hands. However, that doesn't mean the phalanges are causing it. The direction of the barrel turn is key. It is NOT in a line with the catcher. The barrel is turned in between the backstop and the dugout behind the hitter.

Bio-mechanically, turning the barrel is applying force perpendicular to the handle. The rear humerus adducts while the lead humerus both internally rotates and abducts. The teres minor is partially responsible for the rear arm's adduction, though it's rather weak. The latissimus dorsi serves to adduct the rear arm as well, as does the teres major.

This clip of Adrian Gonzalez displays the action rather well.
 
Last edited:
Oct 12, 2009
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At what point in the clip does AGon's barrel ever get vertical?

Or even more than 33 degrees above horizontal?

This post is a microcosm of why I have so little regard for the ideas that are put forth by the HI cabal; they are clearly out of touch with reality and ridiculously easy to refute.

P.S. For posterity's sake, here's the original, pre-revision quote...

Turning the barrel is (simply put) getting the bat from vertical to flat so the rear leg/hip drive the barrel to contact.
 
Jan 13, 2012
693
0
At what point in the clip does AGon's barrel ever get vertical?

Or even more than 33 degrees above horizontal?

This post is a microcosm of why I have so little regard for the ideas that are put forth by the HI cabal; they are clearly out of touch with reality and ridiculously easy to refute.

P.S. For posterity's sake, here's the original, pre-revision quote...

I'm not going to revise unless I make a grammatical error or I need to clarify something. I meant exactly what I said. His barrel is vertical in that it's at an angle somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees. If we're defining horizontal as zero, then the bat is vertical. If you're defining horizontal as 45, it's vertical as well, because the bat is (by those calculations) at a 78 degree angle.

There are many good examples out there. Gonzalez was the first who came to mind.
 
Jan 13, 2012
693
0
Uh, not it's not.

It's no more than 45 degrees above the horizontal, and 45 degrees is not vertical.

Adrian Gonzalez has a vertical bat. Here's another view of Gonzalez:

AGonzalez4_zps28fcd58c.gif


No, Mauer is at 45 degrees.

JMauer2.gif


It makes no difference where the barrel is. It's getting from vertical to flat, from tipped to flat, from 45 degrees to flat. All high-level hitters turn it. Gonzalez goes from vertical and tipped... he turns the barrel. Mauer turns it. Morneau turns it.
 
Last edited:

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
Or how about the "no lies for profit" section...

IMO keep it where it is P. Nice thread.
 
May 16, 2010
1,086
38
At what point in the clip does AGon's barrel ever get vertical?

Or even more than 33 degrees above horizontal?

This post is a microcosm of why I have so little regard for the ideas that are put forth by the HI cabal; they are clearly out of touch with reality and ridiculously easy to refute.

P.S. For posterity's sake, here's the original, pre-revision quote...

I don't think he meant, literally, absolutely vertical. I think he means that turning the barrel is moving the barrel from relatively upright, above the head, to a more horizontal or flat position behind the back. At least that's how I interpret what he stated.

I'm surprised at that. I thought the "turn the barrel" advocates were talking about the barrel arcing from above the head, toward the catcher.

What pstein describes is; IMO simply what Ted Williams called, "flattening the bat." It moves toward a relatively horizontal position as the back elbow drops. If what pstein describes is what other advocates mean, then, in my terms that is just flattening, and/or preparing to throw the barrel. The throw comes after the flattening.
 

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